Just began to read H. G. Wells’ The Time Machine

   I am on a week-long trip to the Western Coast of Florida, so there will be very few blog entries until I return. Along with seeing the sites and visiting family, I began to read H. G. Wells’ “The Time Machine”. I just started and am already enjoying it. What strikes me as most unique is the lack of character’s names. From the first chapter we are being retold a story of “The Time Traveler” as it was told to the narrator. The narrators even neglects to tell us “The Time Traveler’s” name, but instead leaves him referred to with that title alone, “The Time Traveler”. Odd. Very odd for a novel, but interesting.

     The story begins with The Time Traveler explaining to a group of guests the geography of the fourth dimension. I love a well written novel, especially when I learn something new and thought provoking. A short segment from this discussion between The Time Traveler and his guests about the fourth dimension that I found most interesting follows below:

 

     “There are really four dimensions, three which we call the three planes of Space, and a fourth, Time. There is, however, a tendency to draw an unreal distinction between the former three dimensions and the latter; because it happens that our consciousness moves intermittently in one direction along the latter from the beginning to the end of our lives.

     Now, it is very remarkable that this is so extensively overlooked,' continued the Time Traveler, with a slight accession of cheerfulness. Really this is what is meant by the Fourth Dimension, though some people who talk about the Fourth Dimension do not know they mean it. It is only another way of looking at Time. There is no difference between time and any of the three dimensions of space except that our consciousness moves along it. But some foolish people have got hold of the wrong side of that idea.”

 

     I hope this small segment can spark some interest for others to read this classic work by a great author, H. G. Wells. If you’ve already read this book, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Reading!!!