Space Elves: Difference between revisions

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 the Real Monsters|i.e. us]]. All of which traits were [[Older Than They Think|once attributed]] to pygmies and other neolithic tribes by their Iron Age neighbors)</ref> versus [[Our Dwarves Are All the Same|swarthy, hairy fellows]] who are industrious, engage in untouchable occupations such as mining, and are migrants. '''Space Elves''' would thus occupy an extreme niche in the spectrum.

 

 

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]]—beings which are definitely alien but behave almost exactly like the [[Fair Folk]] and sometimes fill the same function (compare [[Ancient Astronauts]], [[The Greys]], [[Little Green Men]]).

'''Type I: [[Elves in Space]]''' ''<small>(main article: [[Our Elves Are Better]])</small>''

 

 

'''Type II: Enlightened Mystic Race''' ''<small>(main article: [[Proud Scholar Race Guy]] (Type II)</small>''

Like other [[Proud Scholar Race Guy]]s, Type II are the most likely characters to have [[Psychic Powers]] (possibly confined to a [[Bizarre Sexual Dimorphism|single gender]]) and the most likely characters in the setting to be [[Technical Pacifist|Technical]] or [[Actual Pacifist|Actual]] [[Perfect Pacifist People]], in contrast to the warlike [[Proud Warrior Race Guy]], who are ironically more likely to be literal [[Elves in Space]].

 

 

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]]s. [[Alien Abduction]] may take the place of a [[Changeling Tale]]. When they aren't snatching up our children, [[Year Outside, Hour Inside|unnaturally extending our lifespans]], or performing mystic rites on us for shits and giggles and impregnating our virginal ''(swear to god!)'' women-folk, thus leading to [[Half Human Hybrids]]. They may be [[Sufficiently Advanced]], or [[Ancient Astronauts|older than the hills]]. See also [[Time Abyss]]. One thing Type 3's share in common is they are invariably [[Blue and Orange Morality|Inscrutable]]. See also [[Telepathic Spacemen]].

 

 

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]].

 

 

'''<small>Note: Type II Space Elves are also Type II examples of [[Proud Scholar Race]].</small>'''

* 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, androgynously beautiful aliens with angular features and pointed ears who try and conquer and enslave the galaxy.

 

=== [[Literature]] ===

 

=== [[Tabletop Games]] ===

** 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.

* 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...}}

 

== Examples of Type II (Enlightened Mystic Race) ==

* 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.

=== [[Literature]] ===

* The chieri from [[Marion Zimmer Bradley|Marion Zimmer Bradley's]] ''[[Darkover]]'' series. Space Elves bordering on [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens]], they possess lifespans reaching into thousands of years and extraordinary [[Psychic Powers|psionic abilities]]. They were once a spacefaring people, but have since gone into "retirement" on the titular planet. Can get somewhat pedantic when dealing with humans. The chieri are the ulimate in [[One-Gender Race|hermaphrodites]] with each individual able to physically shift from male to female (or remaining somewhere in the middle) depending on what is going on in their sex lives. However, this overly-complicated reproductive model (completing a gender switch in perfect sync with one's partner can be tricky in the heat of the moment) has resulted in a dwindling population problem that neither their powers nor their technology seemed able to fix. They have a [[Half-Human Hybrid|noticeably easier time procreating with humans]], and indeed the offspring of these unions often have some of their chieri parent's traits, notably atypically powerful (for humans) [[Psychic Powers|psionics]] and exceptional longevity. However, they may also manifest the chieri's gender-swapping trait, which has led to some families with chieri blood warning against homosexual relations because "If you lie down with a man, you may rise up as a woman!"

* 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]] ===

* [[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.

** 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: 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 {{spoiler|who turned out to be an even less pleasant [[The Mole|Cardassian agent]]}}, and, of course Tuvok, the [[Straw Vulcan|Vulcan]] security officer who was more like a [[Grumpy Bear]] and took on [[Sergeant Rock]] traits later in the series.

 

** {{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 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.

* 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 Streib from ''[[Babylon 5]]'' are [[The Greys]].

 

=== [[Tabletop Games]] ===

[[Category:Alien Tropes]]

[[Category:Fantastic Sapient Species Tropes]]