In 1898, H. G. Wells wrote *The War of the Worlds*. A classic among classics, this novel is the first story of an alien invasion ever told- a tale that invented modern science fiction and cemented the image of the Martian in our collective imagination. A writer, scientist, and politician, H. G. Wells made his life a struggle, using science fiction to awaken our consciences.

At the very end of the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, the British colonial empire was at its height, and in Queen Victoria’s realm- protected by a fleet reputed to be invincible- people felt safe. Yet one writer imagined this civilization- perceived as the culmination of human genius over the centuries- being destroyed in a matter of seconds: the young H. G. Wells, already known for science fiction stories such as The Time Machine and The Invisible Man, described the catastrophe in the pages of his new novel, The War of the Worlds. This novel reflects certain anxieties within the scientific and intellectual circles of the time: the idea that the planet Mars—which people were beginning to observe closely- might be inhabited; that technology carries the potential for destruction; and that the conquest of distant lands is accompanied by highly reprehensible crimes. Until then, the idea of an alien attack had been, at best, the stuff of children’s stories. By treating it at face value through writing that is as realistic as it is imaginative, H. G. Wells laid the foundations for modern science fiction…

Fears of the Present Day
Directed by Cyril Leuthy (James Dean: The New Man, Godard – Only Cinema…) and featuring AI-generated sequences, this documentary, with its apocalyptic atmosphere, combines historical, literary, and scientific perspectives (notably that of astrobiologist Nathalie Cabrol) to highlight the richness of a work whose legacy in popular culture has, through its sheer abundance, nearly overshadowed its innovative dimension. Through its many adaptations- from Orson Welles’s famous radio version to Steven Spielberg’s film, including Tim Burton’s openly satirical take- the powerful theme of The War of the Worlds has permeated the collective imagination, reflecting, over time, the fears of the present- whether the specter of World War II, the struggle against the communist enemy, the post-9/11 era, or, currently, the ecological crisis. At its source, we discover a progressive and visionary writer of many facets, of whom René Barjavel said: “After H. G. Wells, science fiction authors have done nothing but embellish.”