Star Begotten
by H. G. Wells
In the War of the Worlds, G. G. Wells imagined aliens landing on Earth from Mars with violent intentions. In Starrise, there's a suspicion that the Martians may have returned — this time using cosmic rays to alter human chromosomes. The protagonist Joseph Davis, the author of popular stories, is frighteningly obsessed with rumors about the Mars plan. It considers the possibility that the mutation may have already taken place and that his child, wife, and even himself may already be Martians. An ironic and often hilarious novel, Starborn depicts discoveries in evolutionary biology and reflects on the horrors of mutation as well as its benefits.
