Cogadh na Reann

"Ni chreidfeadh duine ar bith i mblianta deiridh an naou cead deag go raibh suil ghear ghrinn ar imeachtai an domhain seo ag neacha ar mho a n intleacht na intleacht an duine, ach da ainneoin sin, a bhi chomh basmhar linn fein... Ach, thar dhuibheagan an spais, bhi ag breathnu anuas orainn go santach creatuir a raibh an oiread difriochta idir a meabhair agus ar meabhairne agus ata idir meabhair an duine agus meabhair an ainmhi, creatuir a raibh intleacht abhalmhor fhuar chrua acu, agus bhi siad ag beartu seifteanna go mall lenar mbascadh." Foilsiodh "Cogadh na Reann" den chead uair in 1898 agus meastar gurb e an chead ursceal riamh e faoi ionradh eachtran ar an domhan agus ta se ar cheann de na hurscealta ficsean eolaiochta is tabhachtai dar ceapadh. Athchoiriodh e don raidio, don teatar, agus don chineama, agus is iomai sin saothar ficsin, de gach saghas, a raibh se ina inspioraid acu. Mar aon le "The Time Machine," "The Island of Dr Moreau" agus "An Chead Chuairt ar an nGealaigh," airitear "Cogadh na Reann" ar mhorshaothair ficsean eolaiochta H.G.Wells (1866-1946). Foilsiodh in 1934 an t-aistriuchan seo Gaeilge a rinne Leon O Broin. Is eard ata san eagran nua seo leagan caighdeanaithe den aistriuchan sin, arna chur in eagar ag Aibhistin O Duibh. -- "No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own... Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us." First published in 1898, "The War of the Worlds" is considered to be the first "alien invasion" tales, and has been one of the most influential science fiction novels ever written. It has been adapted for radio, stage, and screen, and has inspired and influenced many works of fiction, including comics and graphic novels. Alongside "The Time Machine," "The Invisible Man," and "The Island of Dr Moreau," Wells' "The War of the Worlds" stands out as perhaps his most popular work. This Irish translation by Leon O Broin was first published in 1934. In this new edition, the translation has been brought up to date to the current spelling of Irish, edited by Aibhistin O Duibh."