Slave Race: Difference between revisions

* One of the greatest examples is ''[[Happiness in Slavery|Homo Servus]]'' from [[S.M. Stirling]]'s [[The Draka|Draka]] tetralogy. The ''Servus'' have been genetically engineered to derive orgasmic pleasure from subservience to their masters ''[[Superior Species|Homo Drakensis]]'', and are incapable of functioning independently . Both species were once normal humans, but, unluckily for the rest of humanity, the Draka were [[Nietzsche Wannabe]] [[badass]]es who practiced the [[Spartan Way]] and had a penchant for [[Evilutionary Biologist|Evilutionary Biology]]. An interesting aspect is that the ''servus'' are actually smarter than the Draka; the latter genetically engineered themselves into their ideal of the Master Race and it is strongly implied that in the process, they destroyed their own creativity and flexibility.

* The House-Elves from ''[[Harry Potter]]'' are another example of a slave race that's only [[Happiness in Slavery|too happy]] to be enslaved. They're probably based on the fairy tale "The Elves and the Shoemaker," which in turn is based on European folk tales of kobolds and similar household spirits; being bound to a house that benefits from their service gives their lives meaning, and being set free is a sign of disapproval with the services they've rendered, a very depressing concept for a creature that defines themselves by their capacity to provide excellent service.

** The official in-universe line seems to be that they spontaneously became a Slave Race on their own, voluntary [[Servant Race]], as it were, and/or that they have always been like that. Note that in stories of house-elves they are fiercely independent and extremely proud beings who do not follow orders and strongly resent being treated as mere servants, prone to spoiling the milk or tying your hair in knots if annoyed, and that presumably at some point around the passing of the Statute of Secrecy they were somehow forbidden from living in Muggle houses.

*** Also note that 'attempt to pay them for their services and they will go away' was a general formula invoked sometimes to clear out a house-elf who'd gone lazy and troublesome and started spending all their time playing pranks instead of helping 'round the house. [[Sadly Mythtaken|Mythologically]], one could not actually ''command'' a house-elf any more than any other kind of elf.

* In L. Jagi Lamplighter's ''[[Prospero's Daughter]]'' trilogy, the air spirits were enslaved by Prospero for a millenium, not yet up. Miranda realizes at one point that participating in this is blocking her desire to be a Sibyl—but also realizes that if she frees them they will cause havoc. Indeed, when they ask for their freedom, and she asks if they can prevent such havoc, they concede that it would be difficult and start to consider ways it could be done.

* In [[John C. Wright]]'s ''[[Hermetic Millenium|Count to a Trillion]]'', the aliens' plan. Not forever—just until humanity pays off the price of conquering them, plus a reasonable profit.

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