'The essence of ideas'

 

“Human history in essence is the history of ideas.” – H. G. Wells

Born in England on Sept. 21, 1866 Wells has been called “The Father of Science Fiction" (although some argue that it was Jules Verne).  Prolific in many genres, including the novel, history, and social commentary, he authored such Sci-Fi classics as The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and The War of the Worlds, made even more famous after a 1938 radio broadcast by actor Orson Welles.

 

Born into a poor family, Wells suffered a broken leg at age 9 and while recuperating spent almost all his time reading books from the free library, deciding then and there he wanted to be a writer.  After putting himself through secondary school – overcoming financial and personal hardship in the process – he went on to earn a college degree in the sciences and begin his long, successful writing career.   

 

His scientific background stood him in good stead when he started writing his “fantastical” stories that became the foundation for what would be termed “science” fiction.  Also an artist, Wells made part of his living doing sketches but noted “I had rather be called a journalist than an artist” since it was also during that time – in his late 20s and 30s – that he started writing social commentary for newspapers and magazines.  But, while he was widely read in other genres, it was his science fiction that made him famous.

 

Wells noted that an author should always strive to make a story as credible as possible, even if both the writer and the reader know certain elements might be impossible.  That, he said, allows a reader to accept the ideas as something that might really happen.  

 

“What really matters,” he said, “is what you do with what you have.”