It was drafted at the suggestion of Wells's editor, William Ernest Henley, who wanted Wells to "oblige your editor" by lengthening the text with, among other things, an illustration of "the ultimate degeneracy" of humanity.
Ea fusese scrisă la sugestia editorului lui Wells, William Ernest Henley, care a vrut ca Wells să "îi facă pe plac editorului" lungind textul, printre altele, cu ilustrarea "ultimei degenerări" a omului.