In the Days of the Comet

In the Days of the Comet is a book by H. G. Wells, first published in 1906. A pioneering work of early science fiction and dystopian literature, this visionary novel combines speculative astronomy with social commentary and political philosophy. Wells, widely regarded as one of the founders of modern science fiction, uses a cosmic event to examine the moral and social structures of Edwardian England.

The story follows Willie Leadford, a frustrated young man living in a rigid class society marked by inequality, bitterness, and personal disappointment. When a mysterious comet passes close to Earth, its atmospheric effects transform human consciousness across the globe. Old resentments dissolve, social barriers weaken, and humanity awakens to a new era of understanding and cooperation. Through Willie’s personal journey—particularly his complicated relationship with Nettie Stuart—Wells explores themes of love, social reform, free will, and the possibility of collective renewal.

Blending speculative science fiction with utopian ideals and philosophical debate, In the Days of the Comet remains a significant early twentieth-century novel that reflects Wells’s interest in social change, class conflict, and the future of civilization.