Elder race
Ancient races that preceded and shaped later species.
In science fiction, fantasy, and horror, an elder or progenitor race is an ancient species that came before and helped form the races that appear later, often serving as a key element of the story's foundation. Humans might be descended from them, or they could be a different fictional group, such as elves, dwarves, or aliens. In some stories, it is unclear if these beings still exist; in others, they still live in the world, either openly or in secret. To conceal themselves, they might use a hidden society (a wainscot society), live in a parallel universe and only visit occasionally, or disguise themselves as a fool, deity, magician, or trickster.
These elder races are usually very powerful, either through advanced technology or spiritual strength, and are often wise. They can be benevolent, helping younger races, but they may also be amoral, as seen in H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, where the Elder Gods are indifferent to humanity's small concerns. They are typically portrayed as having grown apart from humanity in the story's present, sometimes as lost empires whose inhabitants left their original home or were destroyed by a catastrophe, surviving only in legends like Atlantis. They can appear as enemies or as allies against a greater threat.
In science fiction, the elder race trope is used to explore family tensions and the relationship between colonizers and the colonized. The elder race is often shown as much older and more decadent than the younger one, and as undeserving of their ownership status—or as deserving to be owned themselves. In the film *Prometheus* (2012), the Engineers are humanity's progenitor race. In the TV series *Babylon 5*, the Vorlons (representing order) and the Shadows (representing chaos) are elder races that manipulate younger species throughout history in a proxy war of ideals. Their presence creates an epic sense, and their later actions subvert the expectation that they are wiser than the younger races. The struggle of humans and their allies to break free from the influence of the "First Ones" is a key climax of the series.
In science, the idea of an extraterrestrial elder race has been compared to panspermia, the hypothesis that human life may have originated from outside Earth.
- Field
- Science fiction, fantasy, horror fiction
- Known for
- Preceding and shaping later races; often technologically or spiritually powerful
- Traits
- Ancient, wise, sometimes benevolent, often amoral
- Examples
- Engineers in Prometheus, Vorlons and Shadows in Babylon 5, Elder Gods in Cthulhu Mythos
Lore & Background
Elder races are typically either technologically or spiritually powerful, as well as wise. While sometimes benevolent, assisting younger races, they can also often be amoral, as in H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, where the Elder Gods are indifferent to humanity's 'petty' concerns. They are usually presented as having drifted apart from humanity in the present of the story, sometimes as lost empires whose inhabitants either left their former home for a new one, or were destroyed by a catastrophe and only live on in legend, such as Atlantis. They may appear both as enemies, or as allies against a greater threat.
Reader's Guide
The trope of the elder race is used in science fiction to explore the tensions within family, as well as the relationship between colonizers and colonized. As such, the elder race is usually presented as far older and more decadent than the younger one, and who are undeserving of their status of ownership, or themselves deserve to be owned in turn. In the film Prometheus (2012), the Engineers are depicted as humanity's progenitor race. In the Babylon 5 TV series, the Vorlons, representatives of order, and the Shadows, Lovecraftian proponents of chaos, are elder races manipulating younger species throughout history in a surrogate war of ideals. Their presence is used in the show 'to create an effective sense of the epic', while their actions later in the series subvert the expectation that they are wiser than the younger races. The struggle of humans and their partners to break free from the influence of the 'First Ones' is a pivotal climax of Babylon 5. The idea of an extraterrestrial elder race has been compared to panspermia, the hypothesis that human life may have been extraterrestrial in origin.
Did You Know?
- In Lord of Light (1967), highly advanced humans take on the identities of Hindu deities and act as gods to less advanced colonists.
- Elder races may hide their existence using a wainscot society, a parallel universe, or by disguising themselves as a fool, deity, magician, or trickster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an elder race in popular fiction?
An elder race is an ancient species that existed before and helped shape the younger civilizations in a story's universe. They serve as a foundational element, often creating or influencing the races that drive the main plot.
What are well-known examples of elder races in sci-fi and fantasy?
The Engineers from Prometheus, the Vorlons and Shadows from Babylon 5, and the Elder Gods of the Cthulhu Mythos are all classic examples. Each of these groups predates the main characters' species and plays a formative role in the story's cosmology.
What powers or traits do elder races typically have?
They are usually portrayed as ancient, wise, and either technologically or spiritually far beyond younger species. Their moral alignment varies widely—some are benevolent, others are amoral or indifferent to the fates of the civilizations they created.
How do elder races relate to humans or other younger species?
In many stories, humans or other main characters are direct descendants of the elder race, while in others the elder race shaped an entirely different group like elves, dwarves, or alien species. The relationship can range from creator-and-creation to distant and forgotten ancestors.
Do elder races still exist in the stories they appear in?
Some narratives leave their current status ambiguous, while others show them still active in the world—either openly, in secret through hidden societies, or by visiting from a parallel dimension. Their continued presence or absence often drives major plot points.
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