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H.G. Wells: The Science Fiction Collection

By: H. G. Wells
Narrated by: Hugh Bonneville, Jason Isaacs, Sophie Okonedo, David Tennant, Alexander Vlahos, Eli Roth - introduction
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"Wells was a genius: a prolific author who predicted the future, a visionary artist with a flair for big ideas and popcorn entertainment, and a master storyteller who laid the groundwork for science-fiction as a genre." – Eli Roth, film director and actor.

About the Performer

One of Scotland's greatest ever actors, David Tennant has won almost universal acclaim from audiences, critics and fellow professionals for his outstanding and award-winning performances on stage and screen. He is most well known for playing The Doctor in Doctor Who, his lead role in the ITV series Broadchurch and for his numerous wonderful stage performances with the RSC.

He is no stranger to audio work having created a rich and wide ranging back catalogue of audio narration work.

About the Performer

Hugh has been a member of the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, his most recent stage appearances being at Chichester Festival Theatre in Enemy of the People and Shadowlands.

His film credits include Notting Hill, Iris, The Monuments Men, Viceroy’s House, Paddington 1 & 2, The Corrupted and Downton Abbey. His many television projects include Daniel Deronda, Mr Stink, Twenty Twelve, W1A and Downton Abbey. He has made documentaries on A Midsummer Night’s Dream and on the last days of Jesus, Countdown to Calvary.

About the Performer

Jason Isaacs is a star of both stage and screen with BAFTA, Emmy, and Golden Globe–nominations to his name. He is best known for playing Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series. His sci-fi work includes playing Dr. Hunter Aloysius 'Hap' Percy in the Netflix supernatural series The OA, Captain Gabriel Lorca, the commanding officer of the USS Discovery in the first season of Star Trek: Discovery and also provided the voice of The Inquisitor, Sentinel, in Star Wars Rebels, the animated television series. He is a seasoned audio narrator.

About the Performer

Tony Award winning and Academy Award nominated actress Sophie Okonedo was born in London and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Sophie has worked in a variety of media including film, television, theatre, and audio drama. She received an OBE in 2010 and a CBE in 2019. Her recent performance as Cleopatra in the National Theatre’s Anthony and Cleopatra saw Sophie win Best Actress at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, What’s On Stage Awards and Critics Circle Awards, as well as being a current nominee for ‘Best Actress’ at the 2019 Olivier Awards

About the Performer

Alexander is well known for his lead role in Versailles and in BBC’s Merlin. Other TV credits include Barbarians Rising, Privates and Indian Doctor.

His theatre credits include; Richard III/Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare's Rose Theatre, York); La Ronde (The Bunker); Fortune's Fool (Old Vic); Macbeth (Park Avenue Armory, New York & Manchester International Festival); Britannicus (Wilton’s Music Hall);Emperor and Galilean (National Theatre); Hamlet (Sheffield Crucible); Cardiff Assembly (National Theatre Wales).

About Eli Roth

Eli Roth, burst onto the film scene in 2002 with his directorial debut Cabin Fever, Lionsgate’s highest grossing film that year. Roth’s follow-up film, Hostel which he wrote, produced and directed, earned him critical praise and was a massive worldwide hit, spawning a successful sequel, Hostel Part II, also written and directed by Roth.

As an actor, Roth has appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof” segment of Grindhouse and Inglorious Basterds. He also appeared in Nicolas Lopez’s Aftershock, an earthquake thriller which he also co-wrote and produced. He is a lifelong HG Wells fan.

Behind the scenes with the performers

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Publisher's Summary

He’s often been called the father of science fiction. Now, listen to H. G. Wells’ five science fiction novels in one definitive collection. Introduced by film director and H. G. Wells fanboy Eli Roth, the collection features unabridged recordings of the novels performed by Hugh Bonneville, Jason Isaacs, Sophie Okonedo, David Tennant and Alexander Vlahos.

The War of the Worlds narrated by David Tennant

When Earth is invaded by Martians in great mechanical tripods, terror ensues. They are equipped with heat rays and poisonous black gas, intent on wiping out the human race. During the destruction, one man’s story details the monstrous invasion and his struggle to find his wife in the devastation.

The First Men in the Moon narrated by Alexander Vlahos

A chance meeting between penniless businessman Mr Bedford and absentminded scientist Dr Cavor leads the two on a fantastical journey to the moon. However, they are unprepared for what they find: freezing nights, boiling days and sinister alien life. Will they be trapped forever?

The Time Machine narrated by Hugh Bonneville

Transported to the year AD 802,701, the Time Traveller encounters the peaceful Eloi, a beautiful elfin race of childlike adults afraid of the dark, and with good reason. Beneath the earth’s surface live the Morlocks, apish troglodytes who torment the Eloi. When the time machine is stolen, the Time Traveller must enter Morlock territory if he ever hopes to return home.

The Invisible Man narrated by Sophie Okonedo

When a strange man takes shelter at an inn, his skin covered from head to toe in bandages, he causes distrust. Griffin, a scientist, reveals that he has successfully managed to turn himself invisible, but alas without a way of undoing it. Desperate for a cure, his ailment drives him to many sinister actions, including murder.

The Island of Dr Moreau narrated by Jason Isaacs

Edward Prendick, the single survivor of a shipwreck, is rescued by Montgomery in a vessel carrying a menagerie of savage animals. Taken to an uncharted island, he meets Dr Moreau - a brilliant scientist whose notorious experiments have caused him to abandon the civilised world. It soon becomes clear he has been developing these experiments - with truly horrific results.

Known as ‘The Father of Science Fiction’, Herbert George Wells’ writing career spanned over 60 years. He was a writer of novels, short stories, nonfiction books and articles. As a young man, Wells won a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London, sparking his infamous vocation as a science fiction writer.

Public Domain (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about H.G. Wells: The Science Fiction Collection

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  • 03-07-2020

Fantastic

Really enjoyed this collection. I’d never read any H.G. Wells before and was surprised to find each book was quite different. Fantastic narrators and gripping stories.

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4 people found this helpful

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storytelling

this was the best yet. really well performed. can't beat classics like these what to listen to next

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Brilliantly crafted stories, varying voice work

Really enjoyed this, some I'd read before but all were brilliant, although the voice acting in the Invisible Man was pretty unconvincing which really made it hard to listen to

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Great British storytelling

Awesome narration by everybody especially Tenant and Bonneville. The island of Doctor Moreau was horrifying and fraught.Love HG Wells, his themes are still relevant today.

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Mostly great

Quiet a few repeated lines in the invisible man but otherwise H G Wells is great :)

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Excellent collection and performances.

All the stories were great as well as each performace. I could have listened to David Tennant read all of them though. He does a great job. Excellent collection overall.

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Bit of a slog but we'll worth it, timeless

Bit of a slog but we'll worth it, enthralling story, a timeless classic. Great performance

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Top marks!

I absolutely loved this collection, the narrators were perfect for their stories told and was gripping start to finish. Top marks from me.

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Incredible.

Each actor brings these stories to life with their own unique personality. With reach narration I was brought into the world of HG Wells, and characters came to life. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves HG Wells and great storytelling.

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Excellent performances of excellent books

get these books, they're a spectacular listen. my only issue has been that the S and T sounds can be a bit sharp on the ears at times, particularly in the performance of The Invisible Man. Maybe wind of the highs next time. excellent performances all round

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