Heat-Ray vs. Black Smoke

[andy120290]

One thing that I've been recently wondering about the book is why the Martians decided to bring two very different weapons to Earth. They're basically used for the same purpose: to exterminate humans. The main difference is that the black smoke does it with much less destruction to other things. It seems that's what the Martians wanted to do. With that in mind, why would they need to use the Heat-Ray in the first place?

[Scifishocks]

I always thought as the Heat-ray as a 'shock and awe' first strike to grab our attention and put down any initial resistance. The Black Smoke does little damage to anything other than organic life and so was a more 'subtle' tool to use later, should it be required.

[poyks]

I think of the heat-ray as the immediate battle weapon, whereas the the black smoke is a much more sinister, and planned attack method designed for the destruction of life within the martians designated path.

[Luperis]

I always thought that the heat ray was used as a very 'focused' attack weapon; it hits whatever the martians are directly aiming for. Overall, it would be more useful for destroying large structures and buildings than large numbers of living creatures (as these move about quite a lot so are harder to hit). However, the black smoke has a much greater range - killing off all organic life within quite a large area, so was probably the primary extermination tool rather than the heat ray. It is no good for removing buildings, as it does not damage them, so both have their own specific purposes (but the heat ray can be used for both extermination and land-clearance if needed).

[andy120290]

I can see why they would want both of them now. I also had another thought. The Martians use the Heat-Ray as a defense when they're still in the pit. The Black Smoke probably wouldn't be very good for that purpose. Even if the used it then, they would probably drown in it and kill themselves. I can understand why the Heat-Ray would be useful in such a situation.

[Luperis]

Yeah... since the humans were so close the black smoke probably wouldn't have been much good.

That, and he heat ray looks much cooler and more intimidating than the black smoke, so the Martians may have just been showing off:
"Look! We can set things on fire!" ;D

[Commandingtripod]

My thoughts are:

The Heat Ray is desgined to quickly wipe out all visible things/beings.
Although Black Smoke would kill off an Infantry Company, against Ironclad warships it's almost useless - hence the need for a heat ray.

The Black Smoke on the other hand, could be considered a terror weapon.
When people got word of this 'smoke' they all starting to flee London and such, creating easy targets for the Martians.

[Stu]

Heat Ray:
For use on easy, insight targets, probably used with a 'knee jerk' reaction to moving targets - as soon as spotted - BOOM!!

Black Smoke:
For a more widespread execution - for wiping out towns & villages in one hit so to speak & hidden targets.

[Reppu]

You can't compare a stretategic weapon with a tactical weapon, that's what black smoke and heat ray are in the end.

[Wastedyuthe]

There's one thing you have all overlooked too- quantity. Perhaps the martians only have limited amounts of black smoke capsules, where as the heat ray is non-exhaustive. Perhaps.

[nervouspete]

Maybe the martians didn't know our physiolgy exactly, didn't know what could kill us in that department. So they used the heat ray, captured a few humans (including the unfortunate in the pit) did some experiments, went into production and then were only able to deploy it a few days into the invasion.

Also, the objective never was to exterminate humanity - we were being farmed after all. They were looking to subdue us - and if they used black smoke for every encounter on humans, there'd no longer be anyone left for their juice-loosener.

Human: "Aiee! ARGH! JEBUS!"

Martian 1: "It's whisper-quiet!"

Martian 2: "You got all that juice out of one human?"

Martian 1: "And it's got a taste that can't be beat! Mm-Mm!"

Martian 2 slaps own side of quivering brown leather mass with a tentacle, for shocked-expression effect.

[Tripod]

I'm with EvilNerfherder on this one. I'm inclined to think that the Martians do know what psychology is at what it can do to your enemies. The Heat-Ray, with its horrific effects, does indeed seem like a 'panic-weapon'. As do their howls, some time ago it was discussed what the use of their howls was, the 'ULLAAA' reminds me of the sirens that the Germans placed on their Stuka dive-bombers in the Second World War. Of course they could also have another purpose, like obviously communication, but to stir panic is another goal the Martians might be aiming for with the Heat-Ray and their howls.

Tripod

[killraven]

In my reading of the novel, I always viewed the Heat Ray as the weapon the Martians specially prepared for the Earth assault, but I don't think the Black Smoke existed at that point. My impression was that the Martians misjudged the opposition they would find and had to hurriedly go back to the drawing board for a tactical regroup after the St George's Hill battle. They opened up their Junior Scientist chemistry sets ;D and formulated the lethal chemical weapon back at the cylinders. This may or may not have been tested out on captured humans before the main assault on the south london crescent of guns (this is mere speculation on my part since it is not mentioned in the novel).

I do not see the Black Smoke as a terror weapon, at least not until much later into the invasion, since its application was so sudden and inexplicable to the human combatants that they barely had time to run before they were overwhelmed by the poison.

KR

[thedonal]

From my readings of the book, the black smoke only seemed to come into force when the army started using geurilla tactics- traps, hidden guns etc- due to our chaps being hidden in the trees (the Home Guard?!), the martians were open to ambush. Therefore, the black smoke was used to route out hidden bands of resistance where the heat ray may not necessarily be useful- in forests and towns/cities- the heat ray could certainly take buildings down, but this would be painstaking in London to ensure no nasty surprises- whereas the black smoke could pass through doors and vents, exterminating hidden threats.

It's a great device by Wells- takes out all the what-if's of traps and pits designed to trip up the martians. I wonder what Charles would have to say about this..

[thedonal]

luperis said:

Yeah... since the humans were so close the black smoke probably wouldn't have been much good.

That, and he heat ray looks much cooler and more intimidating than the black smoke, so the Martians may have just been showing off:
"Look! We can set things on fire!" ;D

There must have been some well exhausted martians in the tripod, sitting at the heatray controls. constantly rubbing 2 sticks together!!