In the Days of the Comet

Lore & Background

The novel is framed by a prologue and epilogue written by an unnamed narrator, who meets an old man—the protagonist William Leadford—who recounts his life before and after 'the Change.' The narrative is divided into three books: Book I (The Comet), Book II (The Green Vapours), and Book III (The New World). In Book I, Leadford, a young working-class socialist, quits his job at a pottery works during an economic recession and becomes obsessed with Nettie Stuart, who later jilts him for Edward Verrall, a wealthy heir. Leadford buys a revolver to kill them and himself, but as he prepares to act, a green comet enters the atmosphere and disintegrates, releasing a soporific green fog.

Reader's Guide

In the Days of the Comet is significant as a work of early science fiction that uses a cosmic event to explore themes of social reform, class conflict, and human nature. Wells's depiction of the 'Change'—a sudden, universal shift toward peace, clarity, and fellow-feeling—reflects his socialist ideals and belief in the possibility of radical improvement. However, the novel's ending, in which Leadford, Nettie, Verrall, and Anna form a close polyamorous relationship, caused scandal. Organizations such as the YWCA and the Salvation Army condemned the book, and the Times Literary Supplement criticized it as advocating communal property in wives.

Beatrice Webb noted that Wells seemed to be 'gambling with the idea of free love' without responsibility for its effect. The controversy damaged Wells's reputation among the Fabians. The novel remains a notable example of Wells's utopian and didactic fiction, blending scientific speculation with social commentary.

Did You Know?

• The novel's green comet causes the nitrogen of the air to become a respirable gas that heals nerve and brain.
• Leadford's friend Parload, who initially argues that science is 'something more' than socialism, later becomes a great scientist whose work on intersecting radiations broadens human intellect.
• The epilogue reveals that the 72-year-old Leadford, Nettie, Verrall, and Anna were 'very close' as 'friends, helpers, personal lovers in a world of lovers.'