The most famous example of invasion literature and first published in 1898, The War of the Worlds has inspired countless science fiction stories and novels. After a dramatic series of shooting stars are seen tearing across the night sky, a gigantic cylinder descends from Mars and lands near London. Inquisitive locals gather round only to be struck down by a murderous heat-ray. Giant destructive machines climb out the crater formed by the cylinder destroying everything in their path on a merciless march towards London. Can humanity survive this onslaught? A gripping adventure written in semi-documentary style filled with scenes of flight, despair and panic this is also a very human story about pride, fear and the promise of recovery.