Synopsis
Mr. Fotheringay, while talking with others at a bar, discovers he has the ability to work miracles.
History
First publication: The Illustrated London News, Summer Number 1989
Review
Wells was good at this sort of humorous fantasy, where he places contemporary people in a situation where a single fantastic element is entered into the story and then Wells explores what mishaps would take place. This story is probably his most famous example and was made into a movie with a script by Wells, the script later being written into a book. Fotheringay quickly finds out that he needs to be careful what he says and how he says it with this new power. From that and the inability to convince people that he can work miracles comes a brilliant comedy of frustration.
Videos
We have the story in these editions:
28 Science Fiction Stories, hardcover, Dover Publications, 1966-00-00
The Complete Short Stories of H. G. Wells, edited by John Hammond, trade paperback, Phoenix Giant, 1999-00-00
Selected Short Stories, paperback, Penguin Books, 1981-00-00
