War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

After seeing the classic old film, I wanted to read the book. And so, two years ago, at Christmas, I got the chance when I received 50 Classic novels from my brother's then girlfriend. This was the first one I picked up.
Have you ever wondered what lived on other planets? What would happen if there was intelligent life on Mars and they decided to come and visit? What would they look like? One evening, in the small town of Woking, England, the people find out first hand what happens when a large oval, metallic capsule crashes into an area just outside of town and opens up. What occurs after that is horrific and the stuff of nightmares. The aliens build their machinery from humans and destroy anything trying to stop them as the rest of the planet is invaded and conquered. However it's not to last. Within the week, as observed by the narrator - who is a journalist - the aliens become sick and they all die. From what? Well, I can't ruin the entire story for you, can I?

H. G. Wells (1866-1946), English author, futurist, essayist, historian, socialist, and teacher wrote The War of the Worlds (1898).

Herbert George Wells was born on 21 September 1866 in Bromley, Kent County, England, son of Sarah Neal, maid to the upper classes, and Joseph Wells, shopkeeper and professional cricket player. The Wells were quite poor and it was not the happiest of marriages; they would soon live apart though neither re-married.
The popular novel foreshadowed things to come for the human race: robotics, World Wars, warfare tactics including aerial bombing, use of tanks and chemical weapons, and nuclear power. Part prophet, part pessimist, Wells was a prolific author not just of science fiction but also fiction and non, utopian and dystopian short stories, travel sketches, histories, and socio-political commentary. While his most popular works tend to show a bleak future for humanity, he was not without his sardonic and wry wit; Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the human race.

(bibiography: http://www.online-literature.com/wellshg/)