The Time Machine: A Norton Critical Edition (Norton Critical Editions)

I read this novella a long time ago with an unedited text. I thought the Morlocks were huge beings that prey upon the beautiful Eloi. Obviously my memory did not serve me well enough as I re-read this story, I have realized how unreliable memory sometimes is. The Eloi is bigger than the Morlock size-wise but it is the the smaller beings that eat the bigger one like cattle.I am really glad to have bought this Norton edition for it is, as usual, excellent in its annotated text,generous selection of contextual information as well as the inclusion of early reviews and recent criticisms. It is critically useful for the editor to include the alternate chapters of the story; it allows the reader to see how different the unused opening chapter is from the published one. The alternate opening chapter, I incline to believe, is far too technical and boring to be appealing to contemporary readers. As the editor points out, the author has revised the main text many times. And surprisingly, what is usually claimed the first edition is NOT exactly the first. That is why this edition by Prof. Arata is particularly praise-worthy as it is the result of having compared both early editions of The Time Machine published on both sides of the Atlantic, together with the earliest edition which has not been much referred to.Contemporary reviewers analyse the novel from various perspective but the better interpretations of the story come from reviewers in the 20th C as the editor has compiled some selections from Bergonzi and Hume, whose essays are very useful. In Cantor's essay, he puts the text in a wider perspective to fit in the imperial discourse and examines the qualities that are term "modern".My own impression is that this work is best read alongside with The Island of Doctor Moreau as both touch upon class, degeneration and cannibalism. As a parable, this story of Mr Wells' is probably his unconscious fear of the proletariat attempt to overrun the bourgeois. In The Island of Doctor Moreau, it is the beasts that try to "get" the island visitor, who has been impersonating the master of the island. This is a tale that can be read in both ways: forward and backward. Humanity in the future has fallen back in its primitive habits: lower level of intelligence and cannibalism.This is a work by a man of genius, as one early reviewer says.

The most interesting feature in this edition is that it features all variations of the story, as Wells developped it. It starts with "The Cronic Argonauts", that is very different from the final version (and has not been completed by the author), and you can follow all the evolution of his writing style. It also features articles and reviews, from all around the XX century. If you like this story, this is the edition to purchase!

This book arrived in the best condition and was early in arriving as well! This seller is the best! Can't say enough good things or recommend them highly enough!

Read this book for an English class and I thought it was very insightful. It gave very convincing theories on human nature and what possibly could lay ahead of us in the future. to me this book gave the illusion of mystery by not giving some people names. This mystery exemplified the imagery the time travler gave about the future. the ending heightened the mystery seven fold. I was left wanting more, wanting to know more, and wanting to go back to the future with the time traveler. Made me really think about how the time travelers theories are thought out and could potentially actually happen. Definitely a thought invoking read

Wells was very advanced in his use of science in fiction, and the critical essays here, including useful science articles both modern and contemporary to Wells, help frame his story. It's remarkable how well informed some of his ideas are, including degeneration, time as a fourth dimension, and the death of the universe by entropy - some of it was a bit off, but he was working with the limited science of the time. I was forced to revise some of my prejudices toward the scientific literacy of the period.Wells' novel doesn't require the use of scholarly footnotes/annotations as much as other Nortons do, but the essays included here are very useful in understanding the context for such an important novel in science fiction and literature in general. Here's hoping Norton is able to do more scholarly editions of science fiction literature.

The Time Machine does not need any rating. We all know about its importance, and its enduring power to fascinate readers. The edition, on the other hand, is exceedingly useful. It provides the reader with a wealth of information, as well as earlier versions, scientific articles by Wells and others on the possibility of involution and time travel, and so forth. Scholarly, but accesible. Any educated reader will be grateful for the job done by the editors.

The plot is luring and unpredictable; the main characters are well developed and convincing; the style is a bit convoluted (as it was at the time) but thought-provoking. The item arrived on time and in perfect condition

A great little book. Very imformative! The supplementary articles were very interesting.