Martian Flying-Machine, H.G. Wells War of the Worlds 1906 French Edition
Alien aeronautical technology is depicted here — a Martian flying-machine from H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, rendered in scratchy, expressionistic pen-and-ink. The craft features a flattened, swept elliptical body resembling a manta ray or blade, with organic tentacle-like appendages dangling beneath a central bulbous node. The hatching technique conveys metallic sheen and menacing weight. This illustration appears on page 139 of the landmark 1906 Belgian French-language edition, illustrated by the incomparable Henrique Alvim Corrêa.
That thing looks like it could drop out of the sky and grab you with those horrible tentacles — no wonder the Martians are winning! The way the artist drew it makes it feel alive and hungry, not just a machine.
