The World Set Free
The World Set Free is a novel published in 1914 by H. G. Wells. The book is considered a prophetical novel foretelling the advent of nuclear weapons.
A constant theme in Wells's work, such as his 1901 nonfiction book Anticipations, was the role of energy and technological advance as a determinant of human progress.
The novel opens: "The history of mankind is the history of the attainment of external power. Man is the tool-using, fire-making animal." Scientists of the day were well aware that the slow natural radioactive decay of elements like radium continues for thousands of years, and that while the rate of energy release is negligible, the total amount released is huge. Wells used this as the basis for his story. (Summary on Wikipedia)
Genre(s): Science Fiction
Language: English
| Section | Chapter | Reader | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play 00 | Prelude | LivelyHive |
00:00:56 |
| Play 01 | Chapter 1, The Sun Snarers, part one | LivelyHive |
00:39:29 |
| Play 02 | Chapter 1, The Sun Snarers, part two | LivelyHive |
00:37:58 |
| Play 03 | Chapter 2, The Last War, part one | LivelyHive |
00:45:58 |
| Play 04 | Chapter 2, The Last War, part two | LivelyHive |
00:51:21 |
| Play 05 | Chapter 3, The Ending of War, part one | LivelyHive |
00:59:00 |
| Play 06 | Chapter 3, The Ending of War, part two | LivelyHive |
00:39:26 |
| Play 07 | Chapter 4, The New Phase, part one | LivelyHive |
00:55:03 |
| Play 08 | Chapter 4, The New Phase, part two | LivelyHive |
00:36:07 |
| Play 09 | Chapter 5, The Last Days of Marcus Karenin, part one | LivelyHive |
00:36:09 |
| Play 10 | Chapter 5, The Last Days of Marcus Karenin, part two | LivelyHive |
00:33:56 |