The War of the Worlds is the classic alien‑invasion novel: Martian cylinders fall down upon a complacent Victorian England, unleashing towering tripods, heat rays and poisonous black smoke. An unnamed writer is among the humans trying to flee, and it is through his eyes that we see the shattering of ordinary life by beings with advanced intelligence and weaponry.

The novel’s terror is timeless. Its depiction of technological shock, mass panic and sudden ruin feels both fantastical and unnervingly possible. It exposes the arrogance of empire and the horror of facing a power we don’t understand. An early science fiction novel that has never been out of print, The War of the Worlds remains a touchstone for everything from disaster films to post‑apocalyptic fiction. Its compelling performance here by ‘Golden Voice’ Rupert Degas will be unforgettable for listeners of any age.