The War of the Worlds Summary

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Here you will find a The War of the Worlds summary (H.G. Wells's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

The War of the Worlds Summary Overview

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.

book 1 chapter 1

The Narrator paints a picture of early 1900's Earth, being closely observed by superior intellects from Mars. Humans, oblivious and skeptical about Martians, are seen as inferior creatures by these beings. Mars, being aged and small compared to Earth, is depleting in life and resources, causing the Martians to covet Earth's abundance. The Narrator befriends Ogilvy, an astronomer, and together, they watch Mars from an observatory in Ottershaw. They observe gas emissions without realizing they're witnessing the launch of Mars projectiles aimed at Earth. Meanwhile, Earth continues in blissful ignorance, oblivious to the looming danger.

book 1 chapter 2

A shooting star is spotted above Winchester, leading Ogilvy to discover a massive, metallic cylinder at Horsell Common. The cylinder is too hot to approach closely but he observes a slow rotation at its exposed end. Drawing a link between this and his previous night's astronomical observations on Mars, he infers the cylinder must contain Martians. Despite the skepticism of locals, Ogilvy persuades a journalist from London, Henderson, to visit the crash site. Finding no further movement from the cylinder, they return to the town, where Henderson communicates the event to his newspaper. The Narrator, upon reading about the incident, journeys from his Woking residence to Horsell Common.

book 1 chapter 3

Upon reaching the cylinder's impact spot, the Narrator observes a gathering of bystanders on the crater's periphery. He recognises a yellow-white metallic material between the cylinder and its no longer spinning end cap. Convinced that the cylinder may contain knowledge from Mars rather than life, he grows restless and decides to head back home. He makes a return visit following newspaper reports of "a message received from Mars." Henderson, Ogilvy, Stent and various laborers are now attempting to extract the cylinder portion still lodged in the earth. Realising their efforts are being hindered by the crowd of onlookers, Ogilvy instructs the Narrator to ask property owner Lord Hilton to intervene. Gratified to be of help, the Narrator discovers that Lord Hilton is due to arrive by train shortly, and he sets off for the train station.

book 1 chapter 4

As dusk descends, the Narrator comes back to a big crowd of people. He forces his way in and hears Ogilvy shouting for everyone to stay away as the contents of the cylinder are unknown. The cylinder's end unnaturally opens up, revealing its dark inside to the Narrator. Slender, gray appendages appear from inside, followed by a “rounded bulk” as big as a bear. According to the Narrator, its movement seems laborious, probably due to the varying gravity conditions on Mars and Earth. He admits it's challenging to visualize the Martian’s grotesque appearance, featuring a V-shaped mouth, large eyes, globular body and numerous tentacles. The Narrator quickly retreats to nearby trees, attempting to observe from a distance. The crowd is now nearly gone and he struggles to see the activities around the pit where the cylinder lies.

book 1 chapter 5

A slender pole crowned with a disc that resembles a mirror emerges from the pit. As darkness falls, the Narrator only discerns shapes of oncoming individuals. A modest party, which includes Stent, Ogilvy, and Henderson, advances towards the pit, brandishing a white flag. Suddenly, there are three bursts of green smoke followed by a brilliant flash and sibilant sound. The Narrator observes a large creature from the pit rise and the sibilant sound morph into a hum. He witnesses the surrounding landscape ignite as if an unseen ray is emanating from the pit. The team brandishing the white flag vanishes in an instant. The Narrator notices the unseen beam sweep across the area, igniting everything in its path, including distant homes and trees. Struck with terror, he remains motionless, observing the destruction. Had the beam completed a full circle, it would have killed him. Overwhelmed with fear, the Narrator flees.

book 1 chapter 6

The Heat-Ray from Mars can incinerate all flammable items. It has the power to melt substances like lead, break glass, and convert water into steam. It has caused the death of forty individuals within the vicinity of the pit. A large number of people have been scalded by the fire ignited in the nearby flora. The Narrator puts forward the idea that an unseen light could have been focused into a beam using a parabolic mirror. Numerous individuals were scorched by the flames before they fled, causing a stampede in their haste to get away.

book 1 chapter 7

Exhausted, the Narrator collapses near a bridge, later rejoining a crowd. He attempts to learn about the common's incident, but the baffled group dismisses him. Upon returning home, he explains the situation to his wife, reassuring her with the idea that Earth's intense gravity slows the Martians down. Contrarily, he confesses his oversight about the potential advantages the Martians could have, considering the oxygen-rich atmosphere and their high-tech facilities. He holds on to the belief that a well-placed artillery shell could resolve the escalating problem.

book 1 chapter 8

Day-to-day living resumes in the vicinity of Horsell Common despite the demise of many who were there. The survivors, regarded as insane, were disregarded. Since no more updates come from Henderson, newspapers dismiss the narrative. Anyone daring to venture near the pit has been burnt to ashes. Still, a military unit has been mobilized, and a number of soldiers have set out to probe the perimeters of the common. Just past midnight, another cylinder soars through the sky.

book 1 chapter 9

The subsequent day, soldiers encircle the Martians at the initial crash site. The Narrator interacts with a few soldiers who haven't encountered the Martians yet. They ask the Narrator about the Martians and have a heated debate on handling them. Meanwhile, the Martians appear to be preparing for a clash in their pit. The Narrator heads home where he discerns the sound of artillery shells at the second Martian crash site. Chaos ensues at the first Martian crash site with explosions and shooting, causing destruction around the Narrator’s home. He spots the Heat-Ray within striking distance of his home. He hastily grabs his wife and servant, borrows a horse and cart from his neighbour and heads towards Leatherhead, leaving the burning hills and buildings behind.

book 1 chapter 10

The Narrator embarks on a twelve-mile journey to Leatherhead, leaving behind his wife and servant at his cousins' residence. His journey back home is motivated by the need to return the horse and cart. As he travels, he spots another falling star, a sign that more Martians are approaching. His late-night homecoming coincides with a raging hailstorm accompanied by lightning. Suddenly, he spots two towering metallic contraptions emerging over a hill. They resemble tripods with large dishes on top and sweep through forests as though they were mere reeds. In a frantic attempt to steer the horse cart, it topples over, leading to the horse's death. Concealing himself, he watches as the two hulking machines pass by. Eventually, under the cover of darkness, he manages to find his way back home.

book 1 chapter 11

Observing from his study window towards Horsell Common, the Narrator spots giant figures moving in the darkness close to the pit. Pondering their nature, he's unsure if these massive machines are sentient or controlled by the Martians. The once familiar scenery is now charred and obliterated, even a train is not spared. Spotting an artilleryman sneaking across his yard, he beckons him inside. The soldier recounts how his team and weapons were immediately annihilated by the Martian's Heat-Ray. After providing the artilleryman with some nourishment, the Narrator returns to his window, watching three of the colossal vehicles near the pit scrutinizing their surroundings.

book 1 chapter 12

As morning breaks, the Narrator and the soldier gather supplies and flee their residence. The Narrator's goal is to reunite with his wife and flee the nation, but his path to Leatherhead is blocked by the Third Cylinder. He decides to accompany the soldier, taking a roundabout route to their destination. Along their journey, they encounter a number of Hussars on horseback and several artillery setups. As they move further from Horsell Commons, it becomes evident to the Narrator that the evacuees lack a proper grasp of the grave danger they are in. He warns them, exclaiming, "Death is coming!" Upon reaching Shepperton Lock, where the Wey and Thames meet, another conflict commences. Five towering tripod creatures engulf the scrambling crowd. A sequence of artillery shots manages to topple one of these entities, smashing the dome on top, which the Narrator assumes is the control center. To dodge the deadly Heat-Rays incinerating the vicinity, he dives into the river. He witnesses the remaining four tripods dragging away the damaged one, and considers his survival nothing short of miraculous.

book 1 chapter 13

As the Narrator continues to distance himself from Horsell Common, he observes the appearance of cylinders in the sky every day. Artillery is arranged around the ravaged area and signal devices are used by scouts. A single large machine is still at work, protecting the original cylinder's pit. The remaining Martians seem to be busy underneath a dense green smoky column. After suffering exhaustion and burns from his previous experience, the Narrator encounters a distressed clergyman prophesying the apocalypse. He consoles the clergyman, assuring him of the Martians' vulnerability, but also insists on their need to move further north towards London.

book 1 chapter 14

The account switches to the Narrator's brother's experience in the capital. At first, he learns about the landing of the first cylinder, but it's not deemed a threat. His travel plans are halted due to the temporary halt of train services, a mystery to most. An influx of people from Walton and Weybridge arrive, yet no news of the Martians. Days later, he comes across a news article painting the Martians as enormous, spider-like machines capable of immense speed and emitting intense heat beams. It presents an upbeat tone, reporting the Martians' retreat after one's defeat. He is shocked to discover the complete devastation of the area around his brother's house. The following day, he witnesses panic in London. With police knocking on every door instructing evacuation, the city is in chaos. The Martians reportedly have the capability to "discharge enormous clouds of black and poisonous vapor by means of rockets." With all his available cash in his pockets, the brother abandons his home.

book 1 chapter 15

The Narrator and his clergyman companion depart from the church, making their way towards London. However, they are forced to take cover upon sighting Martian machines. These machines, before reaching a new artillery line, employ launchers to distribute rockets filled with a dense, black toxic gas over the land. The Narrator observes the expanding black clouds enveloping the terrain. After one machine is taken down, the Martians proceed with caution, dispersing the lethal gas before them, preventing the artillery from firing again. The troops soon lose the will to combat them directly, resorting only to setting traps or planting explosives. By the following day, Richmond is engulfed in the black fog and London's inhabitants are being ushered out.

book 1 chapter 16

The story moves to the Narrator's brother as he battles the chaos to escape London. Amidst the rush and danger, where people get trampled boarding trains and areas are shrouded in black smog, he swipes a bike from a plundered shop, bypassing most of the frantic crowd. Outside city limits, he confronts thieves assaulting two women. He then allies with them, steering their horse-drawn cart towards Edgware, beyond London. Venturing northeast, the party sees a desperate throng of people and vehicles fleeing London, with many screaming about the Martians' arrival. Initially, the Narrator's brother tries to assist some individuals, but soon realizes the risk involved. He then sticks with the women in the cart, threading through the human river, aiming to further their journey east. They finally pause by a stream to recover.

book 1 chapter 17

Occupying London, Martian machines appear to aim at breaking the opposition's spirit. The terrified populace, numbering six million, flees without provisions. Two more stars plummet to earth. The protagonist's brother, along with his companions, arrives at the east coast, which is filled with boats of various kinds. Arranging a voyage on a steamship, the brother and his two female companions depart only when the ship is brimming with passengers. Three Martian machines draw closer from the west. As the steamship leaves, it passes the Thunder Child, a formidable ironclad ship. The Martian machines attack, wading into the sea. The Thunder Child charges, toppling the first machine. The second retaliates with its Heat-Ray, causing destruction to both itself and the Thunder Child. The passengers on the steamship, including the protagonist's brother, cheer at the downfall of two Martian machines as they escape the Essex coast. As twilight falls, the brother observes a massive, "flat and broad" object casting a shadow over the land as it sweeps the sky.

book 2 chapter 1

Trapped in a tiny dwelling because of black smoke, the Narrator and the curate are released when a Martian machine appears, clearing the smoke with a steam jet. They decide to leave, with the Narrator resolved to find his wife in Leatherhead, assuming the Martian machines will head towards London. The horrifying sight of lifeless bodies strewn around and people being snatched by the machines shocks him. In a surviving neighborhood, they scavenge for food, stopping at a well-stocked house. Suddenly, there's a large blast and the house crumbles. Amidst the debris, the Narrator spots a Martian cylinder responsible for the destruction.

book 2 chapter 2

Hidden away in a partially destroyed home, the Narrator and the curate observe their surroundings through a small opening in the debris. The house next door has been wiped out by the cylinder, scattering rubble all around. Their hiding spot is covered in wreckage everywhere except for the side facing the cylinder. The Narrator takes a keen interest in the Martians, who haven't been observed so closely by any other human. Notably, these creatures are primarily large, round heads, roughly four feet across, housing a heart, lungs, and a sizable brain. They sustain themselves by extracting and injecting the blood of living beings. Interestingly, Martians don't sleep, lack gender and reproduce like plants by budding. They also come from a world devoid of microorganisms. The Martians, numbering five or six, work silently at the pit near the house, leading the Narrator to theorize that they communicate telepathically, given that their sounds don't seem to serve communicative purposes.

book 2 chapter 3

The Narrator and the clergyman quarrel about who can observe the Martians through the small viewing hole. The Narrator reveals his annoyance at the clergyman, criticizing his lack of food management and constant weeping. After hiding for multiple days, the Narrator sees a Martian craft return, carrying a human prisoner. He doesn't see the aftermath, but hears screams and Martian sounds. The Narrator makes plans to escape and attempts to dig away from the pit, but it's too noisy. As he observes the pit, he hears a dozen booming sounds, similar to gunfire, split into two groups of six.

book 2 chapter 4

The Narrator struggles to keep the increasingly unstable curate under control. He manages the food supply to last ten days, yet constantly has to stop the curate from overeating. On the ninth day, the curate becomes loud and moves towards the kitchen's peephole. The Narrator subdues him, rendering him unconscious. Abruptly, a Martian comes into view at the peephole and a metallic tentacle enters the kitchen. The Narrator secretly observes from the pantry as the curate is taken away. He then retreats into the coal-cellar connected to the pantry. The probing tentacle investigates the pantry and even unlocks the coal-cellar door, but the Narrator remains undetected. Once the tentacle retreats, the Narrator spends a full day hidden in the coal-cellar, fighting hunger and thirst.

book 2 chapter 5

Departing the coal storage, the Narrator finds the Martian appendage had pilfered the remaining food. Thirst drives him to risk using a noisy pump handle, apprehensive of alerting the Martians. Unexpectedly, a stray dog enters the kitchen. Pursuing inspection of the crater, he finds it deserted - the Martians and their equipment are gone. The Narrator ventures into the pit, eyeing the Martian red plants carpeting the area, yet no Martians are in sight.

book 2 chapter 6

The Narrator imagines himself on a different planet, amidst charred earth and crimson vegetation, fearing that mankind has lost its supremacy to the Martians. Scavenging for sustenance, he manages to find some edibles in a nearby garden. He stumbles upon the Thames, brimming with the alien red plant. He notes that this invasive species soon perished, lacking resistance to Earth's microbes. As he journeys further, scavenging food with no human in sight, he speculates if the invaders have targeted Berlin or Paris and questions if he would be among the last survivors of mankind.

book 2 chapter 7

The Narrator stays overnight at a Putney Hill inn, hunting for sustenance and moving towards Leatherhead. He contemplates his lack of guilt over the curate's demise, ponders the Martians' whereabouts and the fate of his spouse. On his journey, he encounters a destitute man wielding a sword who he identifies as the artilleryman from his house. They converse and the soldier suggests they form a resilient society underground, aspiring to eventually overthrow the Martians. The Narrator is apprehensive about this proposed existence but consents to assist in burrowing into the tunnels. After some work, they dine, imbibe, and engage in card games. By dawn, the Narrator resolves to seek his wife and abandon the artilleryman to his indulgent fantasies.

book 2 chapter 8

The Narrator ventures across London, with certain areas appearing to be untouched while others are filled with dead bodies and coated in black dust. A peculiar howling sound captures his attention, leading him to investigate its origin. On his journey, he passes through Hyde Park towards Regent’s Park, where he spots an immobile Martian vehicle. His path is marked by several Martian casualties, and he continues until the noise ceases. Ultimately, he arrives at the Martian’s central base in London, finding toppled war machines and Martian corpses being feasted on by dogs and birds. Later he discovers that the Martians fell victim to bacteria, to which humans had developed immunity over generations. He remains hopeful for the reconstruction of society.

book 2 chapter 9

Many individuals are heading back to London, including the Narrator, who was taken in by a kind family after finding him disoriented. They inform him that Leatherhead was obliterated by the Martians. Despite their advice against it, he resolves to check on his home. Discovering that the trains are now operational, the Narrator departs. Through the window of the moving train, he gazes upon the devastated land. His residence is in ruins, exactly as he and the artilleryman left it. Suddenly, a voice echoes in his home. He sprints towards the French window and is surprised to find his wife and cousin there too.

book 2 chapter 10

Following the alien attack, the Narrator discloses that only Earth bacteria were found in the examined Martian bodies. The black vapor's makeup remains unknown, as does the functioning of the Heat-Ray. The Narrator is confident that the Earth will be ready if the Martians return. Humans won't let the Martians build their weapons as before, and will strike immediately upon cylinder landing. The Narrator suggests that the Martians might have also targeted Venus. The assault has changed human perspectives, making them aware of possible dangers from other planets and fostering unity in readiness. The haunting memories of the attack, the corpses, and the destroyed terrain continue to plague the Narrator.