Handling-machine
Encyclopedia
In H. G. Wells
' science fiction
classic The War of the Worlds, the Martian
Invaders used two primary machines, the fighting-machine
and the handling-machine.
The handling-machine is used in Wells' book as a construction machine, making, moving, and assembling machinery. Like the fighting-machines, the handling-machine functions under control of a Martian. (The only machine that was described as functioning autonomously was an embankment-machine
, which was used to stabilize the loose earth around the crater created by the impact of the Martian projectiles.) Unlike the fighting-machines, the handling-machines are not Tripods; instead they are described as having five jointed legs with numerous jointed levers and tentacles. They are described as "spider-like" and "crab-like". The Narrator claims it is disturbing how much they act like a living thing.
In Jeff Wayne
's musical adaptation of The War of the Worlds
, the handling-machine was the primary vehicle for capturing humans (a cage being placed on the 'back' of the machine). This is one of the few obvious inconsistencies with the original text, as Wells had written that the fighting-machines had the cages and did the capturing. However, in the 1998 PC game
which was largely based on Jeff Wayne's album, the Handling Machine's purpose is more accurate. It is used by the player to construct and maintain Martian facilities. The handling machine is used mainly for capturing humans and draining their blood. It has two giant claws for smashing into buildings and 2 much smaller claws which come out of vents by the big claws.
Handling machines appear in the faithful, low-budget film adaptation H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds
, directed by Timothy Hines. These machines have six legs and a jointed tail, closely resembling a scorpion
.
No handling-machine is seen in any other film adaptation, though crab-like walkers appear in The Asylum
's modernized War of the Worlds film, but these are fighting-machines, not handling-machines, leaving the tripod appearance absent from the film.
One visualization of a handling-machine was designed and built by model-maker Martin Bower.
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
' science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
classic The War of the Worlds, the Martian
Martian
As an adjective, the term martian is used to describe anything pertaining to the planet Mars.However, a Martian is more usually a hypothetical or fictional native inhabitant of the planet Mars. Historically, life on Mars has often been hypothesized, although there is currently no solid evidence of...
Invaders used two primary machines, the fighting-machine
Tripod (The War of the Worlds)
Tripods or fighting-machines are a type of fictional three-legged walker from the H. G. Wells' classic science fiction novel The War of the Worlds, used by Martians to invade Earth.-Novel:...
and the handling-machine.
The handling-machine is used in Wells' book as a construction machine, making, moving, and assembling machinery. Like the fighting-machines, the handling-machine functions under control of a Martian. (The only machine that was described as functioning autonomously was an embankment-machine
Embankment-machine
The Embankment-machine was an automated machine used by the Martians in The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.-Description:...
, which was used to stabilize the loose earth around the crater created by the impact of the Martian projectiles.) Unlike the fighting-machines, the handling-machines are not Tripods; instead they are described as having five jointed legs with numerous jointed levers and tentacles. They are described as "spider-like" and "crab-like". The Narrator claims it is disturbing how much they act like a living thing.
In Jeff Wayne
Jeff Wayne
Jeffry "Jeff" Wayne, born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, is a musician best known for Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds, his musical version of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds...
's musical adaptation of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is a 1978 concept album by Jeff Wayne, retelling the story of The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. Its format is progressive rock and string orchestra, using narration and leitmotifs to carry the story via rhyming melodic lyrics that express...
, the handling-machine was the primary vehicle for capturing humans (a cage being placed on the 'back' of the machine). This is one of the few obvious inconsistencies with the original text, as Wells had written that the fighting-machines had the cages and did the capturing. However, in the 1998 PC game
Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds is a title used for two 1998 video games published by GT Interactive. The first is a real-time strategy game developed by Rage Software Limited for the PC...
which was largely based on Jeff Wayne's album, the Handling Machine's purpose is more accurate. It is used by the player to construct and maintain Martian facilities. The handling machine is used mainly for capturing humans and draining their blood. It has two giant claws for smashing into buildings and 2 much smaller claws which come out of vents by the big claws.
Handling machines appear in the faithful, low-budget film adaptation H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds
H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (2005 film)
H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds is one of three film adaptations of H. G. Wells' classic novel released in 2005, about a Martian invasion of Earth...
, directed by Timothy Hines. These machines have six legs and a jointed tail, closely resembling a scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
.
No handling-machine is seen in any other film adaptation, though crab-like walkers appear in The Asylum
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American film studio and distributor which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbusters" by the press.-History:The Asylum was founded...
's modernized War of the Worlds film, but these are fighting-machines, not handling-machines, leaving the tripod appearance absent from the film.
One visualization of a handling-machine was designed and built by model-maker Martin Bower.
