The Martians

Henderson

Henderson reports on the Martians and is ultimately killed by their heat-ray, making him a victim of the invasion.

The Curate

The Curate becomes obsessively terrified of the Martians, viewing them as divine punishment, which drives him to madness.

Stent

Stent, as a scientist, attempts to communicate with the Martians but is killed by them, highlighting the failure of reason against brute force.

The War of the Worlds

The Martians emerge from the cylinder and use the Heat-Ray to kill humans, establishing their dominance and technological superiority.

Book I: The Coming of the Martians

The Martians emerge from the cylinder and use the Heat-Ray to massacre the crowd on Horsell Common.

The Eve of the War

The Martians are introduced as vast, cool, and unsympathetic intelligences who have been observing Earth and preparing their invasion, launching projectiles toward the planet.

II: The Falling Star

Implied presence inside the cylinder, unscrewing the top.

IV: The Cylinder Opens

First appearance: a greyish, tentacled creature emerges from the cylinder, described as inhuman and monstrous.

V: The Heat-Ray

Emerge from the cylinder, display a rotating mirror, and unleash the heat-ray that destroys the deputation and sets the common on fire.

VI: The Heat-Ray in the Chobham Road

Deploy the heat-ray, causing mass death and destruction.

VII: How I Reached Home

Described as sluggish but terrifying; their heat-ray is recalled as a 'pitiless sword' that nearly killed the narrator.

Friday Night

Work all night on their machines, hammering and stirring, with occasional greenish-white smoke.

IX: The Fighting Begins

Remain hidden in their pit, busy with preparations, and later unleash the Heat-Ray, setting fire to the college and surrounding area.

X: In the Storm

The third cylinder lands; Martian tripods are seen striding across the countryside, smashing trees and emitting green smoke.

XI: At the Window

Three metallic giants are seen moving about the sand pits, using the Heat-Ray to destroy Woking and surrounding areas; they are described as cowled, mechanical colossi.

XII: What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton

Five armoured Martians appear, using the Heat-Ray to destroy towns and people; one is decapitated by a shell but continues its destructive path.

XIII: How I Fell in with the Curate

Retreat to Horsell Common after losing one of their own, and are seen transferring equipment from other cylinders.

XV: What Had Happened in Surrey

Deploy in a crescent formation, use black smoke canisters and Heat-Rays to destroy artillery, and advance methodically toward London.

XVI: The Exodus from London

Their impending arrival drives the mass panic and exodus from London.

XVII: The Thunder Child

Three Martians wade into the sea to attack refugee ships; two are destroyed by the Thunder Child, and the third is hidden by steam.

Book II: The Earth Under the Martians

The Martians are now the dominant species, reshaping Earth to their needs.

Under Foot

Deploy Black Smoke, use a fighting-machine to pursue and capture humans, and are seen collecting people into a metallic carrier.

II: What We Saw from the Ruined House

Described in detail: head-only bodies, no digestion, no sex, no sleep, telepathic, blood-feeders, and users of advanced non-wheeled machinery.

III: The Days of Imprisonment

Operate handling-machines and fighting-machines, process clay into aluminium, and capture and kill a human.

IV: The Death of the Curate

A Martian handling-machine investigates the house after hearing the curate's shouts; its tentacle explores the cellar and nearly touches the narrator.

V: The Stillness

Absent from the pit; all machinery and signs of them have disappeared.

VI: The Work of Fifteen Days

Implied to have caused the devastation; the narrator believes they have moved on to destroy other cities.

Dead London

Found dead or dying, slain by earthly bacteria; their machines stand motionless and their cry ceases.

Wreckage

Their defeat is celebrated globally; one Martian destroyed Leatherhead, killing all inhabitants.

X: The Epilogue

Their death is attributed to terrestrial bacteria; speculation on their possible settlement on Venus.