1978/1986 H.G. Wells Collectors Book Of Science Fiction. Contains The Complete "Original" Pearsons 1897 Warwick Goble Illustrated Version.  Thanks to Jonathan (HC) for the details.

Printed matter (book)
Released by 'Castle Books' 1978 & reprinted 1986
Number of pages - 514
Illustrated throughout

Text and image from J Smith Collection (H_C) and book cover from drzeus.best.vwh.net

Hard bound
Colour Dust jacket & black & white illustrations
Size - 242mm X 170mm
Edited by Alan K Russel

Contents - H.G. Wells Biographical Note

Stories in italics are complete - All fully illustrated with the original period artwork

The War Of The Worlds - The Country Of The Blind - The Flowering Of The Strange Orchid - Aepyornis Island - The First Men In The Moon - The Diamond Maker - The Story Of The Inexperienced Ghost - The Empire Of The Ants - Stories Of The Stone Age (5 intotal) - The Stolen Bacaillus - In The Abyss - The Valley Of The Spiders - When The Sleeper Wakes - The Man Who Could Work Miracles - The Land Ironclads

The main story we are concentrating on is The War Of The Worlds. The story here is the original Pearsons Magazine April - December 1897 publication, and shown in full with the 2 Cosmo Rowe illustrations and the 65 Warwick Goble illustrations (with headers). The story is presented unabridges how H.G. Wells first wrote it for Pearsons Magazine in 1897, and differs from the novelisation released in 1898.

Some of the main parts of the story I would like to point out that are included in the 1897 story, removed or changed for the 1898 story are as follows - During the chapter of 'The Destruction Of Weybridge & Sheperton' (1897) the Narrator and the Artilleryman are seperated, much like the 1898 version, but this is the last time we hear of the Artilleryman and he does not appear again. The 1898 story had the chapter 'The Man On Putney Hill' included, missing from the 1897 Pearsons. The Narrator (1897) briefly mentions the barbaric ways of how the humans are treated during the later part of the story, observed from the pit that he and the curate occupy during 'What We Saw From the Ruined House'. The Narrator mentions of how the body of a man is disected by the Martians, this being entirely removed for the 1898 publication. In the 1898 novel, the great 'flying machine' is mentioned on a couple of occasions during the later part of the story. Again the Narrator mentions the machine, but with a little more detail into its purpose. Apart from other suttle changes between the two stories, the other major change is towards the end. The Narrator (1898) happens to find the Martian pit while looking down from Primrose Hill, to wonder for some 3 days to be kindly taken in by survivors of the war, of which he leaves after a short while and heads home. The 1897, after finding the Martians dead, he became a Special Constable for 10 days before returning home.

The whole story is placed around the wonderful yet oddly looking machines by Warwick Goble. Not entirely accurate to H.Gs description, given point to H.G critising the artists work in one small paragraph during the story, but non the less wonderful to look at in there entirity.

I only now of the two edition of 'H. G. Wells Collectors Book Of Science Fiction' that were released, both having differant cover. The first released edition had a curious 'alien' creature wearig a space suit (better word for it) complete with face mask and gun. The second edition was more to the mark, featuring a wonder rendition of the Martian Fighting Machines attack upon the 'Thunderchild'.

I have seen copies of this book turning up in some odd places, but if looking for the book I would recomend a book search company or even http://www.ebay.com/ which I have seen some from time to time appear and at very good prices.

 

'A worth while book to the collection?' - most certainly.