Adequate but Ridiculous: Analyzing the Alien Hunters' Demise in "War of the Worlds"

In the grand scheme of science fiction literature, The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells presents us with an intriguing narrative arc where extraterrestrial beings from the Martian plains invade Earth. However, the manner in which these aliens ultimately succumb to Earth diseases has long been a subject of critique and discussion among enthusiasts. This piece delves into why this ending might be more clever for its time but in the eyes of modern readers, it appears rather far-fetched and illogical.

Species Barrier and Disease

The supposed demise of the Martian invaders can be dissected through the lens of evolutionary biology and inter-species disease transmission. It was notably problematic that these advanced extraterrestrial species, seemingly with technology capable of harvesting and examining human blood, were felled by Earth diseases. If such a species had evolved in total isolation, as postulated, then there should be considerable biological barriers preventing the spread of terrestrial infections. This raises questions about the fundamental differences between terrestrial and Martian species.

For instance, bacteria thrive in the blood and other animal fluids. It's highly unlikely that these Martian aliens would have anything similar if they are entirely alien to Earth life forms. Similarly, viruses need specific host DNA structures to propagate themselves. Given the vast evolutionary separation, it’s an open question how a terrestrial pathogen could infect them.

Uncanny Triumph of Human Diseases

The scenario where Earth diseases manage to jump the species barrier between birds and people in about 275 million years is remarkable. Even more perplexing is the separation from invertebrates, which would be on the order of about 550 million years ago, with zero case of disease transmission. It’s a major stretch to imagine that Earth bacteria and viruses could evolve to infect alien beings.

As a modern reader, the end of the war results from alien fragility strongly contrasts with their technological and intellectual prowess. The idea that they would fail to foresee the threat of evolving viruses and lack the basic precautionary measures is criticized. This oversight would suggest their human-like genomic flaws overpowered their technological superiority.

More Deceitful Than Smart?

Morally, the Martian invasion could be seen as an atrocious act, yet their behavior remains somewhat predictable. For instance, their lack of sympathy and subsequently engaging in such brutal cleansing is morally questionable. However, their interest in human anatomy and curiosity, as seen in examining the aftermath, adds a layer of human-like intelligence and curiosity.

This duality between brutality and curiosity makes the Martian invaders less alien and more relatable, which is a stroke of clever writing. Nevertheless, this relatability is undercut by their susceptibility to common human diseases, which seems more indicative of incompetence rather than strategic intelligence.

In contrast, modern science fiction often presents alien species that are either invincible or overly generic in their demise. For example, in most films like Alien, the concluding scene is usually the destruction of the alien in a more conventional manner, like a spaceship blowing it up. However, The War of the Worlds offers a rare and imaginative conclusion that challenges the very premises of alien invincibility.

Conclusion: A Clever but Hampered Ending

Despite its flaws, The War of the Worlds's narrative end featuring the Martian demise is a clever and imaginative resolution. It pushes readers to question the dichotomy of advanced life and evolutionary separation. While more believable pathogens transmission theories exist (like mutual biological vulnerabilities due to similar genetic structures), the story's reliance on Earth bacteria renders the Martian defeat more comedic than strategic. For today's audience, the ending is a testament to its innovative and daring approach rather than scientific accuracy.