The Coming Race

Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Magoria Books (2007)
ISBN 0978170717
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (5/07)

"The Coming Race" is a book that will best appeal to individuals who enjoy studying different civilizations and learning about how their citizens come to behave and believe the way they do.  It incorporates aspects of both science fiction and fantasy.  This book follows the accounts of a man who has fallen into an underground world that is so different from the world he knows.  The author utilizes a very descriptive style to portray the intuitive thoughts of this narrator as he recalls this experience.

The residents of this underground society are known as the Vril-ya. They lead simple and peaceful lives in which there is no war and no crime.  In fact, if someone is unhappy in their society, his only recourse is to emigrate to a different tribe.  In their world, no individual is considered superior to another individual (including the leaders) in order to ascertain there will be no jealousy among the people.  Another major difference is that children are the workers and are entrusted with the toughest jobs such as killing any dangerous creatures that are encountered.  In the beginning, the narrator seems impressed with this seemingly perfect civilization.  However, he comes to question whether it is a good thing to have such a controlled and stagnant society and worries that this type of advanced civilization may eventually take over the world.

This book started off great and I expected it would be action-packed and full of adventure.  However, I was somewhat disappointed that it turned out to be mainly a narrative.  I would have preferred more dialogue between the characters.  The chapter about the development of their language (Chapter XII) was particularly grueling and contributed to the slow pace.  I did enjoy the author's use of lesser known vocabulary words.  It is good to know that my high school years were well spent.

Although this book was first published in 1871, there is much that can be learned from it.  "The Coming Race" makes some important points about what constitutes a productive and successful society.  Having no war and no crime sounds great, as does complete equality among individuals.  However, once this type of "perfection" is achieved, life will become extremely dull as there can be no debates or exchanges of ideas to keep things interesting.  The world needs conflict and change so there can be progress and growth. 

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