The War of the Worlds
Penguin Classics
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The War of the Worlds
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Narrated by:
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David Harewood
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By:
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H. G. Wells
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
Shortlisted for the Best Solo Narration Award at the New York Festival Radio Awards 2020.
This Penguin Classic is performed by the critically acclaimed actor David Harewood, one of the stars of the television series Homeland. Harewood is also known for his roles in award-winning productions The Night Manager and Blood Diamond. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Brian Aldiss' read by Roy McMillan.
The night after a shooting star is seen streaking through the sky from Mars, a cylinder is discovered on Horsell Common in London. At first, naïve locals approach the cylinder armed just with a white flag - only to be quickly killed by an all-destroying heat-ray, as terrifying tentacled invaders emerge. Soon the whole of human civilisation is under threat, as powerful Martians build gigantic killing machines, destroy all in their path with black gas and burning rays, and feast on the warm blood of trapped, still-living human prey. The forces of the Earth, however, may prove harder to beat than they at first appear.
The War of the Worlds has been the subject of countless adaptations, including an Orson Welles radio drama which caused mass panic when it was broadcast, with listeners confusing it for a news broadcast heralding alien invasion; a musical version by Jeff Wayne; and, most recently, Steven Spielberg's 2005 film version, starring Tom Cruise.
H.G. Wells (1866-1946) was a professional writer and journalist. Among his most popular works are The Time Machine (1895); The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), filmed with Bela Lugosi in 1932, and again in 1996 with Marlon Brando; The Invisible Man (1897); The War of the Worlds (1898); and The First Men in the Moon (1901), which predicted the first lunar landings.
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What listeners say about The War of the Worlds
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Warren
- 30-04-21
Great book.
Great book, never read the original, so only had the musical version to go by. Even had the music playing in my head when listening. Would listen again. I think a trip through Time is next on the list.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- RuthieRavie
- 28-03-24
Classic but dreadful narration
I love the story - always have - but my word! The narrator almost made me give up. The most dullest voice ever. If I didn’t know the story - I would never have got to the end! Waste of a credit
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- benjamin broadley
- 18-07-24
amazing story and told beautifully and purposely by the reader..really good listen
I loved the story and how it's not humanity that defeats them but nature..I think this is a great twist for a change in alien stories
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- "akahorizon"
- 13-12-22
Brilliance announced
This story that I thought I knew through film and song has just woken me with profound storytelling abilities. An honour to listen to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- pegster74
- 16-02-23
Brilliant!
A cult classic, brilliantly narrated by David Harewood! I would definitely recommend it to friends.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Graham Nightingale
- 23-05-24
War of The Worlds by H G Wells narrated by David Harewood.
Absolutely the best narration of War of The Worlds, kept me gripped, loved it. Well worth a listen if you love H G Wells.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Eddie D
- 24-09-23
Amazingly read classic.
Well worth adding to your libary.
10 out of 10.
A well read stort of an all time classic.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- philip Passey
- 17-04-24
Story about my local area
Spoilt by incorrect pronounced local town names. This became more annoying as the story went on. But interesting to hear the story with reference to my local area.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- M Constable
- 14-01-24
Loved it
Great book would recommend to all, very well read, brought back my childhood happy memories
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- BT
- 17-05-24
Great delivery of a classic
I’ve heard other versions that are inferior in narration but this hits the spot. Being familiar with the areas described in this adventure added another level of intrigue. Of a different time, no roads clogged with motor cars, no street lamps, travel on foot or by cart taking days. But the human condition being ever evident. Our technology changes, but we don’t much.
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