The Massacre of Mankind
Authorised Sequel to The War of the Worlds
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
The awe-inspiring follow up to The War of the Worlds, which expands H.G. Wells' classic story while remaining true to his vision,/h3>
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.
Read what everyone is saying about The Massacre of Mankind:
'I'm pleased to say [Stephen Baxter] has done a great job of expanding on H.G. Wells' original story . . . makes the Martians' return feel like a genuinely global event' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'[Baxter's] love and respect for the original shines throughout and without spoiling any of the epic storyline, he takes the storyline to dizzying new heights' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'[A] smart and authentic sequel. It is a major accomplishment which honours the original, and I highly recommend it' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'What a sequel! Hats off to Baxter for this incredible official follow-up to HG Wells' classic 'War of the Worlds'. A masterpiece!! As haunting and brilliant as the first' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Baxter has a brilliant scientific mind and a vivid writing style, which makes this masterpiece all the more special' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A very cleverly thought out sequel to Wells' original, expanding on the ideas of that book, but remaining true to the original' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This estate-authorized sequel to H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds is set in the early 1920s, but it has the feel of one of Baxter's modern SF extravaganzas. It's been 13 years since marauding Martians were vanquished by Earth bacteria, and the red planet is launching another invasion. The Martians have learned from their earlier experiences, but so have humans. Baxter presents this second conflict as one that pits the superior technology of the Martians against the guerilla ingenuity of scrappy Earthlings. The author takes a sweeping approach, providing a global panorama of the novel's events, but most of the action is seen through the eyes of Londoner Julie Elphinstone, the former sister-in-law of the unnamed narrator of Wells's novel (here named Walter Jenkins). Meticulous detail gives the story vividness and immediacy, but it draws the plot out unnecessarily, as do the repetitive scenes of devastation wrought by the Martian fighting machines. Once readers let go of any hope of a pastiche of Wells's style, they'll appreciate this capacious reworking of his themes.