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H.E. Wilburson
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The Day Of The Martians (The Martian Diaries: An Alternate History Adventure, Continuing The War Of The Worlds Book 1) Kindle Edition

by H.E. Wilburson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 96 ratings

A New War Of The Worlds Begins as Martian Tripod Invaders Return To Earth!

Awarded a Bronze medal in Readers Favorite 2024 International Book Awards (Fiction Audiobooks). Winner of 5 awards in the 2020 Los Angeles Science Fiction Film Festival , (Audio Drama category) together with volume 2 Lake On The Moon.

The terror of the coming of the Martians is all but a distant memory, a bad dream that has faded with time. All George Wells wants is a quiet suburban life but at breakfast one morning his newspaper reports the shocking discovery of a Martian cylinder, found intact and unopened, and carefully transported to London.

But even worse, he soon learns even worse news – vengeance seeking Martians and their tripod fighting machines are already on their way back in a huge green comet formed by the countless numbers of their cylinders.

This time they are armed with a doomsday weapon, able to destroy all bacteria and completely annihilate Earth

The first attack by aliens was enough for any lifetime, but who would expect to be involved with two? How can our planet survive this new invasion and will George and his wife escape a second Martian apocalypse?

Find out as The Day Of The Martians continues H.G. Wells' iconic The War Of The Worlds in this thrilling, award-winning action adventure. The print version includes the companion book Ogilvy 1913 – the diary revelations of one man's race against time to save Earth from the Martians!

WHAT PEOPLE SAID ABOUT THE AUDIO VERSION

“...a wonderfully executed tribute to H.G. Wells.” Readers Favorite Reviews

“...sometimes in life, amongst all the boring stuff, something comes along to shake up your life and make you grateful for other people’s creations.” Breakaway Reviews

“A splendid sequel.” C.A.Powell, science fiction author of The Last Days Of Thunder Child

“The Day of the Martians is a nostalgic trip back to bygone days spent reading science fiction classics, and that’s quite a compliment indeed.” Brandon Scott - SciFi Bloggers

“A little diamond from Mars!” Goodreads reviewer

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This was more than an audio book. This was, in many ways, a wonderfully executed tribute to H.G. Wells." - Readers Favorite Book Reviews


"If you are, like me, a fan of 'The War of the Worlds' then download this audiobook. Discovering it has left me with the feeling that sometimes in life, amongst all the boring stuff, something comes along to shake up your life and make you grateful for other people's creations." - Breakaway Reviewers


"H.E. Wilburson remains true to the original classic. I recommend a listen to this on your free time, it's a work that demands to be heard. Highly recommended and a well deserved five stars from me." - Emerald Book Reviews

"H.E. Wilburson captured the fear and drama of the original and seamlessly moved it into the sequel. Action packed and full of twists, listeners are treated to the suspense that will have them on the edge of their seats." - Charla White - AudiobookReviewer.com

"Worthy sequel - hits surprisingly hard. It's engaging, emotional, and feels like its ideas came from the man himself. The Day of the Martians is a nostalgic trip back to bygone days spent reading science fiction classics, and that's quite a compliment indeed." Brandon Scott- Sci Fi Bloggers.com

"H.E Wilburson successfully manages to capture the original spirit of Wells. The writing comes across as an enjoyable genuine effort to carry on the story. It also is written in a style very similar to Wells's original." The Orkney News


"I was hooked on this sci-fi audio straight away. The narration is gripping plus the background music is haunting and atmospheric. It all leads to a fabulous climax and I would recommend this to any War of the Worlds fan. A splendid sequel." C.A.Powell, science fiction author The Last Days Of Thunder Child


" A classic with new life...I cheered when familiar characters appeared, At a little over 2 hours run time, this is a quick story to listen to, extremely entertaining and well produced." - Iseult Murphy, science fiction & fantasy author


"Nostalgic for old radio shows...The narrators, the background music, the sound effects, all made me nostalgic for those 'simpler times' of my youth." - Lynda Engler, science fiction author


"H.E.Wilburson takes the next logical leap in the understanding of the alien's motives and methods so it truly does feel like a continuation of the world, rather than rehashing old ground." - Melanie Roussel science fiction & fantasy author


"What a superb follow up to the great and legendary War of the Worlds. Well done, H.E. Wilburson. You have been brave and done something others would never dare to touch and in my eyes succeeded in bringing the story to a new generation." - Gabriel Blake, author - psychological thrillers


"What a treat! Taking H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds as a starting point, author H. E. Wilburson has created a sequel, reprising characters that listeners familiar with the original will be thrilled to meet again." - Michael Gallagher, historical & mystery fiction author



"A little diamond from Mars." - Goodreads reviewer


"Thanks H.E. for the opportunity to experience this, an atmospheric and "true to the original" continuation of a classic book." - Goodreads reviewer

From the Author

When I wrote this first volume in my sequel to The War Of The Worlds, it was imagined purely as an audio with my own bespoke music and sound effects. For that purpose, I wrote the chapters in visual 'scenes' some of which are quite short. I deliberately kept descriptive passages to a minimum as the music was designed to create setting and atmosphere. For this reason you will find The Day Of The Martians a quick read of under two hours.

As I got towards the end of writing this story I knew that the next two volumes would be much longer and in comparison they are each more than double the length of volume one. However it was always my intention to closely follow H.G. Wells' style and storyline and I hope you feel I have succeeded.


If you have enjoyed this book it would mean a great deal if you would leave a rating at your favourite retailer, and tell others about it too. Reviews and referrals are vital to authors as they help gain visibility for our work, and I truly appreciate every single one.


Thank you,
H.E. Wilburson

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08Z7KN9YL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flint House Publishing (June 9, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 9, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 97 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 96 ratings

About the author

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H.E. Wilburson

H.E. Wilburson

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H.E Wilburson is an award winning British author and composer, with accolades for the writing and music for The Martian Diaries series – his audio sequel to The War Of The Worlds. Having long been drawn to the H.G.Wells science fiction classic, he decided in 2015 to continue the story himself as he felt there were questions Wells left unanswered. With almost a lifetime of composing and painting pictures with music, Wilburson created his sequel with his own musical compositions and added immersive sound effects.

Apart from The Martian Diaries trilogy he has adapted The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, his first project combining text with music, which will be released in the future. He also has several hundred pieces of music, and unpublished stories and poetry. Wilburson, who likes to be known as H.E, finds much inspiration by getting off the beaten track and into the great outdoors, and is in his element exploring remote locations around coastal and mountain regions, but most especially in Wales. 

Find out about the making of The Martian Diaries here https://www.martiandiaries.com

Come and find H.E on Twitter https://twitter.com/martiandiaries

Winner of 5 awards in the 2020 Los Angeles Science Fiction Film Awards, Audio Drama category and Bronze medal winner in the Readers Choice Awards 2020 (Science Fiction).

Volume 1 'The Day Of The Martians' - out now

Volume 2 'Lake On The Moon' - out now

Volume 3 'Gateway To Mars' - out now

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
96 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's well-thought-out plot and masterful recreation of H.G. Wells' prose, with one review noting how the narrative builds anticipation towards the Martian confrontation. The writing style is rich in descriptions, and customers find it a quick-paced, charming alternative history sci-fi read. They appreciate the character development, with familiar characters from the original novel, and one review highlights how it serves as a potent reminder of human resilience. The book's length receives mixed reactions, with several customers noting its brevity.

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25 customers mention "Plot development"25 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot development of the book, finding it interesting and suspenseful, with one customer noting how it builds anticipation towards the inevitable Martian confrontation.

"Engaging start to a series! This alternate twist to history, if earth had been under a Martian invasion, provides an interesting alternative to the..." Read more

"...I was hooked to the storyline. The characters and "out of this world" and engaging, as is expected from this author...." Read more

"...I found it refreshing and quite charming. The plot is simple and straightforward: the Martians are returning (to England), seeking to..." Read more

"...The story is told in a quick and concise manner that would inspire most readers to imagine this world created by Wells and continued by..." Read more

23 customers mention "Enjoyment"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book exciting and fun to read, with one mentioning it keeps them hooked from start to finish.

"Engaging start to a series!..." Read more

"...The characters and "out of this world" and engaging, as is expected from this author...." Read more

"...I found it refreshing and quite charming...." Read more

"This first volume of H.E. Wilburson’s “The Martian Diaries” series is a fun and interesting continuation of H.G. Wells’ classic “War of the Worlds.”..." Read more

17 customers mention "Writing style"17 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting its rich descriptions and masterful recreation of H.G. Wells' prose, with one customer highlighting its 19th/early 20th-Century texture and cadence.

"...Overall, this story is fantastic and well-written. Worth a read for lovers of science fiction!" Read more

"...This book does not betray the writing style used earlier and is true to the fan base. I appreciate that...." Read more

"...Author H. E. Wilburson does a masterful job recreating H.G. Wells’ prose which harkens back to gentler time, at least in terms of language and..." Read more

"...The story is told in a quick and concise manner that would inspire most readers to imagine this world created by Wells and continued by..." Read more

15 customers mention "Pacing"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a quick and fast-paced read, with one customer noting that it never pauses or slows down.

"...There are fast paced scenes that are quite gripping. If you are in to this kind of genre, I would definitely recommend it...." Read more

"...The plot is simple and straightforward: the Martians are returning (to England), seeking to rescue abandoned comrades and annihilate all life on..." Read more

"...I appreciated the overall flow of the book, as it made for a smooth read...." Read more

"...It’s a quick read, but well-written, and is a good opening series of chapters for a story that will likely be worth the full ride it promises." Read more

12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thrilling, with one mentioning it whets the appetite for the next volume.

"...Overall, this story is fantastic and well-written. Worth a read for lovers of science fiction!" Read more

"...the audio book, but I enjoyed it in its own right as an interesting historical sci-fi story, which happens to be a sequel to the celebrated War of..." Read more

"...for anyone who loved the original tale or enjoys a well-written science fiction adventure...." Read more

"...Does humanity stand a chance against them? This is a good book, well worth reading when you get the opportunity...." Read more

8 customers mention "Sensibility"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's sensibility, with one noting how it infuses modern perspectives, while another describes it as a potent reminder of human resilience.

"...if earth had been under a Martian invasion, provides an interesting alternative to the world as we know it...." Read more

"...harkens back to gentler time, at least in terms of language and social sensibilities. I found it refreshing and quite charming...." Read more

"...It puts everything into perspective and gives the Martians a reason to believe they can return to Earth and succeed...." Read more

"...There is also a tender romance in the book and there is a stalwart, chivalric, duty first I could not love thee dear so much loved I not honour more..." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting the familiar characters from the original novel and effective character portrayal. One customer mentions feeling the emotions and panic that grip the characters, while another notes the balance between action and sentiment.

"...I enjoyed the characters and the story, but it was the style of the writing I enjoyed the most...." Read more

"...I found the character development to be effective but brief, and the author assumes you already understand the universe you’re in...." Read more

"...Also, I love it when main characters are ordinary people that do great things. It reminds me that we are all capable of them...." Read more

"...a decade after the initial Martian invasion and teeming with both familiar and new characters...." Read more

7 customers mention "Short story"4 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the length of the book, with several noting it is short, while one customer mentions there is no time travel in the story.

"This is a very short and quick read. I read it while on a short flight and it was a nice entertainment piece...." Read more

"...and unrelated to the overly-long title, I detected no time travel whatsoever in the story, though it is fair to call it an alternate history, as..." Read more

"...The book is a short read, and the author explains that this is because it was written with the idea of combining it with original music and sound..." Read more

"...Even though it is short, one could read it longer to enjoy the immersive experience fully." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Ciera
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Engaging start to a series! This alternate twist to history, if earth had been under a Martian invasion, provides an interesting alternative to the world as we know it. The ominous feel of the Martians’ impending arrival creates rising tension that makes the readers feel humanity’s helplessness to stop the approaching invasion.

    During the battle with the Martians, one of my favorite quotes encompasses the life and death scenario that George is faced with: “In darkness I awoke, with a desperate fear of Hell in my stomach, an awful taste of blood and dirt in my mouth. I felt cold, dead for sure, and this was not Heaven.”

    Though humanity is victorious in the end, there is a strong hint at another Martian encounter taking place in the future. Readers will be left wondering whether or not humanity will survive what is coming.

    Overall, this story is fantastic and well-written. Worth a read for lovers of science fiction!
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  • Prateek A
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining for a quick read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is a very short and quick read. I read it while on a short flight and it was a nice entertainment piece. The author does mention he was more focussed in making audio books so perhaps that version has more bells and whistles. I had the kindle version.
    This is a continuation to War of the Worlds, and a worthy sequel as to that. I was hooked to the storyline. The characters and "out of this world" and engaging, as is expected from this author. This book does not betray the writing style used earlier and is true to the fan base. I appreciate that. There are enough new additions without betraying old ones. There are fast paced scenes that are quite gripping. If you are in to this kind of genre, I would definitely recommend it. I just wish there was more for book readers, as opposed to those getting with audio. That being said, I knew what I was getting into.
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  • MK Alexander
    5.0 out of 5 stars Immensely Satisfying
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    If you have not read H.G. Wells’ seminal fin de siècle masterpiece “War of the Worlds” (1898) this book may not be to your liking. And watching the two movie versions, or listening to Orson Wells’ 1938 radio adaption hardly counts in this regard.

    Author H. E. Wilburson does a masterful job recreating H.G. Wells’ prose which harkens back to gentler time, at least in terms of language and social sensibilities. I found it refreshing and quite charming.

    The plot is simple and straightforward: the Martians are returning (to England), seeking to rescue abandoned comrades and annihilate all life on earth. Somehow, they must be stopped and by any means necessary. That task falls into the hands of only four characters: the unnamed narrator, his wife Laura, the Major, and the astronomer Ogilvy. This is a very quick read, a long short story just shy of a novella.

    Curiously, and unrelated to the overly-long title, I detected no time travel whatsoever in the story, though it is fair to call it an alternate history, as the events described here in 1914 or thereabouts seem to preclude the advent of WWI.

    I was somewhat dismayed that this story is a teaser for H.E. Wilburson’s larger world: two other books in the series, a free companion volume of diaries, and an audio-book adaptation. Several chapters of book two are also included. I felt the marketing aspect a bit heavy-handed and distracting from the story itself.
    Five stars for writing, and there’s little doubt I will read the next two books.
    Recommended.
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  • William
    5.0 out of 5 stars a fun and interesting continuation of “War of the Worlds”
    Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This first volume of H.E. Wilburson’s “The Martian Diaries” series is a fun and interesting continuation of H.G. Wells’ classic “War of the Worlds.” It puts everything into perspective and gives the Martians a reason to believe they can return to Earth and succeed.

    The book is a short read, and the author explains that this is because it was written with the idea of combining it with original music and sound effects to produce an audio version of the story. Knowing this, it is easy to imagine how it would make a great audiobook. That being said, I believe the book stands well on its own. The story is told in a quick and concise manner that would inspire most readers to imagine this world created by Wells and continued by Wilburson.

    Some characters from the original novel are employed in this continuation. We follow the Narrator as he interacts with Ogilvy and the Artilleryman (now the Major). The three learn of the Martians’ intention to return, and although the Martians have superior technology, the three are determined to defeat them. But as Ogilvy puts it, “The chances are a million to one against any form of success…”
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  • Shannon Vierra
    4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging & Fast Paced
    Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Note: I have not read The War of the Worlds novel; I only watched the movie. I understood that The Martian Diaries: Vol. 1 The Day Of The Martians is essentially a fanfic continuation to The War of the Worlds novel.

    I appreciated the overall flow of the book, as it made for a smooth read. The idea of what would happen when the Martians returned was unique and thrilling as it unfolded. Though I enjoyed the read, I was hoping for more depth, especially with character development. I didn't feel like I had to read The War of the Worlds to appreciate this read, but to know the premise or have at least watched the movie (though the two took place in different time periods, yes). On that, I wished for a bit more pizzazz in the language fitting for the era.

    Overall, It leaves me curious to check out the remaining volumes.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Martians defeated!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The martian diaries: volume 1: day of the martians was to be fair, my first real venture into “sci-fi,” if you want to call it that. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, or whether I would enjoy it, but was pleasantly surprised. The book is basically well written, with lots of “in the moment” descriptions that paint the scene. It tells the story of a self-appointed defender of the earth, his wife Laura and their friend Ogilvy as they battle to see off the alien invasion after a martian cylinder is discovered crash landed. They venture into caverns and unearthed a blue mineral, tryfanite, which ultimately repels the martians. With the help of Ogilvy’s heat ray beam, the martian life was wiped out. The story is set in the early 1900’s, which seems slightly odd for this genre, comparing steam train travel to heat rays, but I suppose anything is possible in a story. For this reason, I’d say I was a bit slow to tune into the storyline. Nevertheless, a good read.
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  • Tim Roberts
    3.0 out of 5 stars The return of the Martians
    Reviewed in Australia on February 28, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Having been a fan of the movie, The War of the Worlds (although I have not read H.G. Wells clasic novel of the same name), I thought I'd give, The Day of the Martians a crack. It offers an intriguing continuation of The War of the Worlds, introducing a fresh new conflict. Martians return for a second invasion, this time with an even deadlier weapon—but the execution left me somewhat underwhelmed, to be honest.

    One of the book’s strengths is its attempt to mimic the classic literary style of Wells, which at times adds to the atmosphere. The action builds gradually, and there are moments of tension that keep the story engaging. However, the pacing feels uneven, making it difficult to stay fully invested.

    But its clearly found a fan base here and perhaps the follow-up books pick up the pacing. I also would have liked to learn more about the Martians themselves beyond the few details provided. Overall, The Day of the Martians has an interesting concept but lacks the impact (excuse the pun) I was hoping for.
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  • A.L. MacDonald
    5.0 out of 5 stars Feels like a classic novel!
    Reviewed in Canada on November 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I read these books a little out of order, accidentally reading the second book before this one. I'm glad I went back and read this first one, it's helped solidify a few things that I guessed by context in the second one. I really enjoy the author's writing style, being able to mimic the classical literature style of the H.G Wells era. This book progressed nicely, with the action and stakes building consistently throughout, and really keeping me interested and pulled along. I liked the characters and the personal relationships which felt very real, so I was rooting for them. There are some great philosophical musings in there about the evolution of human intellect - again adding to the style of great classical literature. I've heard from others that audio books are an excellent production, even better than the book version, so I would be interested to try that format for the last installment of the trilogy.
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  • Kristina
    4.0 out of 5 stars “Our fragile civilization was in serious trouble, and the ending of it was in sight.”
    Reviewed in Canada on May 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I read The War of the Worlds a long time ago and I don’t remember much. So, you can say that I read The Day of the Martians as an independent work and not as a fun fiction. The protagonist often recalls the first visit of the Martians and their deadly weaponry.
    I liked that humans didn’t give up and looked for means to destroy the invaders, though most of the time they played a guessing game.
    I don’t know how Ogilvy knew that all of the Martians abandoned their planet and headed to Earth. Or why did he assume that they were carrying The Shadow Weapon to kill the bacteria? How did they know that the Martians would land in London, and that Laura would be safe in Wales? I would love to get more information about the Martians. The book tells us only that they have a green glow and don’t abandon their kind. Also they like fresh blood.
    I think the book is a little heavy on the protagonist’s self-reflection. He constantly broods about the extinction of all or can’t decide if he wants his wife close to him or safe in Wales. Because of him repeating over and over how humans are doomed and nothing can be done about it, I’ve accepted the thought and didn’t care much if they survived. I still believed in a happy ending, even if the protagonist did not!
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Set in 1913, The Martian Diaries is a short story which starts with the imminent threat of Martians returning to Earth to take over. A landing pod has been found, a comet lights up the night sky, and George and his companions need to find a way to save Earth before the Martians land just ahead of Christmas.

    I read the story, however, there is an audio book with music and other effects; I listened to a short sample of that too, and it seemed like it would be fun. The story is well-written and easy to follow. The pacing is good, with the threat of the Martians being there from the beginning.

    It is a short read, but it didn’t feel rushed. The growing sense of panic is done well, the solution is well thought out, and the final battle scene, although slightly underdone, is good. I particularly liked the pentapods; they were very creepy. Even though I have not read The War of the Worlds, I found the characters were distinct enough to be memorable.

    I definitely recommend The Martian Diaries for fans of The War of the Worlds or any sci-fi / fantasy fans looking for a quick, entertaining read.
    Report

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