Last and First Men
Olaf Stapledon · 1930 · Novel
It originated the 'future history' narrative, charting the evolutionary destiny of humanity on a cosmic scale across countless millennia and species.
What it is
This monumental work details the entire future history of humanity over billions of years, depicting multiple species of 'men' and their rise and fall. It introduced the concept of 'future history' on a cosmic, evolutionary scale.
↓Passed on to(7)
Written by the same author, 'Star Maker' expands the cosmic and evolutionary scope introduced in 'Last and First Men' from humanity's future to the entire universe.
Simak's 'City' explores the long-term future and eventual decline of humanity, a grand evolutionary scope pioneered by Olaf Stapledon in 'Last and First Men'.
Arthur C. Clarke explicitly cited Olaf Stapledon as a profound influence, particularly on themes of humanity's ultimate evolutionary destiny and transcendence.
Sturgeon's exploration of a 'group mind' as an evolutionary leap for humanity builds upon the broader concept of humanity's radical evolutionary transformations presented in Stapledon's 'Last and First Men'.
Herbert's epic scope of human evolution, genetic manipulation, and the long-term destiny of humanity over millennia in 'Dune' draws conceptual inspiration from Stapledon's 'future history' in 'Last and First Men'.
Sterling's 'Schismatrix' takes the grand evolutionary scope and divergence of humanity, as pioneered by Stapledon in 'Last and First Men,' and applies it to a more immediate, technologically driven post-human future.
Isaac Asimov, author of the original 'Foundation' series, explicitly cited Olaf Stapledon's 'Last and First Men' as a primary influence on his concept of 'future history' and the grand, multi-millennial scope of galactic civilization, which the TV series adapts.