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{{trope}}
[[File:
There are certain races in [[Speculative Fiction]] that appear to occupy an equivalent niche that elves do in a fantasy setting; the idealized, [[Closer to Earth]] culture reaching toward utopian ideals, or the inscrutable, ominous [[Fair Folk]] for whom [[We Are as Mayflies]]. Or both at once, of course.
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Sometimes the elf-like race is implied to be [[Ancient Astronauts]] themselves, misremembered or otherwise. Sometimes they are literal Elves [[In Space]] or at the very least have elf-like characteristics such as longevity and [[Pointy Ears]].
Some anthropologists [[Wild Mass Guessing|have speculated]] that the tendency to imagine any foriegn intruders who are different from us as [[Elves Versus Dwarves]] is hard-wired, like the theory that humans are hard-wired to imagine [[Our Dragons Are Different|dragons]] because of our [[Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?|bad experience]] with snakes. By this logic, we have an innate tendency to classify "powerful" cultures as inscrutable, slender ([[The Greys|tall]] and/or [[Little Green Men|diminutive]]) beings who were [[Magical Native American|here before us]], have better tools and are [[Witch Species|not to be messed with]],<ref>([[Humans Are
There are three types of Space Elves:
Type I is a category of [[Our Elves Are Better]] -- [[Our Elves Are Different|actual elves]] [[Recycled in Space|in a non-standard]] [[ISO Standard Fantasy Setting|fantasy setting]]; Compare [[Urban Fantasy]], [[Mundane Fantastic]]. Type II is a category of [[Proud Scholar Race]] -- [[Enlightened Mystic Race|archetypal mystical]], [[Proud Scholar Race|philosophical beings]] that fill the ''same role'' as elves in a non-fantasy setting; Compare [[Proud Warrior Race]] or [[Proud Merchant Race]] for the [[Elves vs. Dwarves]] equivalent. Type III is a category of [[The Fair Folk]]
'''Type I: [[Elves in Space]]''' ''<small>(main article: [[Our Elves Are Better]])</small>''
Standard fantasy elves or [[Call a Rabbit a Smeerp|equivalent beings]] with [[Serial Numbers Filed Off]]... {{
'''Type II: Enlightened Mystic Race''' ''<small>(main article: [[Proud Scholar Race Guy]] (Type II)</small>''
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Personality-wise, they may be aloof and detached, or (in the case of empathic types) quite gregarious. Either way, they have a tendency to be more mystical or philosophical than most of the other species in the setting. These are almost by definition a [[Proud Scholar Race]], and they are typically pitted against [[Proud Warrior Race Guy]] in a straight application of [[Elves Versus Dwarves]]. For more information on Type II, see [[Proud Scholar Race]].
Like other [[Proud Scholar Race Guy
'''Type III: Mystic Alien Intruders''' ''<small>(compare: [[The Fair Folk]])</small>''
These are beings that fill the same function as [[The Fair Folk]] in the story or in popular consciousness, except that they (usually) [[Eldritch Abomination|Descended From Outer Space]]. This is ''very commonly'' associated with [[The Greys]], although not always. [[Little Green Men]] can replace [[Leprechaun
'''Psychic [[Green Space Babe]] Variety (usually Type 1 or 2)'''
An oddly specific and [[Older Than They Think|not-so-recent]] phenomenon. For some reason, certain Space Elves tend to manifest as an [[Always Female]] [[Green-Skinned Space Babe]] with [[Psychic Powers]]. Sometimes known as "blue hotties", they're more likely to be [[Good Colors, Evil Colors|blue than green]].<ref>Possibly because of the "[[Little Green Men]]" stigma about [[Sci Fi Ghetto|science fiction]], and the fact that green skin is more likely than blue to look like you have a horrible fungal infection.</ref> Sometimes they are part of a [[Matriarchy|Sexy Matriarchy]]. Examples of "Type B" need not be listed separately, but are worth noting where found: e.g. Type 1-B [http://well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider050.html here] or Type 2-B [[Avatar (film)|here]]. It is a reoccurring theme in several works and universes that all seem to be referencing [[Homage|each other]].
Compare the '''[[Rule of Three|Three Types of Proud Race Guy]]:''' [[Proud Scholar Race Guy]] (usually
'''<small>Note: Type II Space Elves are also Type II examples of [[Proud Scholar Race]].</small>'''
<small>''This is a [[Super-Trope]] discussing references to
{{examples}}
=== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ===
* The Abh in ''[[Crest of the Stars]]''.
* The Raalgons of ''[[Irresponsible Captain Tylor]]''.
=== [[Comic Books]] ===
* The Elves in ''[[Elf Quest]]''.
** The ''[[Elf Quest]]'' elves ironically didn't take on elf form [[Ancient Astronauts|until after]] they were stranded on Planet Abode, and didn't get back ''into'' space for about 20,000 years.
* There are some elven beings in ''[[Star Wars]]'' comics, including the Jedi Master [[Meaningful Name|Fay]]. Fay was unfortunately a one-issue wonder.
** The [[Marvel Star Wars]] comics had a major story arc dealing with Space ''Dark'' Elves: the Nagai are a race of tall, slender, pale,
** And the [[New Jedi Order]]'s Yuuzhan Vong are what happens when the mindset of Space Dark Elves meets the appearance and brutality of Space Orcs.
=== [[Literature]] ===
* The Taredhel of (Feists [[The Riftwar Cycle|Demonwar Saga]]) were the first amongst slaves; magic users, lovers and diplomats of the Valheru. They eventually left to the stars conquering an empire of planets. Not nice.
* The [[Our Fairies Are Different|fairies (including elves)]] of the ''[[Artemis Fowl]]'' series are traditional, native-to-Earth fairies, with magic that does some things, but they're also very high-tech and in a distinctly sci-fi setting. A fairy space probe plays a part in "Atlantis Complex," among other things.
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{{quote|He glanced up, smiling. "It's my Uncle Richard's fancy that Liadens are the 'little people' of Old Terra's legends. Thus, Arthur Galen, Johnny, Nora, and Annie Galen. And their foster brother, the king of Elfland."}}
=== [[Tabletop Games]] ===
* The Eldar in ''[[Warhammer
** Also, their "Dark Kin", the Dark Eldar are Space Dark Elves, a particularly terrifying example of Dark Elves no less.
** Hell, the planet bound Exodites live off the land, have a harmonious relationship with their planets, don't really get involved in fights unless the place they live is threatened...sounds like text book Wood Elves to me.
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* The [[Our Elves Are Better|Elves]] of [[Pathfinder|Golarion]] are literally from a foreign planet in the same solar system.
=== [[Video Games]] ===
* ''[[Jak]]'s'' race is another example - Jak strikes one as [[The Legend of Zelda|Link]] [[In Space]], and Link was constantly mistaken for an elf.
=== [[Web Comics]] ===
* The Loroi from the webcomic ''[[Outsider]]'' are Type I-B, blue space elves. Aside from being [[Blue Space Babe|mostly-female]] and psychic, they've got an explicit [[Proud Warrior Race Guy|"warrior elf"]] [http://well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider050.html thing] [http://well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider078.html going].
{{quote|'''Jardin:''' Ah, the old [[Good Cop, Bad Cop|"good elf, bad elf"]] routine. About ''fifty'' impertinent things to say raced through my mind...}}
* In the spanish webcomic [https://web.archive.org/web/20131109084934/http://www.afrikislife.net/eagerscout/ Eager Scout], Carl is a space prince elf...who travels along the sister of the most feared [[Space Pirates]] in the universe.
=== Examples of Type II (Enlightened Mystic Race) ===▼
::''See [[Proud Scholar Race]] (Type II) for more examples.''
=== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ===
* The Abh in ''[[Crest of the Stars]]'' are blatant type 2's, with a good helping of [[Can't Argue with Elves]]
===
▲* The Abh in ''[[Crest of the Stars]]'' are blatant type 2's, with a good helping of [[Can't Argue with Elves]]--they're world conquerors and we're supposed to ''sympathize'' with them.
* The Guardians of the Universe from ''[[Green Lantern]]''. Not tall at all, but immortal? Check. Has incredible powers? Check (the Green Light that empowers the Corps). [[The Spock|Aloof and distant]]? Check. ''[[Can't Argue with Elves|Can't Argue With 'Em]]? [[Screw You, Elves|They'd like to think so...]]
** Also, an all-female offshoot of the Guardians called the Zamarons falls well enough into the [[Blue Skinned Space Babe]] variety.
=== [[Film]] ===
* The [[Avatar (film)|Na'vi]] are [[Our Elves Are Different|Wood Elves]]. Type II-B to boot: the most recent example.
=== [[Literature]] ===
* The chieri from [[Marion Zimmer Bradley|Marion Zimmer Bradley's]] ''[[Darkover]]'' series.
* In addition to the many live action TV examples from [[Star Trek]] (see below), the [[Star Trek Novel Verse]] portrays the Deltans as this - spiritual, emotionally controlled, older than humans and with a near-mystical sense of peace that comes with their "evolved" philosophies and [[Ethical Slut|sexualities]].
** The Vedala, as portrayed in the novel [[Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations|''Forgotten History'']], fit the bill perfectly. They're generally benevolent, older than other spacefaring races, very advanced and isolationist, and seem ever-so-slightly smug about their status in relation to younger "child" races. Behind their reasonable manner is the clear belief that [[Our Elves Are Better|Vedala are better than you]].
* Ythrians of [[Technic History]] are a downplayed style of this. It is not claimed that they are better then humans and in fact in some ways they are more cruel. However they have a lofty poetic nature and most of the things they do seems to have a bit of grandeur.
=== [[Live-Action TV]] ===
* The Minbari of ''[[Babylon 5]]'' like to see themselves as [[Our Elves Are Different|High Elves or Grey Elves]]. However when they think no one else is looking, they are not only highly arrogant and racist, but also extremely violent and brutal and start a [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge]] for almost any offense. And their supposedly sacred rule of [[Ape Shall Never Kill Ape|Minbari Shall Never Kill Minbari]] gets ignored all the time. Think of Klingons that look like Vulcans.
** They are ''slightly'' better than that. They did manage to keep the No Killing-rule in effect for a thousand years, after all. Their claim about never lying is a total bull, though. But excluding the Soldier Caste they aren't too bad if the
***The Minbari go down a bit easier for the viewers because the ones we see most are Deleen and Lenier who, while obsessed enough with tradition to make Maimondes think they are going a bit to far about it, are personable, cultured, and polite to everyone. Nor do they act as if they think a Minbari is automatically better then someone from another species.
* [[Star Trek|Spock and his Vulcan ilk]] are scholarly, long-lived, [[Pointy Ears|pointy-eared]], [[Four Humour Ensemble|phlegmatic]], and psychic.
** Vulcans are also vegetarian, and consider their way of life superior to humans'. There are already Vulcan examples in [[Can't Argue with Elves]]... because you can't.
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*** And it doesn't stop there. Klingons are Space Orks and Ferengi are Space Goblins. In fact both are so similar to the [[World of Warcraft]] Orcs and Goblins one is tempted to think that they inspired them.
** The Metrons are also pictured as being elven: A tall, powerful but aloof race, with grey skin, white hair, shimmering silver clothing and gladiator-style shoes.
** [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Betazoids]] are a race of [[Closer to Earth]] [[Telepathy|telepaths]]. Like Spock, [[The Chick|Troi]] was a [[Half-Human Hybrid]], but rather than promoting [[Straw Vulcan|detached logic]], her entire job was to [[Inverted Trope|help everyone be more in touch with their emotions]]. If Ambassador [[Grande Dame|Lwaxana]] [[Cloudcuckoolander|Troi]] was any indication, Betazoids saw themselves as the Federations's own planet of [[Planet of Hats|planet of]] [[Manic Pixie Dream Girl|Manic Pixie Dream Elves.]]
** [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|The Bajorans]] are a [[Proud Scholar Race]] who have been living as [[La Résistance]] for the past few decades, and seem rather fond of reminding everyone. They do not have any mystical abilities themselves, but their [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens|"Prophets"]] do.
** ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' [[Deconstructed Trope|deconstructed]] this trope with the, naive, sheltered, [[We Are as Mayflies|short-lived]] Ocampa. They went further to turn this trope on this ear with Lon Suder, an [[Ax Crazy]] Betazoid, Seska, a rather [[Jerkass|unpleasant]] Bajoran
=== [[Tabletop Games]] ===
* The Fraal from ''[[Alternity]]'' explicitly ''are'' [[The Grays]], so they look like the stereotypical Type III, but their culture is actually Type II.
=== [[Video Games]] ===
* There's also the asari from ''[[Mass Effect]]''. They also fit the scheme of Type II-B. Female, Blue, Space, Psychic, somewhat elfish.
** {{spoiler|The quarians might also qualify as far as looks and personality go, but they're not ''quite'' as mystical as the asari.}}
* The Syreen from the ''[[Star Control]]'' series of games are Type II-B.
* The Protoss from ''[[
* The Elerians from the second and third ''[[Master of Orion]]'' games are Type II-B, or possibly Type I-B given their explicitly elfish appearance.
* The Numans/Newmans of the ''[[Phantasy Star]]'' series are often sardonically referred to as "space elves" due to their [[Flanderization]] as a race. Their role in ''[[Phantasy Star Universe]]'' most closely fits the Space Elf Type II archetype, despite the fact they were still genetically-engineered by humans.
=== [[Web Comics]] ===
* The Cotyorites from ''[[The Lydian Option]]'' are a philosopher race who are "not dangerous to anything but your time."▼
=== [[Western Animation]] ===▼
▲* The Cotyorites from [[The Lydian Option]] are a philosopher race who are "not dangerous to anything but your time."
▲== [[Western Animation]] ==
* Not from a matriarchy or a female-dominated race, but other than that, Mira Nova from ''[[Buzz Lightyear of Star Command]]'' fits the bill of Type II-B perfectly.
::''See also [[The Greys]] for similar species.''
=== [[Film]] ===▼
▲== [[Film]] ==
* ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'', given their habits toward humans.
* ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial|E.T.]]'' and his people start out as this, but are revealed to be Type II and a [[Friend to All Living Things]] in the [[All There in the Manual|supplemental fiction]].
* The Water Beings from ''[[The Abyss]]''.
=== [[Literature]] ===
* [[The Greys|Mr. Grey]] and his enemy, from ''[[Dream Catcher]]'' by [[Stephen King]], masquerade as this [[Glamour|to deceive]] impressionable humans from their [[To Serve Man|true intentions]]... which means they fit the bill of Type III [[The Fair Folk|quite nicely]], [[Eldritch Abomination|come to]] [[Puppeteer Parasite|think of it]].
*The Alori in ''Star Ways''(republished as ''[[The Peregrine]]'') by [[Poul Anderson]]. They fit the bill for [[The Fair Folk|Fair Folk]] including being [[Closer to Earth]], kidnapping humans, and on one occasion falling in love with a human.
**They do not however have [[Blue and Orange Morality]] per se, they are just xenophobic and fanatically protective of their [[Hidden Elf Village]]. But though their psychology and culture are odd a human can understand many of their motivations. They are something between type 2 and type 3 and resemble [[Avatar (film)|Naavi.]]
=== [[Live Action TV]] ===
* The Asgard from ''[[Stargate SG-1]]''. At least [[The Greys|physically]]; their [[Proud Scholar Race|culture]] and [[Crystal Spires and Togas|aesthetics]] are more reminiscent of Type II.
* The
* ODX in [[Buck Rogers in the 25th Century]] ''Journey to Oasis, is more like a [[Little Green Man|Little Blue Man]]. He is a likeable, mischievous gnome and he seems to have a [[Blue and Orange Morality]] for he cares more about his games then preventing an impending interstellar war. In fairness his strange morality applies to himself and he refuses to tell the weakness of a sword wielding demon in their path, who is his great nemisis lest that [[Honor Before Reason|take advantage.]]
=== [[Tabletop Games]] ===
* ''[[Changeling: The Lost]]'' explicitly notes the similarity of [[Alien Abduction]] to changeling tales. There are quite a few [[The Fair Folk|True Fae]] that imitate aliens, especially [[The Greys]], but only because they've been reading humanity's subconscious. Even they don't know if aliens are real.
=== [[Video Games]] ===
* The Ariloulaleelay from ''[[Star Control]] 2'' would qualify as a Type III. They live in another dimension, are as old as dirt, and imply that performed experiments on humans in the past.
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[[Category:Alien Tropes]]
[[Category:Fantastic Sapient Species Tropes]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Tropes of Hats]]
[[Category:Elven Tropes]]
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