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scholastic_squid's review against another edition
3.0
The Coming Race -- I must have heard this title somewhere (quite probably Ancient Aliens) and downloaded it. I was not sure what to expect, all I knew is that it was on my Kindle and I should read it. I gave it a shot and it turned out to be a decent book that was written in 1871; which by all means is quite incredible. The concepts within this story are fantastic, full of detail and what we would consider today - steam-punk-esk mechanisms. Bulwer-Lytton writes with such detail, such tenacity, that one would actually believe that he indeed discover a hidden world beneath the surface of the Earth. If there was some portion of the community you would question, it's as if almost immediately he answers you. He covers: death rituals/practices, marriage customs, agriculture, architecture, energy usage (the almighty VRIL), time, community, government, careers, other cultures below the Earth besides the one he resides with and more. There is almost no stone left un-turned. It deserves a second read I think, so I may do that sometime in the future. Males vs. Females is a prevalent topic in this book. He consistently mentions how males are the shy species and females are slightly larger and pursue greater knowledge than the males in this world. He also compares females quite often to those 'back home', and claims to have a couple females (at least) desire him and almost instantly offer marriage to him. He also said how females will, when married 'hang up their wings' and pursue whatever it is the husband is devoted to, but never BE better than him at it (even if she is). Females also change the color of their attire to show their relationship status. What I did find interesting is that males still hold government/community positions of power? I feel as though if females were supposed to be the more dominant species here, that they would hold some offices as well? Maybe he went over that and I missed it... Other than that, a great book full of fascinating ideas for the 'future' and I'll be sure to watch for any frog-like people coming out of the earth.
wincher2031's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
reasie's review against another edition
3.0
I would recommend this book to those Steampunk aficionados of my acquaintance who wish to emulate the overblown prose of the age of steam. Because DAYUM. This boy never saw a flower but he put some gilding on it.
Enjoyable in its way, it was refreshing for its time, with some nuance - the utopia under the earth is not without price, though I question his reasoning that a peaceful mankind would stop making literature for its own sake, I accept it as I accept that the angelic women of the Vril-ya have slight mustaches.
Oh! The gender role reversal! It's not complete, which makes it more interesting. He has recourse to "try to look pretty" as women compliment him in a society where women are the wooers and men the wooed, though his only descriptions of married women about the Vril-ya are housekeepers who, he continually emphasizes, are the most submissive wives ever. This underground utopia, we are told, had complete gender equality - any job can be done by either sex, but we are never shown a female administrator or engineer. There's volumes that could be written about his nascent feminism and gender-role assumptions. It's downright quaint, honestly, much like the author's repeated references to a wholly incorrect understanding of evolution, wherein parents can acquire traits and pass them on. CUTE. Outdated. But... as valid as our modern science fiction, working within the constraints of knowledge as it stood then. Overall I am glad I read it, though there are a few painfully pedantic parts.
Enjoyable in its way, it was refreshing for its time, with some nuance - the utopia under the earth is not without price, though I question his reasoning that a peaceful mankind would stop making literature for its own sake, I accept it as I accept that the angelic women of the Vril-ya have slight mustaches.
Oh! The gender role reversal! It's not complete, which makes it more interesting. He has recourse to "try to look pretty" as women compliment him in a society where women are the wooers and men the wooed, though his only descriptions of married women about the Vril-ya are housekeepers who, he continually emphasizes, are the most submissive wives ever. This underground utopia, we are told, had complete gender equality - any job can be done by either sex, but we are never shown a female administrator or engineer. There's volumes that could be written about his nascent feminism and gender-role assumptions. It's downright quaint, honestly, much like the author's repeated references to a wholly incorrect understanding of evolution, wherein parents can acquire traits and pass them on. CUTE. Outdated. But... as valid as our modern science fiction, working within the constraints of knowledge as it stood then. Overall I am glad I read it, though there are a few painfully pedantic parts.
brandnewgaming's review against another edition
4.0
A pleasant read although I definitely would change the decision made by the protagonist regarding his betrothing with Zee. I felt the author could have made a very interesting sequel if Zee and him were to run away to the surface of the Earth to live out there lives together.
donastcolumb's review against another edition
2.0
Suprised that I quite liked this. Not astonishing in any way, shape or form but a decent yarn nevertheless.
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