一位科学家乘自己研制的时间机器旅行到公元802701年的未来世界中，此时的世界已变成了一个大花园，到处是宫殿式的建筑。被称为“埃洛依”的贵族们因过分安逸的生活而使体力、智慧退化萎缩，成为美丽的废品，而“莫洛克”则把“埃洛依”豢养起来当作食物。
H. G. 威尔斯（H.G. Wells, 1866—1946），英国小说家，社会这家、历史学家。他先在伦敦皇家学院师从赫胥黎学习生物学，后于1888年毕业于伦敦大学。1895年出版的科幻小说《时间机器》使他一举成名。该书以奇特的情节和夸张的手法，讽刺资本主义社会的丑恶现象。其后他又发表了一系列的科幻小说，包括著名的《国际战争》《神食》《首先登上月球的人们》等，预言了科学对人类产生重要作用的同时也给人类带来了可怕的灾难，使人们意识到20世纪技术世界的希望一危险同在。1920年发表的100万字的巨著《世界史纲：生物和人类的简明史》，奠定了他作为历史学家的地位。从30年代开始，他积极投身政治，见过罗斯福和斯大林。因此，他生前被认为是有创造性的艺术家，对未来的预言家和积极的社会改革家。
“I’d give a shilling a line for a verbatim note,” said the Editor. The Time Traveller pushed his glass towards the Silent Man and rang it with his fingernail; at which the Silent Man, who had been staring at his face, started convulsively, and poured him wine. The rest of the dinner was uncomfortable. For my own part, sudden questions kept on rising to my lips, and I dare say it was the same with the others. The Jouralist tried to relieve the tension by telling anecdotes of Hettie Potter. The Time Traveller devoted his attention to his dinner, and displayed the appetite of a tramp. The Medical Man smoked a cigarette, and watched the Time Traveller through his eyelashes. The Silent Man seemed even more clumsy than usual, and drank champagne with regularity and determination out of sheer nervousness. At last the Time Traveller pushed his plate away, and looked round us. “I suppose I must apologise,” he said. “I was simply starving. I’ve had a most amazing time.” He reached out his hand for a cigar, and cut the end. “But come into the smoking-room. It’s too long a story to tell over greasy plates.” And ringing the bell in passing, he led the way into the adjoining room.
“You have told Blank, and Dash, and Chose about the machine?” he said to me, leaning back in his easy-chair and naming the three new guests.
“But the thing’s a mere paradox,” said the Editor.
“I can’t argue tonight. I don’t mind telling you the story, but I can’t argue. I will,” he went on, “tell you the story of what has happened to me, if you like, but you must refrain from interruptions. I want to tell it. Badly. Most of it will sound like lying. So be it! It’s true—every word of it, all the same. I was in my laboratory at four o’clock, and since then…I’ve lived eight days…such days as no human being ever lived before! I’m nearly worn out, but I shan’t sleep till I’ve told this thing over to you. Then I shall go to bed. But no interruptions! Is it agreed?”
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