Alongside Frenchman Jules Verne, Herbert George (H.G.) Wells is known as one of the founding fathers of science fiction—a label he always resisted. Instead, he called his works "scientific romances," stressing their concrete humanity and de-emphasizing the abstract ideas at play. A prolific and political journalist as well, the outspoken, larger-than-life figure is still best known for a string of books written at the beginning of his career that toy with ideas of humanity gone fantastically, scientifically awry.
Wells was born into poverty in Britain on September 21, 1866, and he was not shy about glorifying his lower-class beginnings. He later won a scholarship to what is now part of...
