World Set Free

fiction, science, history · EN

World Set Free is a captivating novel by H.G. Wells, first published in 1914. This prophetic work offers a chilling glimpse into the future, foreseeing the emergence of nuclear weapons. A recurring theme in Wellss writings, including his 1901 nonfiction book Anticipations, is the impact of energy and technological advancements on human progress. The novel begins with the thought-provoking line The history of mankind is the history of the attainment of external power. Man is the tool-using, fire-making animal. Drawing on contemporary scientific knowledge about the slow radioactive decay of elements like radium, Wells crafts a story that resonates powerfully with todays world.