The Massacre of Mankind
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Average rating3.4
It has been 14 years since the Martians invaded England. The world has moved on, always watching the skies but content that we know how to defeat the Martian menace. Machinery looted from the abandoned capsules and war-machines has led to technological leaps forward. The Martians are vulnerable to earth germs. The Army is prepared. So when the signs of launches on Mars are seen, there seems little reason to worry. Unless you listen to one man, Walter Jenkins, the narrator of Wells' book. He is sure that the Martians have learned, adapted, understood their defeat. He is right. Thrust into the chaos of a new invasion, a journalist - sister-in-law to Walter Jenkins - must survive, escape and report on the war. The Massacre of Mankind has begun
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An amazing sequel to [b:The War of the Worlds 536353 The War of the Worlds H.G. Wells https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1311704222s/536353.jpg 3194841] by [a:H.G. Wells 880695 H.G. Wells https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1392678719p2/880695.jpg]. This sequel is written by [a:Stephen Baxter 20295 Stephen Baxter https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1391280682p2/20295.jpg] the Vice-President of the international H. G. Wells Society and his knowledge of Mr Wells' work shines through.I would strongly recommend reading this book after the short story [b:The Martian in the Wood: A Tor.com Original 35131511 The Martian in the Wood A Tor.com Original Stephen Baxter https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494772061s/35131511.jpg 56452861] by the same author. It really feels like an extra chapter and is available to read online.Some reviewers have been unhappy with the ending. Avoiding spoilers I would say that I found it deeply satisfying. As with the original the ending is clearly intended to provoke thought, which it does - though Mr Baxter provides some very good human interest which I appreciated. In short, very much in the style of the original while still being very creative.In short, an excellent sequel, only being short of the mental fireworks that is Mr Baxter's [b:Time Ships 889248 Time Ships Stephen Baxter https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1408923927s/889248.jpg 61184], sequel to the [b:The Time Machine 2493 The Time Machine H.G. Wells https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327942880s/2493.jpg 3234863].
Really a 2.5 for me.
I thought there were some interesting ideas (accepting that the book stays within Wells's incorrect ideas on the science of the solar system), but the tale is far too long in the telling.
An unnecessary sequel - as so many sequels are.
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