HG Wells or Enrique Gaspar: Whose time machine was first?

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-11-2011, 09:41 AM

Though H.G. Wells is widely regarded as having written the first, and undeniably most popular novel about a machine that traveled through time... the British Library's first ever science fiction exhibition next month will feature the work of Enrique Gaspar, whose book El Anacronopete (The Time Ship) preceded Wells' The Time Machine to print by seven years.

The article on BBC News.co.uk tells us a bit about Gaspar's history, and about El Anacronopete, a story about a group of people who travel in a flying timeship much more grandiose than Wells' single-seater machine. The book, written in Spanish, is due to be translated into English next year. The original language book is also available as an ebook through Google.

Quexos · 04-11-2011, 05:42 PM

topic already around
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...67#post1485267

CleverClothe · 04-11-2011, 07:31 PM

This tread is better, AND in the right place.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-11-2011, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quexos

topic already around
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...67#post1485267

These things happen...

crich70 · 04-11-2011, 11:45 PM

Probably the reason Wells story is better known is that he wrote in England of 1895. England was the center of the civilized world back then. They still had plenty of colonies and had been the major naval power for a long time. I mean take two writers in two different cities New York in the U.S. and some small town in eastern Europe say. They both write a book on the same idea. Which do you think will get the most attention? The same thing probably applied in Wells day, which is why his book is better known.

cromag · 04-12-2011, 05:02 AM

I say we go back and find out for sure!

wowen · 04-12-2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

Probably the reason Wells story is better known is that he wrote in England of 1895. England was the center of the civilized world back then. They still had plenty of colonies and had been the major naval power for a long time. I mean take two writers in two different cities New York in the U.S. and some small town in eastern Europe say. They both write a book on the same idea. Which do you think will get the most attention? The same thing probably applied in Wells day, which is why his book is better known.

That is likely a major factor, but I'd also suggest this was because it was a good book rather than simply a good idea.

crich70 · 04-12-2011, 09:25 PM

Not having read the other book I can't disagree with you that that might also have played a part. Of course Wells was also a fairly unknown author in 1895 as well as he'd only written two books before then, both non-fiction. The Time Machine was his first fiction novel. So some luck might also have played into it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wowen

That is likely a major factor, but I'd also suggest this was because it was a good book rather than simply a good idea.

04-11-2011, 09:41 AM	#1
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	HG Wells or Enrique Gaspar: Whose time machine was first? Though H.G. Wells is widely regarded as having written the first, and undeniably most popular novel about a machine that traveled through time... the British Library's first ever science fiction exhibition next month will feature the work of Enrique Gaspar, whose book El Anacronopete (The Time Ship) preceded Wells' The Time Machine to print by seven years. The article on BBC News.co.uk tells us a bit about Gaspar's history, and about El Anacronopete, a story about a group of people who travel in a flying timeship much more grandiose than Wells' single-seater machine. The book, written in Spanish, is due to be translated into English next year. The original language book is also available as an ebook through Google. Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 04-11-2011 at 09:47 AM.

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04-11-2011, 05:42 PM	#2
Quexos Member Retired Posts: 1,999 Karma: 11348924 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Limbo Device: none	topic already around https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...67#post1485267

04-11-2011, 07:31 PM	#3
CleverClothe Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 493394 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Device: iRex iLiad, Onyx Boox 60	This tread is better, AND in the right place.

04-11-2011, 11:45 PM	#5
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Probably the reason Wells story is better known is that he wrote in England of 1895. England was the center of the civilized world back then. They still had plenty of colonies and had been the major naval power for a long time. I mean take two writers in two different cities New York in the U.S. and some small town in eastern Europe say. They both write a book on the same idea. Which do you think will get the most attention? The same thing probably applied in Wells day, which is why his book is better known.

04-12-2011, 05:02 AM	#6
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 24,289 Karma: 459220161 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	I say we go back and find out for sure!