This novel centers on a young, independently wealthy traveler (the
narrator), who accidentally finds his way into a subterranean world
occupied by beings who seem to resemble angels and call themselves
Vril-ya. The hero soon discovers that the Vril-ya are descendants
of an antediluvian civilization who live in networks of
subterranean caverns linked by tunnels. It is a technologically
supported Utopia, chief among their tools being the "all-permeating
fluid" called "Vril," a latent source of energy which his
spiritually elevated hosts are able to master through training of
their will, to a degree which depends upon their hereditary
constitution, giving them access to an extraordinary force that can
be controlled at will. The powers of the will include the ability
to heal, change, and destroy beings and things; the destructive
powers in particular are awesomely powerful, allowing a few young
Vril-ya children to wipe out entire cities if necessary. It is also
suggested that the Vril-ya are fully telepathic. The narrator
states that in time, the Vril-ya will run out of habitable spaces
underground and start claiming the surface of the Earth, destroying
mankind in the process if necessary. Vril in the novel The uses of
Vril in the novel amongst the Vril-ya vary from an agent of
destruction to a healing substance. According to Zee, the daughter
of the narrator's host, Vril can be changed into the mightiest
agency over all types of matter, both animate and inanimate. It can
destroy like lightning or replenish life, heal, or cure. It is used
to rend ways through solid matter. Its light is said to be
steadier, softer and healthier than that from any flammable
material. It can also be used as a power source for animating
mechanisms. Vril can be harnessed by use of the Vril staff or
mental concentration. A Vril staff is an object in the shape of a
wand or a staff which is used as a channel for Vril. The narrator
describes it as hollow with 'stops', 'keys', or 'springs' in which
Vril can be altered, modified or directed to either destroy or
heal. The staff is about the size of a walking stick but can be
lengthened or shortened according to the user's preferences. The
appearance and function of the Vril staff differs according to
gender, age, etc. Some staves are more potent for destruction,
others for healing. The staves of children are said to be much
simpler than those of sages; in those of wives and mothers the
destructive part is removed while the healing aspects are
emphasized. The destructive force is so great that the fire lodged
in the hollow of a rod directed by the hand of a child could cleave
the strongest fortress or cleave its burning way from the van to
the rear of an embattled host. It is also said that if army met
army and both had command of the Vril-force, both sides would be
annihilated. Interestingly, the Vril-ya also use Vril to take
baths: It is their custom also, at stated but rare periods, perhaps
four times a-year when in health, to use a bath charged with Vril.
They consider that this fluid, sparingly used, is a great sustainer
of life; but used in excess, when in the normal state of health,
rather tends to reaction and exhausted vitality. For nearly all
their diseases, however, they resort to it as the chief assistant
to nature in throwing off the complaint.
General
Imprint: |
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
June 2011 |
First published: |
June 2011 |
Authors: |
Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
|
Dimensions: |
280 x 216 x 4mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - Trade
|
Pages: |
98 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4636-2789-8 |
Categories: |
Books >
Fiction >
Genre fiction >
Science fiction
|
LSN: |
1-4636-2789-0 |
Barcode: |
9781463627898 |
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