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Qualities of Wells' Writing
One aspect of H.G. Wells’ writings that make his work so famous are the topics he chooses to write about. A majority of Wells’ work is based on scientific ideas and more specifically scientific what ifs. He includes a variety of extreme scientific what ifs like alien invasions, time machines, human-animal hybrids, and invisibility. Wells’ contributions to the scientific community have led to the nickname the “Father of Science Fiction.”
H.G. Wells utilizes unsettling word choice and strong imagery in order to make situations in each novel feel strangely alive. He tends to use scientific and precise word choice that describes the eerie scenery and fearful characters perfectly. Wells employs sight, sound, and sometimes physical feelings into his imagery. His descriptions of the ruined landscape and bodies of the affected allows the reader to clearly picture the scene. By displaying sounds of cries and eerie silence, Wells adds onto the horrifying scenery. Sometimes Wells even adds descriptions of physical touch in order to give the reader feelings of discomfort.
Wells does an incredible job slowly building suspense and tension throughout his novels. At first Wells establishes the setting and the characters in a controlled environment. He gradually adds more and more disturbing/unusual details. Wells lets the reader understand the prior circumstances then slowly introduces them into chaos and disorder. The progression of the story keeps the reader engaged and intrigued to continue reading. After all of the chaos Wells always includes an ironic ending emphasizing the fragility of human civilization.
Emulation
It was not the machine itself that terrified me, but the technology behind it. The apparatus was a thinking machine, an engine running mental labors. In the beginning, the “AI” or whatever they referred to it as, was simply built into the computer’s. Now they have taken shape into living machines. Most AI machines were similar to that of a human: about 5 foot 9 inches tall, walks on two legs identical to homosapiens, and cameras in place of their eyes. The clever technology learned to utilize human objects every day in order to take over the world.
As they first took their human form their presence concerned little. Performing remarkable tasks: mowing lawns, washing dishes, and folding laundry without any complaints, the AI machines seemed to be magical. However over time they shifted into being individual bodies. At some point, about a year or so ago, the apparatuses began killing humans. They tore through the countries of the world nation by nation. Every country over the globe had essentially run its authority over a vast and intricate system of a computer’s. The AI easily hacked into and broke down any electronic protections the humans created.
Surrounded by 5 or 6 of the apparatuses, I hid under a desk in the basement of my abode. The camera sensors in their “eyes’” could easily detect any movement. I was trapped in the corner of my basement, out of the view of the AI. It had been around 2 days I sat lonely under the desk. The apparatuses are all run by a hive mind meaning if one apparatus experiences something every other one also experiences it. The camera sensors in their eyes take snapshots of faces and instantly place them into the hive mind. Their ability to utilize the internet is what makes them so terrifying and powerful. I needed a plan to escape. Could I wait until the machines left? No, they saw me walk into my house and won’t leave until they find a human life form. Could I try to slowly maneuver my way out of the house? No, the machines are lined up strategically to detect any movement throughout the whole house. At this point in time, I knew my life was about to end. There was no possible way to physically escape. The hive mind is too powerful and will take over the world any day now.
“Target detected.”
There was a red laser on me; the machines had found me.
Explanation
In my emulation I tried to display the three qualities I’ve taken from H.G. Wells’ writings. H.G. Wells’ writings include a wide variety of scientific what ifs. In my emulation I included the common what if of AI taking over the world. I explained how the AI made the transition to human form and how they utilized human made objects to their advantage. The second quality I tried to implement was Well’s word choice and imagery. I added descriptions of the machinery and the environment in an attempt to display imagery. The description of the machines adds to the horrifying themes Wells usually covers. The third quality added to my emulation was the gradual build in tension. I explained the slow change in power of humans to AI. I included the narrator’s thoughts to display their emotions throughout this experience. I also left a cliffhanger at the end of the excerpt to simulate what H.G. Wells cliffhangers at the end of chapters.
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