The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
208 pages; 2007 edition

As life on Mars becomes impossible, Martians and their terrifying machines invade the earth. It begins as the sky lights up with bright cylinders from Mars that look like falling stars-and continues as the Martians emerge from their vessels with machines of fire and deadly smoke. Wells's depiction of a city in panic - written in 1898 - still remains shockingly contemporary. ~ Publisher's Description

War of the Worlds movie (2005) starring Tom Cruise

The Iliad by Homer
462 pages

One of the foremost achievements in Western literature, Homer's Iliad tells the story of the darkest episode of the Trojan War. At its center is Achilles, the greatest warrior-champion of the Greeks, and his conflict with his leader Agamemnon. Interwoven in the tragic sequence of events are powerfully moving descriptions of the ebb and flow of battle, the besieged city of Ilium, the feud between the gods, and the fate of mortals. ~ Publisher's Description