
The Sleeper Awakes, also known as When the Sleeper Wakes, is an 1899 dystopian science fiction novel by H.G. Wells. The novel follows a man who sleeps for 203 years and wakes up in a transformed London, where he has become the richest person in the world. The story has inspired fanfiction and film adaptations, with George Pal attempting to secure the film rights in the 1960s. The novel has also influenced other works, such as the 1973 Woody Allen film Sleeper and the British TV series Blake's 7. Fanfiction based on the novel explores alternative storylines and powers for the titular Sleeper, with some stories crossing over with other fictional universes, such as DBZ.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Title | Where the Sleeper Wakes (The Sleeper Awakes) |
| Author | H.G. Wells |
| Genre | Dystopian science fiction |
| Publication date | 1899 |
| Revision date | 1910 |
| Publication format | Serial, book |
| Plot | A man sleeps for 203 years, waking up in a transformed London where he is the richest man in the world. |
| Inspiration | Based on the author's previous novel "When the Sleeper Wakes", which he altered due to time constraints and illness. |
| Fanfiction | There is interest in fanfiction that explores Sleeper's powers and abilities, as they are not fully explained in the original work. |
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What You'll Learn

The Sleeper's Powers
The Sleeper, the main character of the story, possesses incredible abilities that have both fascinated and intimidated those around him. Upon waking up after 203 years, the Sleeper finds himself in a future London where he has become the richest person in the world and legally owns most of the world's assets. This sudden emergence into a world he once knew, now drastically transformed, sets the stage for the Sleeper's journey and the discovery of his powers.
One of the Sleeper's most notable abilities is his immense wealth and influence. His wealth has grown exponentially during his long sleep, granting him ownership and control over industries and political entities worldwide. This power dynamic sets him up as a figurehead, with others seeking his leadership and guidance, even if he remains unaware of the extent of his riches.
However, the Sleeper's true power seems to lie in an unknown ability that instills fear and respect in those who know of it. This power is so formidable that even Khepri, a formidable entity, deemed him too troublesome to control or confront. The nature of this power remains a secret, adding an air of intrigue and mystery to the Sleeper's character. Speculations suggest that he may possess control over reality itself, akin to Dr. Manhattan from the Watchmen series, or that his power could be related to the Reality Stone from the Infinity Gauntlet.
As the Sleeper navigates this new world, he discovers more about his powers and how they affect those around him. He encounters revolutionaries led by Ostrog, who seek his leadership to rise against the White Council. The Sleeper's influence extends beyond his wealth, as he becomes a symbol of hope and change for those seeking a better future. However, the true extent of his powers and their impact on the world remains to be seen, leaving readers eager to uncover the full scope of the Sleeper's abilities.
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The Future World
In this future world, agriculture is run like industry, and the population is concentrated in four huge cities in Britain, all powered by massive windmills. The lower class continues to be dominated and exploited, and the revolution led by Ostrog has changed nothing for them. Ostrog has used the revolution and Graham as a figurehead to seize power for himself, and he retains control while Graham becomes a puppet ruler.
Graham, interested in aeroplanes, learns to fly and sees from the air that no one lives in the countryside or small towns anymore. He discovers the true nature of the revolution and the exploitation of the lower classes, and his carefree life comes to an end.
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The Sleeper's Wealth
In the original novel by Wells, the protagonist sleeps for an astonishing 203 years, waking up in a future London where he has become the richest man on Earth. This fanfiction tale, The Sleeper's Wealth, expands upon this concept, imagining a world where the Sleeper's wealth has accumulated even further, reaching unimaginable proportions.
As the Sleeper awakens, he finds himself in a world where his wealth has grown exponentially during his long sleep. The investments he made before his slumber have paid off tremendously, and he now owns a significant portion of the world's industries and political entities. The Sleeper's wealth has become so vast that it has shaped the very fabric of society, with entire economies dependent on his financial decisions.
However, as the Sleeper emerges from his long sleep, he discovers that his wealth has also attracted attention and created a complex web of interests. A mob gathers, demanding to see the fabled Sleeper, and he finds himself under house arrest as those around him are alarmed by his sudden awakening. Rebels, led by the charismatic Ostrog, offer him an opportunity to escape, believing that his leadership is crucial for a revolution against the ruling White Council.
As the Sleeper joins the rebels, he begins to understand the extent of his wealth's impact. He learns that his investments have shaped the world, leading to a highly industrialized and urbanized future where agriculture is run like any other industry. The Sleeper's wealth has contributed to the centralization of power and the emergence of a stratified society, where the lower classes continue to face domination and exploitation. Ostrog, a cunning and power-hungry individual, manipulates the Sleeper's influence to further his own agenda, using the revolution to seize control for himself.
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The White Council
However, it is revealed that Ostrog's motives are not entirely pure. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Ostrog is primarily interested in seizing power for himself and has merely used the revolution and Graham as a means to achieve his own ends. Despite their efforts, the White Council remains a formidable force, and their rule is not easily toppled.
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The Revolution
As Graham, the Sleeper, escapes from his captors with the help of Ostrog and the rebels, he finds himself in the midst of a burgeoning revolution. The workers have gathered in a massive hall, their numbers swelling with discontent and a yearning for change. They march against the White Council, the embodiment of the oppressive regime that has plagued their lives.
In the ensuing chaos of the revolution, Graham is inadvertently separated from the revolutionaries. He finds himself alone, navigating a world that is vastly different from the one he knew before his prolonged slumber. It is during this solitude that Graham encounters an old man, who becomes an unlikely source of insight and revelation.
The old man shares with Graham the story of the Sleeper, a mythical figure who has become a symbol of hope and resistance for the people. According to the old man, the White Council exploited the Sleeper's wealth and influence to gain control over industries and political entities worldwide. However, the old man suspects that the Sleeper is merely a fictitious creation, fabricated by the White Council to manipulate and control the masses.
Graham, now armed with this newfound knowledge, begins to question the true nature of his role and the motivations of those around him. He realizes that the revolution, though successful in overthrowing the White Council, has not brought about the changes it promised. The lower classes remain oppressed and exploited, their plight unchanged.
As Graham continues his journey, he becomes increasingly entangled in the political machinations of those seeking to use his influence and status for their gain. Ostrog, in particular, emerges as a cunning and power-hungry individual who manipulates Graham into becoming a puppet ruler while he retains the true authority.
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Frequently asked questions
'Where the Sleeper Wakes' is a dystopian science fiction novel by H.G. Wells, published in 1899. It's about a man who sleeps for 203 years and wakes up in a transformed London where he is now the richest man in the world.
When Graham, the Sleeper, wakes up, he is disoriented. The people around him are alarmed and a mob gathers, demanding to see the Sleeper. He is placed under house arrest and learns that he is the legal owner of most of the world. Rebels led by Ostrog help him escape and ask for his leadership to rise against the White Council.
The Sleeper's power is never explicitly revealed, but it is implied that he has complete control over everything. However, he is so overwhelmed by it that he can barely function, and spends his days sleeping, eating, and reading.
There are fanfiction ideas and discussions about the Sleeper taking on a more active role, but no specific fanfiction recommendations are mentioned. Some ideas include an SI waking up as the Sleeper without powers, or the Sleeper having powers similar to Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen.
Aspects of the novel's storyline have appeared in other works. For example, it shares similarities with the 1973 film 'Sleeper' by Woody Allen, and inspired the British dystopian TV series 'Blake's 7'. There were also plans in the late 1960s for a film adaptation by George Pal, but it never materialised.





















