The War in the Air

The War in the Air an H. G. Wells novel notable for its prophetic ideas images and concepts in this case the use of the aircraft in warfare during World War I. The novels hero is Bert Smallways a forward-thinking young man and a kind of bicycle engineer of the lets-ave-a-look-at-it and enamel-chipping variety. Immediately after the Wright Brotherss first successful flight in 1903 the worlds major powers became aware of the decisive strategic importance of air power and embarked on a secret arms race to develop this power. The general public is virtually unaware of this arms race until it finally bursts out in a vastly destructive war which destroys civilization.