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A Dream of Armageddon
by H. G. Wells



Editor's Notes by Blake Linton Wilfong
The existence of premonitory and past life dreams has never been
scientifically substantiated, but there are countless anecdotal reports of
both. In 1901, H. G. Wells gave us a new twist on these concepts with a
story about a series of consistent, vivid "future life" dreams revealing
events taking place hundreds of years hence.
Pseudoscience? Fantasy? Not necessarily. Some of Wells' stories
involved a "kink in space", a sort of trans-dimensional connection between
seemingly distant places--like modern theories of wormholes and quantum
interconnectedness. Such a "kink" might also span the dimension of time,
linking the minds of two men of different epochs.
Wells' vision of the future is chillingly accurate. Before the World
Wars or the invention of the airplane, tank, or nuclear bomb, he knew
technological advances would increase the death and destruction wrought by
war. He foresaw how one madman (e.g., Hitler) could cause it all. And he
made real and personal the terrible tragedy that results when our
vigilance falters. Written a century ago, this is a story for our time.

The man with the white face entered the carriage at Rugby. He moved slowly
despite his porter's urgency, and even while he was still on the platform I
noted how ill he seemed. He dropped into the corner across from me with a sigh,
made an incomplete attempt to arrange his traveling shawl, and became
motionless, his eyes staring vacantly. I returned to my reading.
"That book," he said, pointing a lean finger, "is about dreams."
"Obviously," I answered, for it was Fortnum Roscoe's Dream States, and the title
was on the cover.
He hung silent for a space as if seeking words. "Yes," he said at last, "but
they know nothing."
I looked attentively at him.
"There are dreams," he said, "and dreams... Tell me, do you ever dream vividly?"

"Rarely," I answered. "I doubt I have three vivid dreams in a year."
"Ah!" he said, "Then your dreams don't mix with your memories? You don't find
yourself in doubt; did this happen or did it not?"
"Hardly ever. Except for a momentary hesitation now and then. I suppose few
people do. Roscoe says it happens at times and gives the usual explanation about
intensity of impression and the like to account for its not happening as a rule.
I suppose you know of these theories--"
"They are wrong."
His emaciated hand played with the strap of the window for a time. I prepared to
resume reading, and that seemed to precipitate his next remark. He leaned
forward almost as though to touch me.
"Isn't there something called consecutive dreaming--that goes on night after
night?"
"I believe there is. There are cases given in most books on mental trouble."