The Time Machine - HG Wells

The Time Machine is one of those stories I've know the plot of for as long as I can remember. Yet I've only just read the book. Perhaps I saw the original film version when I was very young? I was therefore intrigued to read the original text.

Firstly, it's completely astounding to think that the book is 101 years old. I don't know what I was expecting, Shakespeare or something, but it's very readable and has some astonishingly relevant predictions.

On the down side there's not too much of a plot, it's quite short (novella length maybe?), and there a large chunks of wandering about and pontificating on what might have caused the world to be how it is. (But no proof!) There's also a lot of blatant politics to do with class and how only through adversity will the human race progress. But it was Wells' first novel so I guess he was still finding his feet with that new fangled "scientific romance" novel.

I forgive all it's downsides because it's 101 years old and it's intelligent and it helped create Science Fiction as we know it. You should read it if you haven't already.