Twelve Stories and a Dream is a collection of short stories by the renowned English writer H.G. Wells, first published in 1903. Known primarily for his groundbreaking contributions to the science fiction genre, Wells employs a variety of narrative styles and themes in this anthology, ranging from speculative fiction to social commentary, philosophical exploration, and psychological insight. This collection highlights Wells's versatility as an author and offers readers a window into the thematic concerns that preoccupied him at the turn of the 20th century, such as the role of science, progress, and human nature in an increasingly industrialized world.
The stories in this collection reflect Wells's deep engagement with the uncertainties of modernity, the moral and ethical implications of scientific advancements, and the complexities of human relationships and social structures. The title, Twelve Stories and a Dream, alludes to the central role that imagination and speculative thought play in these narratives, as well as to the often-dreamlike quality of some of the more fantastical tales.
Structure and Themes:
The anthology is divided into twelve individual short stories, with the titular "dream" serving as a reflective, almost ethereal final piece. These stories blend elements of realism with the speculative, a hallmark of Wells's style. Some tales delve into scientific possibilities and societal critiques, while others explore more personal, psychological themes. Several stories incorporate elements of fantasy or surrealism, inviting readers to question the boundaries of reality.
The Conqueror of the World – This story examines the ambitions of a man who seeks to dominate the globe through his intellectual and technological superiority. It explores the interplay between hubris and progress, echoing themes that would recur in Wells's later works, such as The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine.
The Dream of Armageddon – The title story within the collection, this piece offers a haunting vision of a global apocalypse, underscoring Wells's growing preoccupation with war and its potential to destroy civilization. The story uses the format of a dream to suggest the fragility of human existence and the haunting consequences of unchecked technological development. The Purple Pileus – A short, darkly comic story about a man who becomes involved in an improbable adventure after encountering a strange mushroom that leads to an altered perception of reality. It is a commentary on the limits of human understanding and the role of chance in life.
The Sea Raiders – A chilling tale of monstrous sea creatures attacking a coastal town. This story is a striking example of Wells's ability to blend the natural world with the fantastic, tapping into fears of the unknown and the potential horrors lurking just beyond the horizon.
The Country of the Blind – A classic Wellsian story about a man who stumbles upon a secluded society where the inhabitants have been blind for generations. In this land, sight is considered irrelevant, and the protagonist's inability to fit in is a commentary on the relativity of human perception and the limits of cultural norms.
The New Accelerator – A story exploring the potential consequences of scientific experimentation gone awry. The narrative focuses on the invention of a new chemical substance that accelerates time for its user, leading to the unintended social and ethical dilemmas that arise as a result. This tale highlights Wells's fascination with the effects of technological progress on human relationships and society.
The Star – A short but powerful story that delves into the sudden appearance of a mysterious star, which threatens to destroy the Earth. The story touches on the inevitability of human mortality in the face of cosmic forces, echoing Wells's recurring themes of existential dread and the transient nature of human existence.
The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes – A psychological thriller involving a man who undergoes a radical experiment that allows him to see the future. This story explores themes of fate, free will, and the potential perils of tampering with the natural order of time and perception. The Crystal Egg – A story about a man who discovers an unusual crystal egg that seems to reveal glimpses of an alien world. As with many of Wells's works, the narrative examines the notion of discovery and the limitations of human understanding, as well as the ethical dilemmas that arise when encountering other worlds.
The Red Room – A psychological horror story in which a man spends the night in a supposedly haunted room, only to discover that the true terror lies within his own mind. This story is a meditation on fear and the way in which the human mind can create its own horrors, even in the absence of tangible threats.
The Lord of the Dynamos
The First Men in the Moon
1100030746
The stories in this collection reflect Wells's deep engagement with the uncertainties of modernity, the moral and ethical implications of scientific advancements, and the complexities of human relationships and social structures. The title, Twelve Stories and a Dream, alludes to the central role that imagination and speculative thought play in these narratives, as well as to the often-dreamlike quality of some of the more fantastical tales.
Structure and Themes:
The anthology is divided into twelve individual short stories, with the titular "dream" serving as a reflective, almost ethereal final piece. These stories blend elements of realism with the speculative, a hallmark of Wells's style. Some tales delve into scientific possibilities and societal critiques, while others explore more personal, psychological themes. Several stories incorporate elements of fantasy or surrealism, inviting readers to question the boundaries of reality.
The Conqueror of the World – This story examines the ambitions of a man who seeks to dominate the globe through his intellectual and technological superiority. It explores the interplay between hubris and progress, echoing themes that would recur in Wells's later works, such as The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine.
The Dream of Armageddon – The title story within the collection, this piece offers a haunting vision of a global apocalypse, underscoring Wells's growing preoccupation with war and its potential to destroy civilization. The story uses the format of a dream to suggest the fragility of human existence and the haunting consequences of unchecked technological development. The Purple Pileus – A short, darkly comic story about a man who becomes involved in an improbable adventure after encountering a strange mushroom that leads to an altered perception of reality. It is a commentary on the limits of human understanding and the role of chance in life.
The Sea Raiders – A chilling tale of monstrous sea creatures attacking a coastal town. This story is a striking example of Wells's ability to blend the natural world with the fantastic, tapping into fears of the unknown and the potential horrors lurking just beyond the horizon.
The Country of the Blind – A classic Wellsian story about a man who stumbles upon a secluded society where the inhabitants have been blind for generations. In this land, sight is considered irrelevant, and the protagonist's inability to fit in is a commentary on the relativity of human perception and the limits of cultural norms.
The New Accelerator – A story exploring the potential consequences of scientific experimentation gone awry. The narrative focuses on the invention of a new chemical substance that accelerates time for its user, leading to the unintended social and ethical dilemmas that arise as a result. This tale highlights Wells's fascination with the effects of technological progress on human relationships and society.
The Star – A short but powerful story that delves into the sudden appearance of a mysterious star, which threatens to destroy the Earth. The story touches on the inevitability of human mortality in the face of cosmic forces, echoing Wells's recurring themes of existential dread and the transient nature of human existence.
The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes – A psychological thriller involving a man who undergoes a radical experiment that allows him to see the future. This story explores themes of fate, free will, and the potential perils of tampering with the natural order of time and perception. The Crystal Egg – A story about a man who discovers an unusual crystal egg that seems to reveal glimpses of an alien world. As with many of Wells's works, the narrative examines the notion of discovery and the limitations of human understanding, as well as the ethical dilemmas that arise when encountering other worlds.
The Red Room – A psychological horror story in which a man spends the night in a supposedly haunted room, only to discover that the true terror lies within his own mind. This story is a meditation on fear and the way in which the human mind can create its own horrors, even in the absence of tangible threats.
The Lord of the Dynamos
The First Men in the Moon
Twelve Stories and a Dream
Twelve Stories and a Dream is a collection of short stories by the renowned English writer H.G. Wells, first published in 1903. Known primarily for his groundbreaking contributions to the science fiction genre, Wells employs a variety of narrative styles and themes in this anthology, ranging from speculative fiction to social commentary, philosophical exploration, and psychological insight. This collection highlights Wells's versatility as an author and offers readers a window into the thematic concerns that preoccupied him at the turn of the 20th century, such as the role of science, progress, and human nature in an increasingly industrialized world.
The stories in this collection reflect Wells's deep engagement with the uncertainties of modernity, the moral and ethical implications of scientific advancements, and the complexities of human relationships and social structures. The title, Twelve Stories and a Dream, alludes to the central role that imagination and speculative thought play in these narratives, as well as to the often-dreamlike quality of some of the more fantastical tales.
Structure and Themes:
The anthology is divided into twelve individual short stories, with the titular "dream" serving as a reflective, almost ethereal final piece. These stories blend elements of realism with the speculative, a hallmark of Wells's style. Some tales delve into scientific possibilities and societal critiques, while others explore more personal, psychological themes. Several stories incorporate elements of fantasy or surrealism, inviting readers to question the boundaries of reality.
The Conqueror of the World – This story examines the ambitions of a man who seeks to dominate the globe through his intellectual and technological superiority. It explores the interplay between hubris and progress, echoing themes that would recur in Wells's later works, such as The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine.
The Dream of Armageddon – The title story within the collection, this piece offers a haunting vision of a global apocalypse, underscoring Wells's growing preoccupation with war and its potential to destroy civilization. The story uses the format of a dream to suggest the fragility of human existence and the haunting consequences of unchecked technological development. The Purple Pileus – A short, darkly comic story about a man who becomes involved in an improbable adventure after encountering a strange mushroom that leads to an altered perception of reality. It is a commentary on the limits of human understanding and the role of chance in life.
The Sea Raiders – A chilling tale of monstrous sea creatures attacking a coastal town. This story is a striking example of Wells's ability to blend the natural world with the fantastic, tapping into fears of the unknown and the potential horrors lurking just beyond the horizon.
The Country of the Blind – A classic Wellsian story about a man who stumbles upon a secluded society where the inhabitants have been blind for generations. In this land, sight is considered irrelevant, and the protagonist's inability to fit in is a commentary on the relativity of human perception and the limits of cultural norms.
The New Accelerator – A story exploring the potential consequences of scientific experimentation gone awry. The narrative focuses on the invention of a new chemical substance that accelerates time for its user, leading to the unintended social and ethical dilemmas that arise as a result. This tale highlights Wells's fascination with the effects of technological progress on human relationships and society.
The Star – A short but powerful story that delves into the sudden appearance of a mysterious star, which threatens to destroy the Earth. The story touches on the inevitability of human mortality in the face of cosmic forces, echoing Wells's recurring themes of existential dread and the transient nature of human existence.
The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes – A psychological thriller involving a man who undergoes a radical experiment that allows him to see the future. This story explores themes of fate, free will, and the potential perils of tampering with the natural order of time and perception. The Crystal Egg – A story about a man who discovers an unusual crystal egg that seems to reveal glimpses of an alien world. As with many of Wells's works, the narrative examines the notion of discovery and the limitations of human understanding, as well as the ethical dilemmas that arise when encountering other worlds.
The Red Room – A psychological horror story in which a man spends the night in a supposedly haunted room, only to discover that the true terror lies within his own mind. This story is a meditation on fear and the way in which the human mind can create its own horrors, even in the absence of tangible threats.
The Lord of the Dynamos
The First Men in the Moon
The stories in this collection reflect Wells's deep engagement with the uncertainties of modernity, the moral and ethical implications of scientific advancements, and the complexities of human relationships and social structures. The title, Twelve Stories and a Dream, alludes to the central role that imagination and speculative thought play in these narratives, as well as to the often-dreamlike quality of some of the more fantastical tales.
Structure and Themes:
The anthology is divided into twelve individual short stories, with the titular "dream" serving as a reflective, almost ethereal final piece. These stories blend elements of realism with the speculative, a hallmark of Wells's style. Some tales delve into scientific possibilities and societal critiques, while others explore more personal, psychological themes. Several stories incorporate elements of fantasy or surrealism, inviting readers to question the boundaries of reality.
The Conqueror of the World – This story examines the ambitions of a man who seeks to dominate the globe through his intellectual and technological superiority. It explores the interplay between hubris and progress, echoing themes that would recur in Wells's later works, such as The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine.
The Dream of Armageddon – The title story within the collection, this piece offers a haunting vision of a global apocalypse, underscoring Wells's growing preoccupation with war and its potential to destroy civilization. The story uses the format of a dream to suggest the fragility of human existence and the haunting consequences of unchecked technological development. The Purple Pileus – A short, darkly comic story about a man who becomes involved in an improbable adventure after encountering a strange mushroom that leads to an altered perception of reality. It is a commentary on the limits of human understanding and the role of chance in life.
The Sea Raiders – A chilling tale of monstrous sea creatures attacking a coastal town. This story is a striking example of Wells's ability to blend the natural world with the fantastic, tapping into fears of the unknown and the potential horrors lurking just beyond the horizon.
The Country of the Blind – A classic Wellsian story about a man who stumbles upon a secluded society where the inhabitants have been blind for generations. In this land, sight is considered irrelevant, and the protagonist's inability to fit in is a commentary on the relativity of human perception and the limits of cultural norms.
The New Accelerator – A story exploring the potential consequences of scientific experimentation gone awry. The narrative focuses on the invention of a new chemical substance that accelerates time for its user, leading to the unintended social and ethical dilemmas that arise as a result. This tale highlights Wells's fascination with the effects of technological progress on human relationships and society.
The Star – A short but powerful story that delves into the sudden appearance of a mysterious star, which threatens to destroy the Earth. The story touches on the inevitability of human mortality in the face of cosmic forces, echoing Wells's recurring themes of existential dread and the transient nature of human existence.
The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes – A psychological thriller involving a man who undergoes a radical experiment that allows him to see the future. This story explores themes of fate, free will, and the potential perils of tampering with the natural order of time and perception. The Crystal Egg – A story about a man who discovers an unusual crystal egg that seems to reveal glimpses of an alien world. As with many of Wells's works, the narrative examines the notion of discovery and the limitations of human understanding, as well as the ethical dilemmas that arise when encountering other worlds.
The Red Room – A psychological horror story in which a man spends the night in a supposedly haunted room, only to discover that the true terror lies within his own mind. This story is a meditation on fear and the way in which the human mind can create its own horrors, even in the absence of tangible threats.
The Lord of the Dynamos
The First Men in the Moon
4.99
In Stock
5
1
Twelve Stories and a Dream
Twelve Stories and a Dream
Related collections and offers
4.99
In Stock
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940184732596 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | H. G. Wells |
| Publication date: | 04/16/2025 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 421 KB |
About the Author
From the B&N Reads Blog