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I’ve been trying to catch up a little with the rather enormous stack of books I have bought over the last year so I thought I’d post up a few book reviews in an effort to post a little more regularly.

First up then is “The Martian War : A Thrilling Eyewitness Account of the Recent Alien Invasion as Reported by Mr H.G. Wells” by Gabriel Mesta which for those who don’t know is a pseudonym of Saga of the Seven Suns author Kevin J. Anderson. The rather lengthy subtitle probably gives a little clue to the story and tone to expect, this being a fictional account of the author H.G. Wells’ inspiration for his most famous book along with many of his other. Indeed half the fun is spotting the characters from his novels as they crop up in this story as supposed “real” characters from his past.

The book follows two threads. One being the story of Wells’ fictional Dr. Moreau with the very real, mars canal loving, Percival Lowell and their contact with visitors from Mars which are told largely in journal entries from Dr. Moreau. The other thread follows H.G. Wells himself along with “Darwin’s Bulldog” the famous evolutionist T. H. Huxley and their adventures which culminate in a trip to Mars to tackle the Martians directly with the aid of the previously mentioned Moreau’s Journal. It’s all quite silly when compared to modern science fiction and reminds me in places of the John Carter Mars stories in what is probably a knowing nod, though that’s no bad things since I do enjoy a Burroughs book now and again.

It rattles along at a fair old pace and characterization is pretty non-existent but for me it is pure, pulpy, scifi joy of the best kind. I’m a bit of a fan of fictional history and of course a huge Wells fan so I’m probably not the best person to ask for a balanced review of this book. That said I think anyone with a taste for classic science fiction who wants an easy read to just enjoy rather than challenge will probably get something out of this book.