CHAPTER XVII. -The coming Race

read in the previous chapters about the terrible agency of vril.

The chapter emphasizes the distinct societal structure and temporal comprehension of the Vril-ya, focusing on their unique subdivision of time reflecting their separation from terrestrial conditions. Their day is segmented into twenty hours, divided into periods for rest, labor, and leisure, reflecting an efficient allocation of time harmonized with their societal values. The Vril-ya’s consistent illumination of their environment, eliminating the distinction between day and night outdoors, coupled with their controlled dimming of lights indoors during rest hours, showcases their mastery over their surroundings and underlines their discomfort with darkness. The concept of music as a chronometer within their society not only highlights their cultural sophistication but also their reliance on non-traditional forms of measuring time, integrating aesthetics into the functional aspect of societal life.

The chapter delves into the Vril-ya’s perception of time, climate, and life cycle, revealing an atmosphere that allows for constant agricultural productivity and an elongation of life well beyond human norms, thanks to their healthy lifestyle and the medicinal use of vril. Their emotional and societal stability, largely devoid of the passions and ambitions that fuel humanity’s creative and destructive energies, contributes to a general well-being and longevity, setting a stark contrast to the surface world’s turmoil.

Moreover, the narrative explores the stagnation in literature and the arts within the Vril-ya society, suggesting that their advancements in social stability and contentment have led to a decline in creative outputs that thrive on conflict, aspiration, and emotional depth, such as poetry and drama. Their historical progression to a peaceful and egalitarian society has rendered obsolete much of the literature that explores political, social, or profoundly personal themes, shifting focus instead to practical sciences and technologies. Remarkably, this societal evolution questions the value and function of art and literature, suggesting a complex interplay between societal health, creative expression, and intellectual stimulation. The narrator’s dialogue with his host, Aph-Lin, reveals an intriguing perspective on the role of ambition, inequality, and conflict in fostering artistic and literary growth, posing fundamental questions about the nature of progress and the costs of utopia.