Prophets of Science Fiction: “I told you so…” H.G. Wells’ self-penned epitaph underscores a lifetime of grim, yet uncanny prophecy. With stories like The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells established himself as a sci-fi writer of almost clairvoyant talent. But Wells’ tales of hi-tech adventure belie an ominous vision of the future. Beneath the technological wonder of 1895’s The Time Machine, Wells attacks the growing class disparity in his native Britain … through a dystopian future where the ruling class literally eat their inferiors. In 1898’s Martian invasion epic, The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells makes a ghastly–and accurate–prediction that soon becomes a staple of the modern battlefield: deadly biological weapons. In 1914’s The World Set Free, scientists uncover a revolutionary power source, propelling mankind into a new age of prosperity and technological progress. But this same energy is soon turned to warfare, with next-level weapons that unleash unprecedented horrors on humanity. In this tale, H.G. Wells accurately prophesizes the advent of the atomic bomb. H.G. Wells’ frighteningly accurate predictions hold a grave warning: beware the dark side of progress. Our greatest innovations could very well become the tools of our own destruction.

Starring:

Jonathan Adams, Ridley Scott

Genre:

Documentary