StoryreaderWar Of The Worlds
December 18th 2006 04:29
A nova is apparently a new thing, that is an unknown, previously unexperienced thing. According to Robert’s definition, ‘An SF text may be based on one novum…More usually it will be predicated on a number of interrelated nova…This ‘novum’ must not be supernatural, but need not necessarily be a piece of technology…The emphasis is on difference and the systematic working out of the consequence or consequences of a difference or differences…’ (Roberts: 2000: 6)
War Of The Worlds is based on a series of closely connected nova, some of which however play a more active role in the course of the narrative than others.
The first nova is space travel (its exact dynamics and principles are not fully examined) which is what enables the Martians to land on earth. But once the Martians have landed and a few questions asked by the more curious the nova ceases to be of much interest. It functions really as a means to an end.
The next and probably key nova is the Martians themselves who land on earth, and firmly ensconced in their heavily armed mini ships embark on a massive campaign of slash and burn.
The Martians are a point of difference, with their ‘cool’ advanced intellects (there is an implication that ‘cool’ denotes unfeeling, unemotional), and weak, repulsive bodies. The Martians are ‘alien’ with their single eyes and suction cupped fingers. There are some parallels between the Martians imperialistic behaviour and some of earth’s cultures. But for the most part the aliens are different because they are ‘alien’, unknown, perhaps even unknowable - communication is never achieved. The remoteness of the Martians and their singleness of purposes creates the central problem - how to prevent the annihilation of the human race.
Following the Martians the next nova is what for want of a better name I have called the technological nova. It is composed of the machines and weapons which the Martians use to carry out their plan to take over earth. The technological nova plays the most concrete role in the narrative. Where the Martians are for the most part unseen and unknown their machines and weapons are visible and definable and apparently invulnerable. It is the technological nova that serves to engage the attention of the military and science as well as reducing the human race to the status of an endangered species.
The components of the technological nova are as follows: flying ships propelled by electromagnetic force, the use of magnetic energy for communication and to power shields (which render the Martian ships impervious to attack), and the use of atomic weapons. It may be possible to classify each of these elements as separate nova, but personally I find them so closely linked it seems more practical to count them as one or perhaps two - technology and weaponry.
The varied nova (be it four or five as the case may be) work together to create the effect of difference and consequence - it may be that this pattern of difference and consequence is just a variation of cause and effect. The first nova - space travel serves to relocate the second nova - the aliens - onto familiar ground, earth. The aliens with their apparent aim of taking over the world create widespread destruction and hysteria. But the destructiveness of the aliens would have been impossible without their powerful technology and weapons. The aliens with their technology and weapons are a threat which brings the military and science together to attempt to find a way of halting the Martians advance. The various ineffectual attempts to destroy the Martian invaders takes up much of the films narrative. It is perhaps ironic that the attempts to resolve the problem by human means all meet with failure, and it is an outside, unseen force (the hand of God - another nova?) that neutralises the threat to humanity.
Bibliography:
Fitzsimmons, J. & O’Brien, W. (2002) Science Fiction & Film: Study Guide. Central Queensland University: Rockhampton
Haskin, Byron (1953) War Of The Worlds Paramount: USA
Roberts, Adam (2000) Science Fiction London: Routledge.
War Of The Worlds is based on a series of closely connected nova, some of which however play a more active role in the course of the narrative than others.
The next and probably key nova is the Martians themselves who land on earth, and firmly ensconced in their heavily armed mini ships embark on a massive campaign of slash and burn.
The Martians are a point of difference, with their ‘cool’ advanced intellects (there is an implication that ‘cool’ denotes unfeeling, unemotional), and weak, repulsive bodies. The Martians are ‘alien’ with their single eyes and suction cupped fingers. There are some parallels between the Martians imperialistic behaviour and some of earth’s cultures. But for the most part the aliens are different because they are ‘alien’, unknown, perhaps even unknowable - communication is never achieved. The remoteness of the Martians and their singleness of purposes creates the central problem - how to prevent the annihilation of the human race.
The components of the technological nova are as follows: flying ships propelled by electromagnetic force, the use of magnetic energy for communication and to power shields (which render the Martian ships impervious to attack), and the use of atomic weapons. It may be possible to classify each of these elements as separate nova, but personally I find them so closely linked it seems more practical to count them as one or perhaps two - technology and weaponry.
The varied nova (be it four or five as the case may be) work together to create the effect of difference and consequence - it may be that this pattern of difference and consequence is just a variation of cause and effect. The first nova - space travel serves to relocate the second nova - the aliens - onto familiar ground, earth. The aliens with their apparent aim of taking over the world create widespread destruction and hysteria. But the destructiveness of the aliens would have been impossible without their powerful technology and weapons. The aliens with their technology and weapons are a threat which brings the military and science together to attempt to find a way of halting the Martians advance. The various ineffectual attempts to destroy the Martian invaders takes up much of the films narrative. It is perhaps ironic that the attempts to resolve the problem by human means all meet with failure, and it is an outside, unseen force (the hand of God - another nova?) that neutralises the threat to humanity.
Bibliography:
Fitzsimmons, J. & O’Brien, W. (2002) Science Fiction & Film: Study Guide. Central Queensland University: Rockhampton
Haskin, Byron (1953) War Of The Worlds Paramount: USA
Roberts, Adam (2000) Science Fiction London: Routledge.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Love this stuff.
keep up the good work.