War of the Worlds, Episode 17

The Thunder Child

(link to Episode 1)

Well, congrats, true believers, we’ve made it through Book 1! We’re doomed!

The torpedo ram, Thunder Child, makes an entrance. The last hope for mankind is a boat that runs into things. On the water. Things on the water. Look, people love boats, OK? And this is the beginning of the End, so have some grace.

blew his bloomin’ hat off’ee did

Something I appreciate about Wells’ treatment of the Martians is that they are not completely indestructible. It gives the sense that, in large part, the invaders were rather lucky in their timing to produce such prodigious destruction as they did. I mean, sure, it takes a giant steamship running into a Fighting Machine and exploding, but that capital wasn’t going to the widow and orphan’s fund anyway. Or whatever it was Edwardians had in place of school lunches.

so many snack packs, so little time…

The shipping along the river to the coast is pretty busy with teaming multitudes. So. Much. Water. Though after the heroic exploits of the Thunder Child are over, we are confronted with a new potential problem: The Flying Machine.

u.f.o! u.f.o!

Raining Darkness Upon The Land.

And that’s it for Book 1! Stay tuned for Book 2: The Earth Under the Martians, coming Real Soon.