The Food of the Gods (Lake Illustrated Classics, Collection 4)

Author - H. G. Wells ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Paperback Book item from American Guidance Service was reviewed on 25-Oct-2008.

Search ISBN:1561035874 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. The Food of the Gods (Lake Illustrated Classics, Collection 4) Reference Book. Classifications : Adult & Continuing Education Education Nonfiction Subjects Books General Science Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Subjects Books General AAS Science Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Subjects Books P .

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1) Paperback Book The Food of the Gods (Lake Illustrated Classics, Collection 4) by American Guidance Service. A novel of science gone awry. Wells is quite scathing of scientists, in general, throughout this story. A process has been invented that can increase the size of organics. This goes everywhere from plant life and crops through animals, and eventually all the way through humans. Lots of over large products cause problems, and over large humans are put to work because of the abilities their superior size gives them. Such exploitation and differences lead to conflict.
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2) Paperback Book The Food of the Gods (Lake Illustrated Classics, Collection 4) by American Guidance Service. Many of H.G. Wells books deal with what we call science fiction. Such as The War of The Worlds, The Time Machine or the Invisible Man he likes to write about wonders brought about by new technology or alien ways. He loved a good What-if-this-happened? Yet there was also a social scientist within him. With such novels as The Island Of Dr. Moreau and The Food Of The Gods he also explored the human condition and how fixed or flexible it could become.
In the Food Of The Gods two men, Mr. Bensington and Professor Redwood put their knowledge together to make a chemical that allows an animal or plant continuous growth without need for it to stop to build up energy or material.
Soon mankind is dealing with giant wasps, chickens, grass and all kinds of harmless or very dangerous creatures. And soon babies are given the BoomFood to make them into giants. What should mankind do with the giants? Employee them? Bar them from the rest of civilization? Kill them?
The novel is full of humor, mostly pointed at the class system, scientists, the common man and society in general. There is even a slight hint that each new generation THINKS of itself as giants, as big minds with big ideas.
The funny part was the slow change of the characters´ impressions on me, as I started to think of the normal sized humans as pigmies near the end and the giants as the normal sized humans. This was done mostly by allowing them to become the major characters, shifting the point of view, so we started to see more of the giants, their way of life, their problems and less of the normal humans. Also, the normal humans seemed to whine a lot.
Clearly this novel has effected many other books and many, many sci-fi B-movies. THEM just to name one. Get it used or new.

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3) Paperback Book The Food of the Gods (Lake Illustrated Classics, Collection 4) by American Guidance Service. This book is quite possibly the most boring book I have ever read. It just won´t end. I doggedly pursued the end of this book, but I thought that I would become comatose by the time I finished it. So two scientists have harnessed a chemical that creates incredibly large versions of their genetic potential. Wow. So interesting. Please don´t become the ultimate masochists. Just file on past this book when you see it on a shelf.¤

4) Paperback Book The Food of the Gods (Lake Illustrated Classics, Collection 4) by American Guidance Service. There´s that catchy line in Jurassic Park where Ian Malcolm says that Hammond´s scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could genetically reproduce dinosaurs that they never considered whether they should do it--H.G. Wells gets the distinction of illustrating the dilemma. Here is a humorous look at the stereotypical scientists and the hot-headed public confronted with change. Wells pokes fun at academics, politics, and the theoretical vs. practical aspects of science.

This book is way better than one may suspect. Sure, it´s very British, but some of the absurd scenes--such as giant rats attacking a carriage--are wonderfully described. There was an awful movie a while back that bastardized this fine novel and should be avoided, but do yourself a favor and pick up this novel. Sci-Fi comes in all shapes and forms, and this is a hilarious, thought-provoking sample.
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5) Paperback Book The Food of the Gods (Lake Illustrated Classics, Collection 4) by American Guidance Service. When the scientists Bensington and Redwood create a new compound which turns growth in all living things from a series of bursts and intermission into a constant, they have no idea how it will affect the world. Indeed, when this new "Food of the Gods" gets loose, it begins to grow giant plants and animals...and giant people. But, is the world big enough to hold an aging race of pygmies and a young race of giants?

This now largely forgotten work was written by H.G. Wells (1866-1946) in 1904, during his brief sojourn with the Fabian Society. Mr. Wells did not write his science fiction to tell entertaining stories; instead, he used his stories as vehicles for social commentary. In this particular book, Wells introduces a new race of mankind, large and capable - born outsiders who can not possibly fit into the social constructs that surround them, much less understand them.

Now, unlike War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man, why did this book fade into obscurity? Overall, I would say that Wells critique of Edwardian society is not deep enough to allow this story to transcend that setting. Also, while the story is quite good, it is not great, unlike those other stories.

So, am I saying that you should skip this book? Definitely not! H.G. Wells was a tremendous storyteller, and this story is quite entertaining. If you are a fan of Edwardian literature, or just like a good story, then you will definitely like this book. I highly recommend it.¤

6) Paperback Book The Food of the Gods (Lake Illustrated Classics, Collection 4) by American Guidance Service. A retelling in comic strip form of the tale in which two scientists discover a food that makes things grow very rapidly.¤

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 22-Nov-2008, 15610358749781561035878, 741-8

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