Wells was interested in the implications of evolutionary theory on the future of human beings at the biological, sociological, and cultural levels, and The Time Machine, short and readable, draws on many of the social and scientific debates of the time. The Broadview edition of this science fiction classic includes extensive materials on Wells’s scientific and political influences.

Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English author, best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary. Together with Jules Verne, Wells has been referred to as "The Father of Science Fiction". Wells was an outspoken socialist and very sympathetic to technocracy and pacifist views, although he supported the First World War once it was under way, and his later works became increasingly political and didactic.

H.G. Wells' profile page

Nicholas Ruddick's profile page

“This is undoubtedly the definitive edition of H.G. Wells’s masterpiece, as fresh today in its imaginative power as the day it was written; but here refreshed by excellent introduction, notes and a comprehensive collection of appendices by Wells’s contemporaries. The method could not be bettered.” — Brian W. Aldiss, author of the Helliconia trilogy; Billion Year Spree: A History of Science Fiction and, most recently, White Mars: or, the Mind Set Free: A 21st-Century Utopia

“This is an invaluable edition of a text with a crucial role in modern culture. Wielding his meticulous scholarship and wide-ranging knowledge, Ruddick produces a splendid introduction and a rich selection of contextual materials.” — H. Bruce Franklin, author of War Stars: The Superweapon and the American Imagination and Future Perfect: American Science Fiction of the Nineteenth Century

“Ruddick offers a wide-ranging and stimulating Introduction to this generously documented edition of one of the great source texts of modern science fiction. General readers, students, and scholars will all be grateful for the comprehensive appendices, which provide a full selection of the scientific, philosophical, and cultural contexts out of which The Time Machine first emerged. This should be the scholarly edition for some time to come.” — Douglas Barbour, University of Alberta

“The structure of Ruddick’s book makes the complexity of The Time Machine easy to map, while the critical materials provide a basis for deep and detailed study. The impressive scholarship included ensures that it will remain a useful resource for teachers, essential for libraries and especially suitable for students or newcomers to Wells’ canon.” — Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts

“I exclusively use your edition of The Time Machine and cannot say enough about its perspective. Mathematics and science in literature is a specialty of mine, and there is no finer edition of that text. It is a keystone in my Mathematics and Science in the Humanities course. You folks at Broadview are outstanding!” — Michael J. Gormley, Quinsigamond Community College