The World Set Free

H. G. Wells

Language: English

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Publisher: Macmillan and Co.

Published: Jan 2, 1914

Page Count: 396

Description:

2342. THE WORLD SET FREE. A STORY OF MANKIND.
Macmillan; London, 1914. +Dutton; New York, 1914.
(English Review, December 1913-May 1914) An essaynovel
dealing with the consequences of atomic explosives,
proposing a chiliastic theory of human redemption
that is now very unconvincing. * The scientific
background is the discovery that radioactive
atoms decay, together with the speculation that the
rate of decay might be increased, thus releasing
useable energy. * In 1933 Holsten discovers a way to
release atomic energy, and by 1953, what with the
Holsten-Roberts engine, atomic power is commercially
available and applied to automobiles, airplanes,
trains, ships, and general industry. * But while
science and technology have advanced, society has
not progressed. Governments interfere in many areas
of life, with Safety and Morality Inspectors, and
there are widespread unemployment and starvation.
The law has been stagnant for centuries. Government
administrative personnel are low-grade men, motivated
by greed or lust for power, and nationalism is
an overpowering obsession. * For reasons not very
clear, in 1958 the Central European powers attack
the Slav Confederacy, whereupon the British and
French enter the war on the side of the Slavs. At
first both sides try to restrict themselves to conventional
warfare, but accidents happen, and before
long all the major cities of Europe have been devastated
by atomic bombs. * These atomic bombs, which
release the energy of carolinum, an artificial element,
are not one-time affairs like ours, but continue
to explode for a long time in seventeen-day
half-periods. As a result what used to be cities
are now bubbling pits of molten matter subject to
repeated atomic explosions. * The war extends all
over the world. The Chinese and Japanese attack the
Slav Confederacy; the United States attacks Japan;
India rises in revolt. * By 1959, though, a countermovement
has begun under the idealist Leblanc. At
a conference of world leaders called by Leblanc the
monarchs of the world resign and world unity is proclaimed.
All atomic bombs are to be destroyed. The
only ruler who tries to evade this agreement is the
obnoxious Monarch of the Balkans, who tries to hide
bombs. He is soon put out of the way through the
efforts of British King Edward (who is not identified
but might be the future Edward VIII). * With
the world republic a new era begins. Atomic energy
is restricted to practical uses, and war is abolished.
Since most of the great cities have been
destroyed, new population centers arise, mostly out
of refugee camps. Science moves forward, new discoveries
are made in human biology, and the race is
to be improved. * The last section of the book is
presented through the philosopher Karenin, who symbolizes
the older life: humanity shackled by physical
defects. Karenin states openly that the atomic
war was desirable and necessary, since it shook humanity
into reason. "How encumbered the world had
become! . . .It was in sore need of release, and I
suppose that nothing less than the violence of those
bombs could have released it and made it a healthy
world again." * More essay than fiction, though with
three minor character-centers, The World Set Free is
more concerned with presenting a point of view than
with entertaining. Wells, here, despite earlier
stories to the contrary, is on the side of the physical
sciences, considering them the potential salvation
of humanity.