redmag
Junior Member
Posts: 18
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Post by redmag on Nov 30, 2005 11:04:10 GMT
Hey all, just a quick question out of curiosity At the end of the Thunder Child chapter the narrator's brother sees the Martian flying machine. At the end Wells' says that
"as it flew it rained down darkness upon the land"
I always took this literally to mean its shadow - you know a sort of metaphore or emphasis for the domination of the Martians, but I heard recently from someone that they took it to mean it was dropping the Black Smoke over the country! I suppose this could be the case but what does anyone else think? I'd be curious to know.
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Post by Thunder Child on Nov 30, 2005 13:39:00 GMT
When I first read the book I did not really understand what that line meant. But I think now think that it is indeed spraying the Black Smoke over the land.
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Post by Marcus on Nov 30, 2005 14:38:09 GMT
The way I see it, the line:
"as it flew it rained down darkness upon the land"
Means that all those who saw it, knew that the Martians could now conquer the world, and in essence, it marked the point at which the Martians fully ruled. Literally, yes, it could mean that it was spraying black smoke, and its an interesting interprutation, before I prefer the former. Also, I cant see how any humans would be alive, if it had infact sprayed Black Smoke throuh the air, over large stretches of land.
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Nov 30, 2005 23:33:04 GMT
I always just thought it was H.G's way of emphasing the immensity of it.. that it's huge shadow darkened the land. But I guess the Black Smoke thing works too.
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Post by BrutalDeluxe on Dec 1, 2005 1:17:41 GMT
Wow, some great thoughts raised here which I have never considered. I like EvilNerf's interpretation however I always thought it was the flying machine carpet bombing the crap out of London with black smoke cannisters.
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Post by lanceradvanced on Dec 1, 2005 1:41:21 GMT
Just as a small point, the original version of the War of the Worlds, in Pearsons is fairly explicit at the end that the Flying Machine was used as a Black Smoke bomber, but that the martians didn't go much farther than 50 miles out of london with it, presumably because they were still working the kinks out..
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Post by Leatherhead on Dec 1, 2005 4:49:56 GMT
i always assumed that this was a double meaning for dramatic effect, and really meant both!
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Post by Luperis on Dec 1, 2005 7:51:09 GMT
I always saw it as meaning that it was lettng out black smoke... but the shadow thing is an interesting idea.
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Post by Thunder Child on Dec 4, 2005 15:06:02 GMT
Goble made the Flying Machine a Black Smoke bomber in his drawings...
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redmag
Junior Member
Posts: 18
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Post by redmag on Dec 4, 2005 17:11:24 GMT
I dont think that I've seen that image - does anyone have a link or a copy? The other few Goble illustrations i've seen are interesting - sort of remind me of the Smash robots. would be keen to see his interpretation of the flying machine.
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Post by mctoddridesagain on Dec 4, 2005 17:57:43 GMT
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redmag
Junior Member
Posts: 18
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Post by redmag on Dec 4, 2005 22:53:23 GMT
Thank-you very much. Much appreciated. I do like the design - fits in nicely with the idea of boilers on stilts too. Though as someone said how can we be sure of the wings? I personally always saw it as a disk shaped thing - probobly not unlike a classic UFO, though of course with more tenticles and gothicy stylings!
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Post by FALLINGSTAR on Dec 7, 2005 22:39:13 GMT
I suppose we'll never know what Wells really meant but maybe that's good in a way as it adds mystery. It can be interpreted in many ways and obviously the black smoke is one possibility - or just general death and destruction.
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Post by Refugee on Dec 8, 2005 20:24:31 GMT
In the novel I have their is a pic of a glider type flying machine spreading smoke, with that line as a caption.
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Post by Thunder Child on Dec 8, 2005 20:53:42 GMT
I think you are talking about the Warwick Goble drawing...
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Post by Refugee on Dec 11, 2005 22:07:54 GMT
I have checked and it is Tom Kidd.
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Post by beecus on Dec 13, 2005 21:23:41 GMT
Interesting ;D
I always read it to mean the shadow cast, it never even entered my mind it was black smoke.
Neat, I'll have to read it again now (any excuse) he he
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Dec 14, 2005 0:33:32 GMT
It's alright, Beecus, I am the same. To be honest, I still think it's the shadow myself.
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