The Time Ship

Before the end of the 19th century, everyone who travelled in time did so by falling asleep or being transported by magic, devices which gave the traveller no control over their journey. It is popularly assumed that the first mechanical device for travelling in time, the first time machine, was invented by H.G. Wells. But that is not the case. Eight years before Wells"s novel, this curious book came out in Spain; it wasn"t particularly successful at the time so there is no suggestion that Wells had read the novel or was even aware of it, but it is still the first time machine in history. What Gaspar invented was a sort of airship occupied by an ever-changing cast of scientists, hangers-on, troublesome soldiers, sexy servants, a gaggle of superannuated prostitutes, refugees from other times, and more. Unlike Wells, who sent his traveller forward in time, Gaspar used the time machine like most subsequent authors to go back into history. So we get a series of brief visits to the siege of Granada, the court of the Chinese Emperor, the eruption of Vesuvius, and even to the Great Flood. All of which is little more than colourful background to a farcical tale of the inventor trying to marry his ward, and the ward trying to get together with her soldier boyfriend.Why it"s on the list: Gaspar was a struggling writer who never earned the fortune or fame he felt his talents deserved, and this rather laboured comedy didn"t do anything to improve his luck. But it is of interest as the very first time machine in history.