H. G. Wells 
The Sleeper Awakes 

One of the patriarchs of the science fiction genre, H. G. Wells (1866-1946) produced a vast collection of important works on the topics of scientific progress, politics, history and social commentary. One work in particular marked a watershed moment in the English author’s career. With the publication of ‘When the Sleeper Wakes’ in 1899, later republished under the title ‘The Sleeper Awakes, ‘ Wells gave the world its first dystopia novel. The story concerns a Victorian Englishman who falls into a trance, and awakens to find himself in a terrifying London of the future. In what is essentially a story of radical socialism gone bad, this new, mechanized London has been reduced to a highly regimented society of mental and physical slaves under a totalitarian, power-hungry group of elite. His subsequent novels, including ‘The Time Machine, ‘ ‘The Island of Doctor Moreau, ‘ ‘The Invisible Man, ‘ and ‘The First Men in the Moon, ‘ continue Wells’ exploration of social progress and the dark potential of science and technology.