Alongside Frenchman Jules Verne, Herbert George (H.G.) Wells is known as one of the founding fathers of science fiction. A prolific and political journalist as well, the outspoken, larger-than-life figure is still best known for a string of books written at the beginning of his career that toy with ideas of humanity gone fantastically, scientifically awry.
Wells was born into poverty in Britain on September 21, 1866. His early exposure to poverty would mark him for the rest of his days; nearly a lifelong socialist, Wells believed that modern civilization, with its profound capitalist class divisions, was doomed, and that communist ideals were the remedy.
As a student, Wells found his...
