In this, one of H.G. Wells’ wittiest novels, two scientists bring about a crisis of gigantic proportions when they invent a substance that accelerates growth in all organisms that consume it. They mean to start by experimenting in a controlled way with chickens, but pretty soon they find themselves contending with wolf-sized rats, eagle-sized wasps and worse.

This amusing but thought-provoking satire was originally released by instalments as a serial story before its eventual publication in novel form in 1904. The experienced reader of H.G. Wells will find that this book is populated by many of the writer’s favourite themes and attitudes, making for a read that is at once both light with humour and heavy with meaning.

This edition of The Food of the Gods and How it Came to Earth by H.G. Wells includes:

• Annotations

• A forward by the editor

• A brief biography of the author

The body of this edition's text has not been abridged and is true to the form it took in 1904. All contributions by the editor are intended to make the book more accessible to the modern reader without resorting to alteration.