The War of the Worlds Summary

Our protagonist, a resident of a town just outside London, narrates a tale of Martian invasion on Earth towards the end of the nineteenth century. When a falling star lands near his home, he along with several scientists discovers it's a large metallic cylinder housing extraterrestrial beings from Mars. These Martians, piloting large machines resembling creatures, emerge from the cylinder. They possess superior technology including a Heat-Ray, capable of incinerating anything in its path, as they demonstrate by annihilating the crowd gathered around the crash site, narrowly sparing the Narrator.

Despite the danger, life continues for the oblivious locals around the crash site. Military forces are deployed and another Martian cylinder lands, prompting the protagonist to seek refuge in Leatherhead, another town on the outskirts of London, with his wife. Upon returning to his town, Woking, he encounters more Martian machines and an artilleryman who describes the devastating power of the Heat-Ray. The protagonist and artilleryman barely escape a confrontation with the Martians at the Thames river. Meanwhile, the Narrator's brother successfully aids in the escape of two women amidst a mass exodus from London.

The protagonist and a clerical associate find themselves trapped in a partially destroyed building due to another Martian cylinder landing. Owing to the Cleric's erratic behavior drawing attention, he is taken by the Martians, barely sparing the protagonist's life. Eventually, the protagonist discovers the Martians have all succumbed to earthly bacteria, having no immunity due to the lack thereof on Mars. Despite the massive loss, the protagonist believes the Martian invasion was beneficial in making humans aware of extraterrestrial threats. However, he remains haunted by the death and destruction he witnessed.