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Audiobooks > Fiction >  Classics > The Time Machine
The Time Machine Audiobook, by H. G. Wells Play Audiobook Sample

Download The Time Machine Audiobook

3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 (3.00) - 114,216 customer ratings
The Time Machine Audiobook, by H. G. Wells Play Audiobook Sample
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Author: H. G. Wells Narrator: Bernard Mayes Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Audio Length: Release Date: January 2006 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9781481541190
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Publisher Description

The Time Traveler first steps out of his magnificent time-transport machine in the year 802,700—more than 800,000 years beyond his own era. The brave explorer finds himself on a slowly dying Earth populated by a race of slender pacifists called the Eloi and decides to study this lush land of flower people before returning to his own age. These pacifists, he discovers, have built their wealth on the backs of a slave class forced to live below ground—the Morlocks. As the conflict between the classes surfaces, the Time Traveler finds that his only means of escape, his time machine, has been stolen.

Wells’ amazing view of the future, propelled forward from his own Victorian era to the present, serves both as classic science fiction and as a parable of the chasm between the working-class suffering and the upper-class privilege of his day. Wells’ remarkable storytelling and provocative insight make this terrifying portrait of the men of tomorrow an enthralling tale sure to capture readers everywhere.

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Quotes

  • “[Wells] contrives to give over humanity into the clutches of the Impossible and yet manages to keep it down (or up) to its humanity, to its flesh, blood, sorrow, folly.”

    - Joseph Conrad

  • “Every time-travel story since The Time Machine is fundamentally indebted to Wells.”

    - Robert Silverberg

  • “The savage brilliance of the young H. G. Wells—and the greatest science ficiton novel ever written.”

    - Stephen Baxter

  • “[The Time Machine] is considered one of the earliest works of science fiction and the progenitor of the ‘time travel’ subgenre.”

    - Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature

Customer Reviews

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  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I love any story involving time travel, so obviously I enjoyed this book. Plus come on, it's a classic. "

    - Nate, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Wells is a fabulous writer. The story feels a little dated, but it's still a wonderful read just because of his skill at storytelling. "

    - Rose, 2/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Read it initially for my first MA and now it's a paired text with Niftyknicker's rubbish. Easy to digest novella, although it's hard to get the old film out of the head when Wells describes the actual journey into time. Nice way to spend a Monday morning. Heaps better than the coarse tosh of Niffenegger. "

    - Lynne, 2/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This was interesting as an early example of science fiction, but I can't say it was wholly engrossing. I thought it strange that the time traveler spent so much time amongst the Eloi and the Morlocks but that he merely flitted about the other times he visited. Why bother with the other stops at all? They seemed tacked on and rushed through. Even so, the book was interesting from a literary history perspective. "

    - Jackie, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Would've given it five stars if H.G. Wells wasn't such a racist. "

    - Tara, 1/23/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The Time Traveller goes forward in time some 800,000 years to find that there are two races of human-like creatures on Earth--one simple race that lives above ground in peace and harmony, the Eloi; and underground creatures, the Morlocks, who feed off the Eloi. The novella is so much better than any movie version they've ever tried making of the story! "

    - Beverly, 1/21/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A great novel. beautifully written. and as far as I can tell, very much, ahead of its time. "

    - Patrick, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A brilliant plot , set amidst the fact which the author is trying to highlight that is the difference between the working class and high class people . the time machine stole by the Morlocks they explore the landscape of London and bring about interesting revelations. "

    - Trina, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I'm sure I must have read this book before, but I decided to read it in preparation for reading K.W. Jeter's Morlock Night. I have to admit, I remembered very little of the book, so it's good I read it before reading Morlock Night. I quite enjoyed it this time around, though. "

    - David, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " nice imagination...a vision of future.. "

    - Harshit, 1/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " One of the originators and still good. "

    - Don, 12/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The book is great, a nice social commentary. But this audio version, read by Alan Munroe, is to be avoided. His voice is flat and he pauses every other word as if the sentence needs to catch its breath "

    - Jaq, 12/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I think what saved this one was the ending. It was definitely sci-fi-y (a genre I find a bit hard to read) but it was an interesting read about time travel and provided an alternate view as to where human technological advancement would lead us. "

    - Olivia, 11/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " GENIUS GENIUS GENIUS ...one of the best books I have ever read soooooo gripping and I think most of H.G wells assumptions about the future are true NOW "

    - Laila, 11/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " one of the greatest books I will ever read. very Short but it is truely a work of art. "

    - Fahad, 10/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The end times are surreal and creepy. "

    - William, 8/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A fascinating vision of the future... "

    - Tom, 4/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really enjoyed this novel. Love HG's writing style. I would read anything he wrote just because of that but the story has a particular story line that really makes you think. I love his interpretation of what the future might bring... Read it! "

    - Charlene, 4/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Enjoyable book, though very short. It is interesting to compare the originals of these classic Sci Fi books to the various film imaginings. "

    - Titus, 12/15/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " wells is a great writer and i enjoyed it "

    - Darlene, 10/17/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I like these Campfire graphic novels because I can get these classic stories read in under an hour AND have pictures to accompany it! "

    - Nick, 7/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Interesting concept--time travel but I can see why the screenwriters who wrote scrips for the movie versions changed the story line. There was a lot that could have been explored that wasn't and too much time spent on details that didn't add anything to the story. "

    - Ger, 7/17/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very interesting short read. An exciting story that not only plays with the idea of time travel but offers a commentary on the industrial revolution and its implications for humanity. "

    - Chris, 10/31/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Pretty good for a free e-book. Interesting perspective on what our world will look like thousands of years into the future. "

    - Nicole, 9/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This old science fiction novel doesn't hold up too well & seems somewhat dated today, but probably was innovative & fresh in its day. "

    - Charles, 6/16/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I picked up a nice 1931 Random House copy with some great art deco illustrations by W.A. Dwiggins, the book of course, is a classic. "

    - Mike, 6/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Nice style, a little iffy on the plot. 3.5/5 "

    - Ominouspotato, 5/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " An interesting read though perhaps Wells' vision of the future is somewhat dated as our society moves farther away from the manufacturing of the Industrial age and more to the service and computers of the Information Age. "

    - Lisa, 5/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Enjoyed this one alot, going to have the watch the movie too. "

    - Jeremiah, 5/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Love the constant allegory of the destruction that mankind brought about on itself, and the terrible wrath that it played out on us through the ages. "

    - Michael, 5/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The most unique view into mankind's history I've ever read. "

    - Rebecca, 5/16/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I am reading it, I am enjoying it, this is my first HG Wells read. The language is antiquated, it might bother some, but it is interesting enough that I have downloaded War of the Worlds to also read. "

    - Elaine, 5/14/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A fast but interesting read "

    - Kim, 5/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Where would Sci-Fi be without this book! "

    - G.l., 5/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I read and honestly I was not able to visualise all that he wrote whatever i was able to for that I am happy that i read this one "

    - Sidharth, 5/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good, but a little too wordy... still good though! "

    - LuckyCharmer, 5/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Finally got around to this one, and very glad I did. Prompted immediate acquisition of additional works by Wells, I so thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast read. "

    - Carolyn, 5/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I liked the anthropological tone of the narrator describing the future races. It's definitely a product of the 1800's and was very similar to the ethnologies of the time. "

    - Ella, 5/2/2011

About the Author

H. G. Wells (1866–1946), born in Bromley, Kent, England, was apprenticed to a drygoodsman and a druggist before he made his way to the Royal College of Science where he studied biology. Known as the father of science fiction, he was also a prolific writer in other genres, including contemporary novels, history, and social commentary. As a spokesman for progress and peace, his middle period novels (1900–1920) were more realistic and covered lower-middle-class life, suffrage, and the emergence of feminist ideals that pushed against the limits set by male-dominated society.

About the Narrator

Bernard Mayes is a teacher, administrator, corporate executive, broadcaster, actor, dramatist, and former international commentator on US culture. He is best known for his readings of historical classics.