This is H.G. Wells at his best, delving into fantastic and strange worlds. The Time Machine, perhaps Wells' best known work, tells the story of the first time traveler. In the distant future the human race has evolved into two beings: the gentle Eloi and their dreaded cousins, the Morlocks, masters of the underworld.
From Stories of the Unusual:
"The Country of the Blind" takes place in a hidden valley where it would seem that a man with sight would be king.
"The Diamond Maker" tells of a fortune that might have been.
"The Man Who Worked Miracles" recounts the problems of defying nature.
In "Aepyornis Island", a man has a special relationship with a prehistoric bird.
"The Strange Orchid" tells of the macabre appetite of an exotic plant.
"The Cone" is a shocking story of revenge.
"The Purple Pileus" deals with a life-altering fungus. "The Truth About Pyecraft" is a classic that explains why an overbearing fat man wears lead underwear.
"The Door in the Wall" captures the pathos of lost youth.