Only three weeks remain in the IRC's 'Can You Guess Your Teachers Favourite Book?' Competition.
Many students have already entered in their forms. Be sure to submit your competition form to the IRC to be in the running for some great prizes!
For more information please speak to Library Staff.
Reader of the Month - April / May
The Reader of the Month for April / May is Tiana Conrad (Year 7) Congratulations! Tiana has won a book of her choice.
Every month the student who reads the most books will win a brand new book of their choice! Will you be the winner for June? Borrow a book from the IRC today to be in the running!
For more information please speak to Library staff.
Hidden Classics in the IRC
Read a famous story from the father of Science Fiction today in the IRC!
The War of the Worlds - H.G. Wells
"With H.G. Wells' other novels, The War of the Worlds was one of the first and greatest works of science fiction ever to be written. Even long before man had learned to fly, H.G. Wells wrote this story of the Martian attack on England. These unearthly creatures arrive in huge cylinders, from which they escape as soon as the metal is cool. The first falls near Woking and is regarded as a curiosity rather than a danger until the Martians climb out of it and kill many of the gaping crowd with a Heat-Ray.
These unearthly creatures have heads four feet in diameter and colossal round bodies, and by manipulating two terrifying machines - the Handling Machine and the Fighting Machine - they are as versatile as humans and at the same time insuperable. They cause boundless destruction. The inhabitants of the Earth are powerless against them, and it looks as if the end of the World has come.
But there is one factor which the Martians, in spite of their superior intelligence, have not reckoned on. It is this which brings about a miraculous conclusion to this famous work of the imagination."
Before Star Trek and Star Wars, before Isaac Asimov and Arthur C Clarke, there was H.G. Wells and The War of the Worlds. Rightly considered to be a classic of science fiction, if not of all literature, The War of the Worlds is the exciting and terrifying adventure of one man trying to survive during a devastating invasion of Martians. A novel decades ahead of its time, it not only provides a thrilling story filled with suspense, terror and out of this work action, but also an interesting metaphorical insight into the deadly effects of colonialism and imperialism.
Written in a first person perspective, H.G. Wells grabs the reader from the very first page. This is a novel filled with a wide range of unique and fascinating characters, whose actions during the invasion highlight some of the best and worst traits of humanity. The stars of the novel are however the Martians. Although they may seem generic by modern standards, H.G. Wells' creations are the basis for many of the famous aliens that terrorize our films and books today.
Anyone who is a fan of the science fiction or horror genres is going to love The War of the Worlds. It is a classic story that still holds the power to thrill and terrify today. Make sure you come into the IRC today and experience the 'original' alien invasion!
The IRC has plenty more great novels from H.G. Wells. Make sure you check out two of this other famous classics: 'The Time Machine' and 'The Invisible Man.'
Overdue books
Overdue notices will be sent out this week. If any students require a printed list of their loans please speak to Mrs Comiskey or Mr Smith.
This year the IRC has introduced a new overdue policy. Students who do not return their books after receiving their third notice as well as an email will be invoiced for a replacement copy.
Invoices will still stand if books are returned after this final date.
Annette Comiskey & Michael Smith
Senior IRC Library Team
