The Crystal Egg

By: H. G. Wells

Narrated by: Walter Covell

In this short story, Mr. Cave, a shop owner, finds a strange crystal egg that serves as a window into a Martian landscape.

The War of the Worlds was probably H.G. Wells' best-known work, but this brief tale indicates that he had more than a passing interest in Mars. The artifact that the title refers to would not seem too extraordinary today, but this brilliant prediction of robotic planetary exploration seemed fantastic in the early 20th century.

Herbert George Wells, better known as H.G. Wells, was an English writer best known for such science-fiction novels as The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, and The Island of Doctor Moreau. He was a prolific writer of both fiction and non-fiction, and produced works in many different genres, including contemporary novels, history, and social commentary. Wells, along with Jules Verne, is sometimes referred to as "The Father of Science Fiction".

Public Domain (P)1986 Jimcin Recordings

Critic reviews

"Combining the scientist's analytical view, the historian's sense of destiny, the novelist's vivid feel for everyday life, and the artist's limitless imagination, H.G. Wells crafted impressive fantasies - and the most exciting works of 20th-century science fiction." (H. G. Wells: A Sketch of His Life and Works)