This book was short (76 pages) and to the point. Like books of its time, it set the scene and jumped right in to the heart of the story.
Similar to Frankenstein, the book is told in first person, from different characters - but only 2. The first introduces the protagonist, and then story shifts to the story of the Time Traveller. In some ways, we have done away with the need to "set up the story" like this, but I kind of enjoy the way the classics do it. Teeing it up, in a way. It reminds me of the Princess Bride - with young Fred Savage in his bed getting ready to hear the story. We are shifted to hear the story not just from our own perspective, but someone else's and by so doing, hear the story in a different way, too. Simple, but brilliant.
Also similar to Frankenstein - this book was more philosophical than I expected. It used time travel as a way to deal with big, huge societal questions - about socialism/communism, and the purpose of our existence, and played with ideas like how love of war and combat can be a survival instinct and a survival hindrance.
The biggest issue it seemed to contemplate was one class or one race's dominance of another - and how that might play out. HG Wells peeled back the layers of assumptions we make and pushed those ideas a bit farther.
The language in this book dragged. The plot carried the book more than any connection with the primary storyteller. The result being that the 76 pages took longer than I wanted it to (Thank you, jury duty for giving me the chance to get so much reading done!), but it was a solid book with groundbreaking ideas, that have paved the way for so much creativity.
Recommended for: Someone wanting to explore the foundations of time travel stories. Someone who wants to take a step into history and into the future at the same time.
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