The Space Machine

"The Space Machine" (ISBN 0-575-03994-9) is a science fiction novel written by English writer Christopher Priest.

First published in 1976 by Faber and Faber Limited, it follows the travels of protagonists Edward Turnbull and Amelia Fitzgibbon. The pair is dropped on the surface of Mars (due to interference by Turnbull) prior to the Martian invasion of Earth that forms the storyline of "The War of the Worlds".

Setting

This novel effectively binds the storylines of the H.G. Wells novels "The War of the Worlds" and "The Time Machine" into the same reality. Action takes place both in Victorian England and on Mars, as the time machine displaces the duo through space (in addition to time).

Technology is shown to be roughly Victorian of nature, so as not to destroy the setting for War of the Worlds, but also shows some unpublished advancements of Sir William Reynolds (such as a form of bicycle that requires no input from the rider).

Publication history

The book was first published in 1976 by Faber and Faber Limited. It has also been made available through VGSF in 1988. It won a Ditmar Award in 1977, winning the "International SF" category [http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Ditmar1977.html] .