The Time Machine is more an analysis of the society than it is a novel. The world in which the Time Traveler landed is quite weird and a bit crazy. I love how the Time Traveler is trying to explain everything he sees and how this society is organized. When he discovered how these "people" really live, he is kind of surprised and a bit scared. It was surprising to see that this author could think of this as a plausible future (well, not that much in a sense). Our interpretation of the future is really different from H.G. Wells' one. Because our fears are different than they were during his time, because we know how we are screwing up and what it may cause in the future.
It is a short book but not an easy one. The plot is quite simple to follow, but I guess I would have to read it at least 10 times to get everything he is trying to say.
Really enjoyed it, it was interesting.