About the book: 2024 / English prose writer H.G. Wells is one of the founders of science fiction, the author of about two hundred books, a writer whose fictions, ideas, observations , predictions, warnings and educational efforts changed the consciousness of people of the twentieth century. In addition to the famous novels “The Time Machine”, “The Invisible Man”, “War of the Worlds”, the names and images of which have become firmly entrenched in the linguistic and cultural everyday life of mankind, Wells also created almost a hundred stories, marked by inexhaustible fiction, the breadth of thematic repertoire and the constant entertainingness of the plots . This collection includes samples of Wells's short prose from different years - from the first, student attempts at writing to later works written by an already recognized master of literature, thinker, scientist and public figure, favored by world fame. Inexplicable mysteries coexist in the writer’s work with witty observations of English characters and morals, tragicomic sketches with sad parables, stories full of primitive horror with stories about amazing discoveries and inventions, about the transmigration of souls and travel to other worlds..