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The Coming Race

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'The Coming Race' by Edward Bulwer-Lytton is a 19th-century novella that delves into the discovery of an underground civilization called the Vril ya. The story follows an encounter between the unnamed narrator and this advanced race who possess a limitless source of power called vril, which enables them to do anything they please, whether creative or destructive. The narrative primarily focuses on the culture and societal structure of the Vril ya, where women dominate intellectual life and courtship rituals, presenting an intriguing alien mindset that allows exploration of contemporary issues like evolution and women's rights. Despite being a seminal piece of 19th-century science fiction, the book is critiqued for its slow pacing and lack of incident, with the plot serving as an extended description of the unique civilization rather than a traditional adventure narrative.

Characters:

The central characters include the unnamed American narrator and the Vril ya, a superior underground race characterized by their harmony, advanced powers, and a unique gender dynamic.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by elaborate descriptions and analysis of the Vril ya culture, featuring detailed explorations that may feel excessive to some readers.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around an American narrator who discovers the Vril ya, a utopian underground civilization, exploring their advanced society and ultimately feeling discontent within their harmonious, yet alien, world.

Setting:

The setting is an imagined underground world inhabited by the Vril ya, serving as a stark contrast to the surface world of the 19th century.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, with slower middle sections focused on cultural exposition, while the beginning and end contain more tension and action.
I am a native of _____, in the United States of America. My ancestors migrated from England in the reign of Charles II.; and my grandfather was not undistinguished in the War of Independence. My famil...

Notes:

The Coming Race was published anonymously in 1871 and follows the hollow earth theory.
The protagonist discovers the Vril ya, a utopian society beneath the Earth's surface.
Vril is a unique substance that powers the underground civilization, similar to electricity.
The Vril ya society is harmonious and free from war and crime but lacks creativity and struggle.
Women in Vril ya society dominate education and social life, a reversal of Victorian norms.
The narrator feels uneasy about the cold perfection of the Vril ya civilization.
The book is seen as a mix of science fiction and anthropology, with a heavy focus on cultural description.
The word 'vril' influenced late Victorian spiritualists and the term 'Bovril.'
This novella reflects contemporary anxieties about evolution and imperialism.
Heinrich Himmler was reportedly a fan of The Coming Race.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of racism, cultural elitism, and elements of female oppression within the context of utopian ideals.

Has Romance?

While there is a romantic element, it is more subdued and intertwined with the protagonist's cultural observations rather than being a central theme.

From The Publisher:

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.

We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

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