Books › In the days of the comet
In the days of the comet
426 pages
A tense exploration of human bitterness that washes away into a serene, philosophical dream of a perfect society.
What it feels like
Reading this novel feels like walking through a dense, smog-choked city that is suddenly swept clean by a miraculous, glowing wind. The experience begins in a state of claustrophobic tension, steeped in the bitter realities of class inequality, romantic jealousy, and the looming dread of war. Wells builds a gritty, emotionally volatile atmosphere that mirrors the protagonist's feverish mind. Then, the narrative undergoes a radical, almost jarring transformation, shifting into a serene, philosophical exploration of human perfectibility. The prose transitions from urgent and grounded to sweeping and didactic, inviting the reader to ponder the artificiality of human conflict. It is a steady, thought-provoking read that will delight fans of classic utopian science fiction who appreciate stories where social critique blossoms into earnest, visionary hope.
- Mood
- claustrophobic
- eerie
- transformative
- serene
- Tone
- earnest
- philosophical
- critical
- didactic
- hopeful
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- class resentment · destructive jealousy · utopian awakening · human perfectibility
- The writing
- Wells employs a reflective, slightly formal Edwardian prose that shifts from gritty social realism to sweeping, visionary rhetoric.
- The arc
- The journey moves from bitter, claustrophobic resentment and violent jealousy into a sudden, expansive state of profound peace and rational clarity.
- Who it's for
- Readers who enjoy early science fiction that blends sharp social critique with earnest, philosophical visions of a better world.
Content notes
- attempted murder
- romantic betrayal
- class prejudice
About the book
H. G. Wells, in his 1906 In the Days of the Comet uses the vapors of a comet to trigger a deep and lasting change in humanity's perspective on themselves and the world. In the build-up to a great war, poor student William Leadford struggles against the harsh conditions the lower-class live under. He also falls in love with a middle-class girl named Nettie. But when he discovers that Nettie has eloped with a man of upper-class standing, William struggles with the betrayal, and in the disorder of his own mind decides to buy a revolver and kill them both. All through this a large comet lights the night sky with a green glow, bright enough that the street lamps are left unlit.
Description from Open Library.
Books like In the days of the comet
See why they match
The First Men in the MoonH. G. WellsA vintage cosmic adventure that shifts from whimsical scientific discovery to a chilling critique of human greed and imperialism.
The war in the airH. G. WellsA prophetic and harrowing descent into global conflict, where the marvels of aviation become the instruments of civilization's collapse.
The country of the blindHerbert George WellsA brisk, eerie journey through thought experiments that peel back the everyday to reveal the terrifying wonders of the unknown.
The food of the gods and how it came to earthHerbert George WellsA satirical, slow-burn catastrophe where a single scientific misstep forces humanity to confront its own obsolescence in the shadow of giants.
The Black CloudFred HoyleA cerebral, high-stakes puzzle box where the end of the world is treated as a fascinating physics problem to be solved.
The Napoleon of Notting HillChesterton, G KA delightfully absurd and fiercely philosophical romp through a future London where local pride sparks a glorious, theatrical rebellion.