The style in The Time Machine is characterized by descriptive language, jargon and terminology, and a focus on the scientific and political concepts that underpin the story. H.G. Wells blends elements of science fiction with adventure and social commentary, creating a narrative that is both imaginative and grounded in scientific and technological concepts.
The narrative, which is largely relayed as a story the protagonist tells to his friends, is structured in a logical and methodical manner, and the protagonist's thoughts and observations are expressed in a straightforward, analytical style. The novel is marked by the Traveller's attention to detail and use of descriptive language to create vivid and realistic imagery. Wells uses a wide range of descriptive devices to create a sense of realism and make the story more immersive. When he first arrives in the future, he provides a detailed description of the landscape he encounters:
The landscape was misty and vague [...] I saw trees growing and changing like puffs of vapor, now brown, now green; they grew, spread, shivered, and passed away. I saw huge buildings rise up faint and fair, and pass like dreams.
The Traveller's ample use of adjectives and similes, describing the buildings as "faint and fair" and "like dreams," stimulates the reader's imagination and situates them in this future world. This style is both poetic and scientific; the Traveller romanticizes the landscape while cataloguing its details and drawing theories about their origins.
Prior to his career in fiction, H.G. Wells was a science writer, and his novel makes use of scientific terminology and concepts to convey the idea of time travel and its mechanics. Wells uses terms such as "fourth dimension," "experimental verification," and “uniform velocity” to create a sense of scientific realism and to add credibility to the story. Wells's scientific background is evident in his ability to convey complex scientific concepts in an accessible manner, while his use of metaphor and allegory adds depth and vividness to the narrative.
