War of the Worlds is one of those classic books that everyone should read.  Sadly, I don't think it updates well...the fact they travel millions of miles and die of germs bothers me.  Wouldn't they expect that?  Wouldn't they at least cope with it better?

I wish I could remember the book, but I read a short story where when the aliens landed the whole earth senses something alien was there, "Gaia Effect" I guess, and instead of attacking the aliens the Gaia Effect caused all the animals on the planet including the humans to change.  In effect the invading aliens set off a worldwide 'antibody effect' with the end result being human then had new powers to defeat the aliens.  It was a good riff on the classic story, but it used up to date theories about genetics.