The Coming Race

A young American traveller descends a mine shaft and discovers a hidden civilization with a force called Vril, which can heal, illuminate, and destroy. The people who wield it call themselves the Vril-ya, and they believe they are the coming race destined to inherit the surface world. Written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton and first published in 1871, The Coming Race is an early science-fiction novel that blends adventure, social satire, and philosophical speculation. It imagines a society without crime, poverty, or war, yet one that has also exterminated other races in which the women are the stronger sex. Readers who enjoy H. G. Wells, Jules Verne, and classic utopian and dystopian fiction will find much to think about here. This edition contains the complete text of the novel, a new introduction for first-time readers, a character guide, a summary of the story, a discussion of major themes, a glossary of unusual and period terms, and twelve questions for book clubs and students. It is designed for general readers, students, and anyone curious about the origins of science fiction.