Talk:The Time Machine
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Note that Ebert gave the 2002 movie 1 1/2 stars; we can be pretty sure that fans won't accept it as canon.
Because the narrative is first-person, the Traveller's description is probably far from complete. He was wrong once, and he can be wrong again. From chapter 10: "It may be as wrong an explanation as mortal wit could invent. It is how the thing shaped itself to me, and as that I give it to you." Here's what some readers have suggested that the Traveller didn't see:
The Eloi don't naturally lack potential intelligence. The Morlocks keep them in line by genetically modifying the staple foods of the Eloi to produce psychoactive drugs. They let the Eloi grow until they're old enough to be harvested, leaving some of them to parent and raise the next generation. The Eloi have evolved a culture accepting that most children will be orphans. Each of the big buildings that house Eloi is run essentially like an orphanage. The appearance of those blasted Precious Moments figurines is based on that of Eloi children.
The sequel can follow any of several paths, one of them being the following: One of the Eloi fasts for a while. The drugs begin to wear off, and his thoughts are no longer clouded. He eventually learns which foods lead to craziness. He begins to convince the others that he is not crazy and that food grown from seeds really does produce enlightenment. He learns of fire, and now the Eloi have a weapon against the Morlocks. Animal Farm ensues. Some help may come from the Traveller. Eventually, the Eloi fall victim to "You are what you defeat."
Could this start a novel? Or should I lay off the dope? --Damian Yerrick
I suppose we can start off a novel like that... I was thinking of writing about a bunch of New Yorkers using Wellsian time travel technology to attempt to prevent the September 11 attacks. One idea would be to have them go back in time to prevent the construction of the World Trade Center (which might focus attention on the half-hearted efforts to preserve Radio Row in the days of yore - i.e., the 1960s. That, in turn, might call into being a Jack Finney-esque description of New York in the 1960s.) Another item might be to attempt to talk Mohammad Atta out of doing it. Perhaps another idea might be that a mistake leads to an even deadlier terrorist attack (i.e., a hijacked airplane plunges into Times Square or topples the Empire State bdg. immediately, killing, say, 6,000 folks in the process.)
I also wouldn't mind an Alexander Hartdegen novel (Alex was the name of the Time Traveler in the 2002 movie, but I'd have him bumping around NYC rather than the world of the Eloi.) - Richard Rabinowitz (Rickyrab|kibitz)
Interesting ideas above for fan literature, I'd like to see them if they get done. But I'm more interested in an analysis of the original novel for this article, dealing with canonical issues (I doubt Wells thought of or grasped the concept of genetic engineering or dopants in food). I have started off an analysis of the plot of the novel. It started off as an intention to discuss the inferred social history (as mused upon by the Time Traveller) and how it created the Eloi/Morlock societies. Then I decided on a comprehensive outline of the plot, similar to what Khaosworks is doing for the film plots. For most literature and movies I normally disagree with extensive spoilers, but this is rather old fashioned and quirky and hard to read for young people and those whose first language is not English. The novel text is available on-site, so I hope my spoilers are used as a quick-access guide while reading the novel.--ChrisJMoor 01:37, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Actually, this article is going to get rather large if I do this. Suggesting that we move the sections about the two movies to separate articles. Otherwise, downloading the page could become tediously slow for people on slow modems, causing them to back-click in disgust and all our work will be in vain!--ChrisJMoor 22:31, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Should this article be included in the category "Dystopian novels"? 216.214.103.34 23:11, 25 Apr 2005 (UTC)