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“The Star” by H.G. Wells Why did we choose this text? This is a fictional story about space that coincidentally reflects parts of our real life solar system and world reactions to space phenomena.

H. G. Wells 1866-1946 Scholars recognize Wells as the grandfather of English science fiction and the first true science- fiction writer. His novels include: The Time Machine (1895) Island of Dr. Malroux 1896) War of the Worlds (1898)

Wells' Writing While Wells is best remembered for these novels, he wrote prolifically. He wrote several utopian/dystopian novels including When the Sleeper Wakes and A Modern Utopia. His journalistic writing and political ideas stirred a great deal of controversy in his time.

About the Star Apocalyptic fiction, such as H. G. Wells’s short story The Star, is as old as the written word. Whether the end comes through an atomic accident, alien invasion or natural disaster, virtually every annihilation tale, from Christian end times narratives to Stephen King’s The Stand, follows a very predictable outline. The Star can be considered the prototype for the disaster/survival subgenre of SciFi. The Star may have been an early draft for Wells’s own masterpiece, The War of the Worlds.

Please see our class blog for access to the PDF of “The Star”. Let’s Read! Please see our class blog for access to the PDF of “The Star”.

In “The Star”, Wells codified the stereotypical disaster story with predicable situations in specific order:

1 “The Precipitating Event” foreshadows an approaching disaster, as when the star appears at edge of the solar system and crashes into Neptune, igniting a new star. 2 “The Dawning of Concern” is the moment when someone realizes it might have harmful consequences; “Do we come in the way? I wonder —.” 3 “The Scoffing” during which people are able to put a beneficial or benign spin on the event; it’s a good omen, a romantic night light, an icebreaker at a dance.

4 “The Proof of Impending Disaster” that is ignored or refuted, in this case, the master mathematician’s calculations show the star will intersect Earth’s path. 5 “The Laughter Stops” as the situation gets worse and people can no longer deny what is happening. The Star appears larger and closer every night and small calamities start to happen. 6 “Panic Propagates” as around the world people realize catastrophes are out of control

7 “Plans for Saving the Earth/humanity” are formulated and abandoned, such as mass migration out to sea or rockets to other planets for example. 8 “The Resolution” as the star recedes from Earth and things calm down. 9 “Acceptance of ‘The New Normal’” as grateful survivors get back to the business of life

Assignment – Prior Knowledge Before You Read the Story Many stories and movies follow this same pattern, particularly in Science Fiction and Dystopian genres. Compare these stages to other catastrophe books and films. On a sheet of paper, list and describe (IN YOUR OWN WORDS) what happens in at least three books or movies that you have read and/or watched using the nine stages as your guide.

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