A review by ewizard
Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book was enormously consequential for speculative fiction and absolutely deserves its spot in the hall of fame. The ideas it toys with are intriguing and it amazes me that this was written in the early 20th century. However, it is challenging to read, the first half in particular reads like a Hegelian treatise of proto-sociology. The intro for the edition I picked up even recommended to skipping to halfway through the book. I think the initial slog is rewarding but certainly not for modern sci-fi fans.