Both Jules Verne (1828 – 1904) and H. G. Wells (1866 – 1946) are prolific writers and both are commonly called “the Father
of
Science Fiction”. Verne was 38 years older than Wells and it is likely that Wells read much of Verne’s works as a child. Both are still widely read today and many of their stories have been adapted to cinema. Verne’s most popular works include: “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, “Mysterious Island”, “Around the World in 80 Days”, and “Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Wells’ most popular works include: “War of the Worlds”, “The Time Machine”, “First Men in the Moon”, “Island of Dr. Moreau”, and “The Invisible Man”. What all these works have in common is that they are still enjoyed today, both in book form and on the screen.
Both men were early writers of science fiction and both devoted at least one story to space travel (Verne: “From the Earth to the Moon”, Wells: “The First Men in the Moon”), although both men grossly underestimated the challenges and difficulty of space travel. They both wrote about heavier than air flying machines, long before flight was possible. While these authors have much in common, there are significant differences in the works of the two men.
Stylistically, Wells preferred to tell a story in the person of an unnamed narrator. He used this method in his two finest works, “The War of the Worlds” and “The Time Machine”. Verne told his stories in the form of a third party observer. Wells makes us feel as if the narrator is speaking directly to us, while Verne makes us an observer of the unfolding events.
Most of Well’s stories take place in his home country of England (or have their voyages originate from there). Verne, a Frenchman, does not generally write about France. Many of his stories take place in America or some exotic place such as Iceland, Africa or Antarctica. Also, many of Verne’s works depict a journey to some unknown land or place, while Wells tends to limit his locations to England.
Verne and Wells have significant differences in their views of science and
technology. Verne portrayed technology much more favorably than Wells. In Verne’s “Mysterious Island”, the castaways use the technology at their disposal to improve their situation. In “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “From the Earth to the Moon”, the scientists and explorers are treated rather favorably and are the protagonists. Even in “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, the mysterious Captain Nemo is attempting to use the technology at his disposal to put an end to end war.
Wells, however views technology much more negatively. “The Island of Dr. Moreau” describes a mad scientist experimenting on animals and humans. “The Invisible Man” tells the story of another mad scientist who makes himself invisible in order to create a reign of terror. “The Food of the Gods” depicts yet another experiment gone wrong, this one creating animals and humans of unnatural size. In none of Wells’ works is technology used for ultimate good. Even in Wells’ utopian novel “In the Days of the Comet”, it is not science that improves the status of man, but rather a comet whose tail has unknown properties.
Both men wrote their science fiction from different ends of the spectrum. Verne was more science than fiction, while Wells was more fiction than science. In most of Verne’s works, detailed explanations of the technology behind the machines is provided. For example, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” contains detailed technical descriptions of the Nautilus. Verne commonly described the flora and fauna of the various exotic locations portrayed in his stories. The most obvious difference between science vs. fiction in the works of the two men is in how space travel is portrayed. In “From the Earth to the Moon”, Verne provides detailed plans on the spacecraft, launching mechanism, gravitational pull and trajectories. He dedicates several chapters explaining how the trip was to take place. In “The First Men in the Moon”, Wells simply conceives of “cavorite” a substance that eliminates the impacts of gravity and allows space travel. Wells provides no details on how cavorite would work, or what it is.
While there was undoubtedly competition between these two accomplished authors, both are highly regarded as early science fiction writers and both have earned the right to share the title “Father of Science Fiction”.