OVERVIEW In the beginning of his life, H. G. Wells had an incredibly positive view of mankind. His early writings contained the belief that “Our race will more than realize our boldest imaginations.” He believed peace and unity were forthcoming; he envisioned a utopian world. But World War I punctured his philosophy of optimism like a pin punctures a balloon. Especially after the beginning of World War II, H. G. Wells’s writings became dark, dismal, and discouraging. Despair was written over everything.