Men Like Gods
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Founder | H. G. Wells |
| Products | Science fiction novel |
Men Like Gods (1923) is a novel authored by English writer H. G. Wells, which he characterized as a "scientific fantasy". The story investigates a utopian society existing within a parallel universe.
Plot summary
The narrative unfolds during the summer of 1921, centering on Mr. Barnstaple, a disenchanted London journalist working for the newspaper The Liberal, who intends to take a vacation. Unexpectedly, he and two fellow motorists are transported to "Utopia," an advanced parallel Earth that is approximately three millennia ahead in development.
Utopia’s population of 200 million has transcended sectarian religion and political systems, adopting an anarchic society guided by "the Five Principles of Liberty": privacy, freedom of movement, unrestricted access to knowledge, honesty, and open dialogue. This civilization prioritizes scientific inquiry and has replaced traditional governance with education.
The book is structured into three parts. Books I and III explore life within Utopia. In Book II, the Earth visitors are placed under quarantine after triggering an epidemic; meanwhile, some among them conspire to seize control of Utopia despite Barnstaple’s opposition. When their plan escalates to hostage-taking, Barnstaple exposes their scheme and narrowly avoids execution.
In the final section, Book III, Barnstaple desires to stay but is informed that his most valuable contribution is returning to Earth. He departs with renewed determination to promote the establishment of a utopia on Earth: "[H]e belonged now soul and body to the Revolution... that marches and will never desist nor rest again until old Earth is one city and Utopia set up therein."
Critical response
Reviews at the time were generally favorable, though some critics found the plot lacking in strength. Consistent with his later works, Wells’s enthusiasm for utopian ideals took precedence over the elements of scientific romance or fantasy (terms he used for early science fiction). This novel provided Wells a platform to advocate for visions of an improved society, akin to his earlier publication A Modern Utopia (1905). Men Like Gods and associated writings influenced Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1932), which both satirized and critiqued Wellsian utopian themes.
Reflecting on this work later in life, Wells remarked: "It did not horrify or frighten, was not much of a success, and by that time, I had tired of talking in playful parables to a world engaged in destroying itself."
Themes
Characters in the novel mirror political figures from the 1920s. Rupert Catskill appears to symbolize Winston Churchill, portrayed as an impetuous reactionary ideologue who condemns Utopia’s alleged moral decline and spearheads its attempted invasion. Wells had previously supported Churchill but became disillusioned by 1923 due to Churchill’s involvement in the Dardanelles Campaign and Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War.
The narrative incorporates several distinctive features: telepathy functioning as commonplace communication among Utopians; philosophical considerations on death; commentary on racial distinctions preserved by individual preference despite free social interaction; depiction of a society without money; critiques of Marxism; representations of wireless communication technology; and exploration of multiple universes.