The Coming Race
The Coming Race, published anonymously in 1871, is Edward Bulwer-Lytton's late venture into what would now be called science fiction. An American narrator exploring a mine falls through a chasm into a vast underground world inhabited by the Vril-ya, a tall, serene people who command an all-purpose energy called vril, with which they light their cities, fly on mechanical wings and can destroy at a touch. He is sheltered by the household of Aph-Lin and courted, to his alarm, by the philosopher's daughter Zee, for among the Vril-ya the women are the larger sex and do the wooing. The book is at once a utopia, a satire on democracy and a warning that a perfected race would find ours expendable. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Coming Race
The Coming Race by Edward Bulwer-Lytton can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Coming Race online?
Yes. The Coming Race opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Coming Race free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Coming Race is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Coming Race in the public domain?
Yes. The Coming Race by Edward Bulwer-Lytton is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Coming Race?
About 3 h 31 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Coming Race?
The Coming Race by Edward Bulwer-Lytton is filed under "Science Fiction & Fantasy" in the Vinteuil library.
