How ET Will Force Darwin's Theory to Adapt - Facts So Romantic

When H.G. Wells wrote about aliens, his wild imaginings were shaped by Darwin's theory of evolution. In The War of the Worlds, giant Martian invaders with whip-like arms are threatened by extinction and so expand into a new ecological niche by colonizing other planets, notably Earth. What led Wells to these majestic speculations, inspiring science-fiction buffs and also many scientists to this day? But does evolution operate the same on life everywhere? The success of Darwinian theory to explain life on Earth has lulled many of us into thinking that it must be.