What is Coming? (A Forecast of Things After the War)

by H. G. Wells

Overview

These are Wells' musings on political and social future, and are not his predictions of what future technological breakthroughs may come. There are no speculations about spaceships, robots, or any other topic favored by futurists. Second, this book was written in 1916 in the midst of the First World War, and this fact weighs heavily on all of his speculations. This book is more of a polemic than a scholarly or philosophical analysis. Nonetheless, Wells comes across as more informed and much more nuanced in his views and positions than many more famous political philosophers. He has no illusions about the war, but is very dismissive of naive pacifism. He recognizes fully well a need for some form of trans-national body that could mediate in cases of conflict between different powers. The League of Nations and the United Nations are the later embodiments of this ideal. There are a few comments that Wells makes which could be considered politically incorrect today, but it is important to remember the mores of his time and not project our own onto him. Furthermore, these potentially risque statements and sentiments are few and far between. For the most part Wells comes across as a very civil and well-intended commentator who harbors no malice to any of the people and institutions that he opposes.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940012454379
Publisher:	Solomon Publishing
Publication date:	04/24/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	158 KB

About the Author

Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books. Together with Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback, Wells has been referred to as "The Father of Science Fiction".

Wells was an outspoken socialist and sympathetic to pacifist views, although he supported the First World War once it was under way, and his later works became increasingly political and didactic. His middle-period novels (1900–1920) were less science-fictional; they covered lower-middle class life (The History of Mr Polly) and the "New Woman" and the Suffragettes (Ann Veronica).

Date of Birth:

September 21, 1866

Date of Death:

August 13, 1946

Place of Birth:

Bromley, Kent, England

Place of Death:

London, England

Education:

Normal School of Science, London, England