Is H. G. Wells the greatest science fiction writer?

[Scifi fan]

Someone has told me that H. G. Wells is the single most prominent science fiction writer - he came up with invisibility, time travel, and the alien invasion. No other author has come up with so many novel ideas in science fiction.

Any thoughts on this?

[dustinzgirl]

Yes. He is.

Sorry, I don't have much else to offer, but no other SF writer has offered as much, and been as popular for as long, as HG Wells.

[iansales]

Originally Posted by dustinzgirl

... been as popular for as long, as HG Wells.

That's hardly fair. Not many sf writers have been around as long.

[dustinzgirl]

Originally Posted by iansales

That's hardly fair. Not many sf writers have been around as long.

Well, they should have invented the Time Machine, then.

[kythe]

But although H.G. Wells utilized these ideas in a way they hadn't been thought of before, his stories really have little basis in "science". For instance, The Time Machine is really more of a social commentary about working conditions in his time than it is about time travel. Time travel was only a plot point, it was the device he used to illustrate what he believed the world was coming to.

That said, his stories were very inventive and ground breaking for his time period. I would give him a lot of credit just for paving the way for other ideas in the genre.

[Ice fyre]

I have to agree that he was a pioneer of his genre. War of the worlds is a facinating glimpse of his time. I think he also pioneered the use of a semi scientific plot hook (the time machine being a good example) to make a comment on social issues. While not the first to use it I'm sure there were people before him but his work is one of the more widley known.

One thing I would say is I actually find his writing style to be good even though it was written many years ago.

[Scifi fan]

His writing style is excellent. Granted that his works tended to be social commentaries, but so what? Who else has come up with so many science fiction concepts?

I can think of Karel Capek, with his idea of robots, or Asimov with his idea of the three laws of robotics or the idea of psychohistory, and, of course, Clarke came up with the idea of communications satellites - but none of them had as many original ideas as Wells.

[kythe]

Originally Posted by Scifi fan

His writing style is excellent. Granted that his works tended to be social commentaries, but so what? Who else has come up with so many science fiction concepts?

True, and sometimes that's what makes for great literature - not the amount of science involved. I probably shouldn't have said that in a negative sense.

Many of the greatest works of sci-fi are actual commentaries about current issues but that are set in the future or an alternate "reality" to put a message into a different and more neutral perspective. Considering that H.G. Wells wrote his books in the late 1800's, there is only so much "science" as we know it that could have been incorporated into the stories. He was quite a visionary, and did well reflecting his understanding of the world.

[Scifi fan]

Science may be necessary in science fiction, but it's not sufficient. What is far, far, more important is the story.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Scifi fan

Science may be necessary in science fiction, but it's not sufficient. What is far, far, more important is the story.

Science is not necessary in SF stories. It wasnt in Wells stories and it isnt a 100 years later.

[dask]

Originally Posted by Connavar

Science is not necessary in SF stories. It wasnt in Wells stories and it isnt a 100 years later.

I agree. While helpful, science is not necessary in sf; fictional science is.

[ray gower]

I'm afraid Wells did not invent the theme of alien invasions, time machines or much else, they were popular topics in stories from the late 19th century, many of those themes appearing in the same book! Read several published in the 1880's though Ill be blowed if I can find them again.

What he was was a superb writer who could make mundane things sound interesting while broadly keeping the commentary relevant even today and coming at just the right time to make a name for himself

Also I think Verne must also be a close contender to the same crown?

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by dask

I agree. While helpful, science is not necessary in sf; fictional science is.

I dont think fictional science is either. Of course even low on science authors use fictional science but its not necessary.

A Philip K Dick book about a dystopian future,post nuclear war and focusing on characters,their interactions,emotions doesnt really need his flying cars or vid phones which he uses in like every story he wrote in SF stories.

There are many authors like that.

Thats what i mean.

[Scifi fan]

There is a debate apparently, as to whether science fiction should be reasonably scientifically accurate - now that's a topic for another thread.

In any case, if H. G. Wells didn't come up with alien invasion or time travel, who did? I have no idea who pre dated him.

[citri]

Originally Posted by Connavar

I dont think fictional science is either. Of course even low on science authors use fictional science but its not necessary.

A Philip K Dick book about a dystopian future,post nuclear war and focusing on characters,their interactions,emotions doesnt really need his flying cars or vid phones which he uses in like every story he wrote in SF stories.

There are many authors like that.

Thats what i mean.

Isn't in necessary by definition? Actual science isn't needed but some form of science is needed for it to be Science Fiction. Otherwise, it's just a book (of whatever genre).