Original 'War Of The World' Drawings Expected To Fetch Huge Sum At Auction

What would it be like if bloodthirsty Martians came to Earth and laid waste to everyone and everything in their path?

If the drawings created for the 1906 edition of H.G. Wells' iconic science-fiction novel "The War of the Worlds" are any indication, it would be really, really bad. Just scroll down for a look.

The originals of the illustrations, created by Brazilian artist Henrique Alvim Corrêa, are to be auctioned off in Beverly Hills, Calif. on May 14. But if you're interested in bidding, get set for some sticker shock; the entire collection, which includes 31 pencil and ink drawings plus a vintage poster and a postcard from Wells to Corrêa, is expected to fetch a staggering $500,000, according to a spokesman for the auction house.

First published in book form in 1898, The War of the Worlds is one of the earliest stories to depict war between earthlings and aliens. It spawned numerous adaptations, including a 1953 motion picture and another movie, starring Tom Cruise, released in 2005.