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bebea's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
mpclemens's review against another edition
4.0
Who knew H.G. Wells wrote noir? He's celebrated for [b:The War of the Worlds|8909|The War of the Worlds|H.G. Wells|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320391644s/8909.jpg|3194841], [b:The Time Machine|2493|The Time Machine|H.G. Wells|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327942880s/2493.jpg|3234863] and other foundational works of what was to become Science Fiction, but these stories show a side of Wells I'd never encountered before. Still florid and descriptive, with the occasional section of occasional (and unfortunate) racism, these stories round out Wells as an author truly ahead of his time. "The Cone" would not be out of place as a the plot of a 1940's film of jealousy and murder, though it was written nearly 50 years prior. There's elements of fantasy in these stories, and the standard touches of Wellsian futurism and technology, but none of it so far-fetched that it affects its readability. A very pleasant surprise.
mariafernandagama's review
5.0
I loved this so much! It really resonated with me because it deals with a theme that is very dear to my heart: how what most of us consider to be a "successful life" is actually a life stripped from anything meaningful. A wasted life, in other words. A life that doesn't afford you even the slightest pause to appreciate the wonders of nature, of beauty, of love. It's very sad and absurd to me how the world we live in seems to encourage us to do exactly that: to overtire ourselves at work, to never get enough sleep or time to rest, to put our professional engagements before anything that's really important to us, including our family, partners and friends.
It also reminded me a lot of the Twilight Zone episode "A stop at Willoughby", one that I absolutely love because it also deals with the same questions.
It also reminded me a lot of the Twilight Zone episode "A stop at Willoughby", one that I absolutely love because it also deals with the same questions.
doctortdm's review
5.0
A very entertaining tale, but why do others think it is a fantasy seems more like a fable. I read one reviewer who thought that Well's inclinations towards wanting a utopian world impacted his ability to create powerful literature. What BS! Wells had a tremendous impact on literature just because he fell out of favor doesn't take away what he did.
We are all forced to make decisions in our life, some we regret, some are forced on us by the context of the times, but if we are true to making the decisions and not blinded by what others think or by greed, success, competitiveness then don't we often choose the right door?
We are all forced to make decisions in our life, some we regret, some are forced on us by the context of the times, but if we are true to making the decisions and not blinded by what others think or by greed, success, competitiveness then don't we often choose the right door?
emmalthompson85's review against another edition
4.0
The door in the wall is a short volume collection three short stories by H.G. Wells. These are "The door in the wall", "The Sea Raiders", and "The Moth".
Of the stories in this volume, I enjoyed "The door in the wall" the most. I loved the sense of lost opertunity, the question if it was real, the commentary on the way the preasure of adulthood and life and achievement robs us of the simple pleasure of existing.
"The Sea Raiders" is a more typical story from the sea monster genre - featuing a man who stumbles upon flesh eating sea creatures. A great threat of suspense in this story.
"The Moth" is a little slow to start but the ending is great. The character is a scientist who's scientific rivalry comes back to bite him in the worst way possible.
Of the stories in this volume, I enjoyed "The door in the wall" the most. I loved the sense of lost opertunity, the question if it was real, the commentary on the way the preasure of adulthood and life and achievement robs us of the simple pleasure of existing.
"The Sea Raiders" is a more typical story from the sea monster genre - featuing a man who stumbles upon flesh eating sea creatures. A great threat of suspense in this story.
"The Moth" is a little slow to start but the ending is great. The character is a scientist who's scientific rivalry comes back to bite him in the worst way possible.
mystimayhem's review against another edition
5.0
In my head, this is in the same universe as Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series. I really enjoyed it.
terryus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
scutajar's review against another edition
4.0
Barring the unnecessary racism in "The Lord of the Dynamos", this was an excellent collection of short stories.
yourcheri's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cazaam's review
3.0
H.G. Wells' writing is stuffy in this short story. I was left wanting more, but not in a good way. I feel like there is so much more one could write with this story, but it was left behind the wall. It could have been Narnia with a dark twist, but the author wasn't daring enough, and left it as a mystery.