His works: The Time Machine (1895) and The War of the Worlds (1898), among others, are stories about strange worlds, futuristic technology and deeply human tales that probe the social, psychological and moral fabric of society. His early take on science fiction was a harbinger of the genre’s future growth. His ideas have inspired writers, filmmakers and thinkers globally, including many contemporary African writers.
For many, science fiction offers an escape into distant galaxies or post-apocalyptic landscapes, but it is more than that. Wells was one of the first to use speculative fiction as a tool for examining social issues.
His works address the anxieties of his time: concerns about war, inequality and the misuse of science. These themes are relevant today, especially as African countries grapple with similar concerns of political instability, technological advances and social divisions. Wells’s approach to science fiction reflects the social and political challenges that shape our world.
Wells was born into a modest background on September 21, 1866 in Bromley, England. His father worked as a shopkeeper and his mother as a governess. His childhood was marked by both hardship and curiosity. His family struggled financially, forcing young Wells to work at various jobs before he pursued his education. However, this early struggle did not crush his intellectual spirit. Instead, it fuelled his desire to understand the world.
He was a voracious reader, particularly fascinated by the works of Charles Darwin and other writers who explored the relationship between humans and nature. This scientific interest and the natural world later inform much of his fiction. Wells’s early life experience inspired his desire to write stories that explored not just the external world but also the human psyche.
Wells’s writing explores scientific ideas and the human condition in an ever-changing world. He was deeply concerned with the social and psychological consequences of technological advancement. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the world was undergoing rapid industrialisation. New inventions were changing the way people lived, worked and interacted.
The horrors of war, particularly the First World War, had a profound impact on Wells. He saw the destructive potential of technology, as well as how society could turn on itself. His concern about the future of humanity, particularly in the face of scientific and technological progress, motivated much of his writing. Works like The Invisible Man (1897) reflect the fear that science could go too far, with catastrophic consequences.
His breakthrough came with the publication of The Time Machine in 1895. This novel is considered one of the first works of modern science fiction. It introduced the concept of time travel, which became one of the most enduring themes in science fiction.
The novel tells the story of a scientist who builds a machine that can travel through time, leading him to witness the distant future of humanity. Through this journey, Wells explores themes of evolution, class division and the potential consequences of human progress.
Though dead for decades today, his insightful influence on science fiction is immeasurable. When teaching European literature, I prefer calling him “The Father of Science Fiction” for his pioneering work in the genre.
His percolation of scientific and social themes laid the groundwork for generations of writers, including some of the most important voices in the genre here in Africa.
Black science fiction is becoming an important tool for exploring social and political issues. Writers like Nnedi Okorafor, Namina Forna and Tade Thompson have used speculative fiction to address themes such as colonisation, identity and the consequences of technological progress. Just like Wells, they use the genre to explore the complexities of the human condition and to critique societal systems.
For example, Okorafor’s Binti series combines African traditions and futuristic technology, exploring the intersection of culture and innovation. This theme echoes Wells’s concern about how technology can change society positively or negatively.
Similarly, Thompson’s The Murders of Molly Southbourne reflects the psychological turmoil and existential fears that Wells often grappled with in his work.
Speculative fiction in Kenya has become a powerful and popular genre, offering imaginative escape while addressing contemporary sociopolitical realities.
Drawing from African oral traditions and urban life, it connects readers to cultural roots, while exploring futuristic and supernatural themes. This genre resonates with younger generations raised on global pop culture, now seeking deeper local narratives.
Writers like Mehul Gohil, known for his bold, experimental style, have helped shape Kenya’s speculative fiction scene through platforms like Kwani Trust and Jalada Africa.
