Preface to the New Edition (The Sleeper Awakes)

<br> <i>When the Sleeper Wakes</i> (1899) "is one of the most ambitious and least satisfactory of my books, and I have taken the opportunity afforded by this reprinting to make a number of excisions and alterations. ..." Wells goes on to describe changes and provide explanation.

Probably this essay is included in some publications of the novel whose ISFDB publication records do not list it. As originally published, the essay spans two dense pages and closes "H. G. Wells".

Wells wrote another new preface, published in the Collins' Clear-Type Press edition (1921? 1925?) with heading "Preface" and two-line closing "H. G. Wells"; "Easton Glebe, Dunmow, 1921." The latter, including 1921-dated Preface, is the source edition for Wikisource: The Sleeper Awakes: "This edition includes a Preface written by Wells and dated 1921, but the text is otherwise presumed to follow the revised edition of 1910." The 1921 preface concerns the future as Wells portrayed it in 1898, and how the prospects have changed. "... It is a fantastic possibility no longer possible. Much evil may be in store for mankind, but to this immense, grim organisation of servitude, our race will never come."