The War of the Worlds

Herbert George Wells, better known as H. G. Wells, was a novelist, journalist, sociologist, and historian who wrote over 100 books. His novels are among the classic works of science fiction. His works, which go beyond ordinary adventure stories, are thought-provoking, forcing the reader to examine the future of mankind. Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, in 1866. His father was a shopkeeper and a professional cricketer until he broke his leg. Wells studied biology at the Normal School of Science in London and later taught in several private schools. In 1893, he became a full-time writer. He married one of his brightest students, Amy Catherine, in 1895. Wells earned his reputation with a string of science fiction novels, including The Time Machine, The Island of Dr. Moreau, and The Invisible Man. In 1938, his realistic portrayal of a martian invasion in The War of the Worlds caused a panic across the United States when it was performed as a radio broadcast by actor Orson Wells. His science fiction stories have since become some of the most filmed works of all time. Between the two world wars, Wells lived mainly in France. Beyond his literary career, he was the president of an international peace organization (PEN) from 1934 to 1946. In this capacity, he had discussions with both Stalin and Roosevelt, trying to recruit them to his world-saving schemes. However, he later became disillusioned with the cause of peace when global war broke out for the second time in a generation. Throughout the Second World War, Wells lived in his house on Regent's Park, refusing to let the blitz drive him out of London. He died there on August 13, 1946.

American illustrator and writer LOU CAMERON attended the California School of Fine Arts. He was active as a comic book artist in the 1950s. He was a versatile artist for Gilberton's 'Classics Illustrated' series. drawing comic adaptations of novels by Herbert George Wells, Ann S. Stephans, Alexandre Dumas, Emile Zola and Robert Louis Stevenson.

He was furthermore a contributor to the mystery titles published by Atlas, including Astonishing Comics, Journey into Mystery, Uncanny Tales and Journey Into Unknown Worlds. He illustrated stories in the same genre for DC titles like House of Mystery, House of Secrets and Tales of the Unexpected, as well as Ace Periodicals' Baffling Mysteries, Web of Mystery and Hand of Fate. He additionally did horror stories for St. John Publishing and romance and western features for Story Comics. In 1951 and 1952 he did a syndicated feature called 'So It Sesms'.

During the same period, Cameron was active as a pulp book illustrator. From 1957 he focused on his work has a writer, which he has done under his own name but also as Julie Cameron, Dagmar, Mary Manning and Ramsay Thorne. Among his many (mainly suspense, war and western) novels are 'Beyond the Scarlet Door', 'The Amphorae Pirates', 'Belle of Fort Smith' and 'The Dirty War of Sgt. Slade', as well as the 'Stringer' western series.