The War of the Worlds By H.G. Wells , Arthur C. Clarke

The central idea of "The War of the Worlds" can be summarized in one sentence: invaders from Mars land near London, defeat everything in their path, and destroy the great capital, before being annihilated by an entirely unexpected enemy force. This novel by Wells contains various elements that make it timeless, even more than a century after its publication.

This novel is one of Wells's science romances: it portrays humanity as a wandering spirit striving for...