The Coming Race

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

1951

Title

The Coming Race

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In a sunless subterranean realm, an American engineer discovers a civilization of superhuman beings, the Vril-ya, who wield a mysterious energy force. This visionary tale explores themes of moral superiority, advanced technology, and the contrast between earthly greed and celestial virtue, offering a cautionary look at humanity's potential self-destruction.

Summary up to 500 words

In Edward Bulwer-Lytton's *The Coming Race*, an American engineer, driven by a desire for fortune and adventure, descends into a remote mine in search of mineral wealth. His descent leads him through a jagged chasm into a hidden subterranean world inhabited by the Vril-ya, a superior race living in a utopia illuminated by artificial light and powered by a mysterious energy force known as 'vril.' This civilization boasts advanced architecture, unique flora, and a society governed by Gy-ei (females) and Tur (males), who enjoy longevity, health, and moral perfection far exceeding that of surface-dwellers. The narrative follows the engineer's fascination with this underground society, where he witnesses their winged sports, musical chronometers, and ancient dramas. He forms a deep bond with Zee, a young Gy-ei, whose affection threatens the community's stability. The Vril-ya view surface humans as inferior and dangerous, fearing that their destructive nature could corrupt their peaceful existence. Consequently, the chasm is sealed to prevent contact between the two worlds. A tragic conflict arises when the engineer's presence endangers the Vril-ya's isolation. Zee, unable to bear the thought of the engineer's death or the continued separation, makes the ultimate sacrifice. She uses her vril powers to reopen the chasm briefly, allowing the engineer to escape back to the surface, before sealing it permanently again. In her final moments, she bids him farewell, knowing she will never see him again. The engineer returns to the surface, forever changed by his encounter. He becomes a reluctant witness to a civilization that possesses powers surpassing human understanding and virtues that render modern society's ambitions and vices obsolete. The novel concludes with the engineer warning humanity of this superior race that awaits them, urging that ages must pass before such a civilization emerges into the sunlight to potentially destroy the flawed world above. The story serves as a critique of contemporary industrial society, contrasting its greed and strife with the serene, vril-powered perfection of the subterranean Vril-ya.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1951.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg1951.epub

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Categories

• Science Fiction
• Utopian Fiction