BY AUTHOR AND COMPOSER 
H.E. WILBURSON 

,

Q and A with The Martian Diaries series author H.E. Wilburson



Q. What made you decide to do a sequel to The War Of The Worlds? 


In the 1970s, as a child, I saw the 1953 film on TV in black and white. I was really gripped by the story, and had no idea how humans could possibly triumph in the invasion by the Martians.


Later, I found Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds entertaining to listen to and over the years I longed for a significant continuation of the original H.G. Wells story.


In 2015 I decided to create a sequel myself and now I am always being asked "Does it turn out well for humans?" It gives me hope that perhaps I am doing something right! 


Two black and green Martian cylinders against a night time landscape - from the 1953 film version of The War Of The Worlds.

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Awards and Nominations

Volume 1 The Day Of The Martians was a Bronze medallist in the Readers Favorite 2024 International Book Awards (Fiction Audiobooks category).


The Day Of The Martians was nominated in the 2019 Readers Choice Awards - Science Fiction category.


Lake On The Moon achieved the Bronze medal for 3rd place in the TCK Publishing 2020 Readers Choice Awards - Science Fiction category.


Both titles were entered into the Los Angeles Science Fiction Film Festival Awards 2020 and jointly won the following:


Star One Gold Award for Best Audio Drama

Europa Prize Gold Award for Best Writer

Polaris Gold award for Best Sound Mix

Polaris Silver Award for Best Soundtrack

Asimov Gold Award 2020


Yellow lettering on reddish-brown background - logo of LA Sci-Fi Film Festival Awards 2020

Broadcasts

The Day Of The Martians was first broadcast live  in May and June 2019 by Radio Woking, in the town where H.G. Wells lived while writing The War Of The Worlds and where much of his iconic science fiction story is set. 

There are several sculptures in the town relating to the alien invasion in the book, including the 7 metre high stainless steel Martian tripod by sculptor Michael Condron. A separate plaque commemorates Woking as 'the birthplace of modern Science Fiction'.

Radio Woking broadcast The Day Of The Martians and then Lake On The Moon in ten 40 min episodes on Sundays at 6pm GMT from 15th Nov 2020 to Jan 10th 2021. 
Listen or catch up online http://www.radiowoking.co.uk/listen

Channel Radio 2 broadcast The Day Of The Martians  in three x 40 minute episodes in February 2020 in the Clive Looker Sunday Arts Hour, 2-3pm GMT channelradio.co.uk/two 

Presenter Clive Looker has had a long and varied career in media as a freelance writer for magazines in the UK and US, and as a contributor and active writer for BBCTV and Radio. 

The Day Of The Martians was shortlisted for the 
International Radio Drama Festival in 2020 and 2021 and 
hosted on their website radiodramafestival.org.uk

Awards and Nominations

Volume 1 The Day Of The Martians was a Bronze medallist in the Readers Favorite 2024 International Book Awards (Fiction Audiobooks category).

The Day Of The Martians was nominated in the TCK Publishing  2019 Readers Choice Awards - Science Fiction category.


Lake On The Moon achieved the Bronze medal for 3rd place in the TCK Publishing 2020 Readers Choice Awards - Science Fiction category.


Volumes 1 and 2 were entered into the Los Angeles Science Fiction Film Festival Awards 2020 and jointly won the following:


Star One Gold Award for Best Audio Drama

Europa Prize Gold Award for Best Writer

Polaris Gold award for Best Sound Mix

Polaris Silver Award for Best Soundtrack

Asimov Gold Award 2020


Yellow lettering on reddish-brown background - logo of LA Sci-Fi Film Festival Awards 2020

Broadcasts

The Day Of The Martians was first broadcast live  in May and June 2019 by Radio Woking, in the town where H.G. Wells lived while writing The War Of The Worlds and where much of his iconic science fiction story is set. 

There are several sculptures in the town relating to the alien invasion in the book, including the 7 metre high stainless steel Martian tripod by sculptor Michael Condron. A separate plaque commemorates Woking as 'the birthplace of modern Science Fiction'.

Radio Woking broadcast The Day Of The Martians and then Lake On The Moon in ten 40 min episodes on Sundays at 6pm GMT from 15th Nov 2020 to Jan 10th 2021. 
Listen or catch up online http://www.radiowoking.co.uk/listen

Channel Radio 2 broadcast The Day Of The Martians in three x 40 minute episodes in February 2020 in the Clive Looker Sunday Arts Hour, 2-3pm GMT channelradio.co.uk/two 

Presenter Clive Looker has had a long and varied career in media as a freelance writer for magazines in the UK and US, and as a contributor and active writer for BBCTV and Radio. 

The Day Of The Martians was shortlisted for the International Radio Drama Festival in 2020 and 2021 and hosted on their website radiodramafestival.org.uk