The Time Machine, the novel that invented time travel—presented in an annotated edition for modern readers.
In 1895, H.G. Wells created something that had never existed before: a time machine, one that could travel through time. What the Time Traveller discovers in the year 802,701 will haunt you long after you’ve finished reading.
He finds a world transformed beyond recognition. Humanity has split into two species. The beautiful, childlike Eloi who live in ruined palaces above ground. Then there are the pale, nocturnal Morlocks who dwell in darkness below. What begins as an adventure becomes a nightmare as the Time Traveller uncovers the terrible relationship between these two peoples. And realizes he’s witnessing the ultimate consequence of Victorian inequality taken to its horrifying extreme.
But the journey doesn’t end there. Pushing forward through millions of years. The Time Traveller witnesses the death of the Earth itself. A dying sun, a frozen ocean, and the last flickering of life on a desolate beach.
This Pete Sumner Edition of The Time Machine includes:
- The complete, unabridged text of Wells’s masterpiece
- “H.G. Wells: The Life Behind the Machine” – The remarkable story of the man who invented science fiction
- “The Birth of Scientific Romance” – How Wells revolutionized imaginative fiction
- “A Reader’s Guide to The Time Machine” – Understanding the novel’s big ideas about class, evolution, and the future
- “Wells and His World” – The Victorian context that shaped this prophetic vision
- Detailed chapter annotations exploring the novel’s rich historical, scientific, and literary dimensions
Perfect for first-time readers discovering Wells and longtime fans wanting deeper understanding, this edition makes one of literature’s greatest adventures accessible, enlightening, and unforgettable.
The Time Traveller climbs onto his machine and vanishes into futurity. Where he goes, what he finds, and what it means for us—that’s the journey waiting in these pages.