Born on September 21, 1866, H. G. Wells is considered a central pillar to what we now call science fiction. Educated in the sciences and a literary genius, Herbert George Wells came into prominence during the late nineteenth century. By the turn of the century, he was considered by many to be the world’s most important social thinker.
A prodigious talent, Wells wrote for the popular fiction magazines of his native England during “The Age of the Storytellers.” His classic novels, “The War of the Worlds” and “The Invisible Man,” were originally published in PEARSON’S MAGAZINE in 1897. His later science fiction, including “The First Men in the Moon” (1900-1901) and “The Country of the Blind” (1904), would run in THE STRAND. His countless scientific romances are still enjoyed today.
Wells was important to the development of both science fiction and AMAZING STORIES, the first science fiction magazine. Hugo Gernsback, the magazine’s founder, reprinted something by Wells in each of AMAZING‘s first twenty-nine issues.
PulpFest 2016 celebrated the writer and his strong relation to the early AMAZING STORIES with, “Traveling through Time with H. G. Wells.” Professor Garyn G. Roberts discussed Wells and his many achievements, including the author’s many contributions to the early days of pulp magazine speculative fiction. You can listen to Garyn’s presentation via William Lampkin’s ThePulp.Net. It features a special coverage page for PulpFest 2016. You’ll find links to audio recordings from nine events, including Garyn’s salute to H. G. Wells. What better way to say, “Happy Birthday,” to one of the greats of science fiction?
(Frank R. Paul, the “grandfather of science-fiction art,” painted the cover for the August 1927 issue of AMAZING STORIES. H. G. Well’s “The War of the Worlds” was serialized by the magazine in two parts. PulpFest 2016 used Paul’s cover art throughout 2015 and 2016 to promote the gathering at book stores, comic shops, and other conventions and fairs.)
