The title of this article is also the title of what is commonly believed to be the first science fiction novel ever published. This book was published in 1871 by English writer Edward Bulwer-Lytton. The plot of “The Coming Race” centers around the adventures of a young wanderer who accidentally finds his way into a subterranean world occupied by beings who seem to resemble angels and call themselves Vril-ya. The story’s protagonist discovers that the Vril-ya are descendants of a race of angel-like beings who were driven underground at the time of a great flood of biblical proportions. They now reside in networks of underground caverns linked by tunnels. The society of the Vril-ya is a utopian one, supported by advanced technology including a powerful energy source known as Vril. The base of this energy source is spiritual and through training this power can be used to heal and create, as well as to change and destroy. The story also suggests that the Vril-ya are telepathic. But, alas, there is a dark-side to the Vril-ya as well. I will not go into detail here but, as example, the human narrator of the story relates that eventually the Vril-ya will outgrow their underground world and be forced to return to the surface, fully willing to destroy mankind in the process if necessary.
In some respects, the story is akin to an adult version of “Alice in Wonderland,” which was written six years before, but in some ways is even more bizarre. It has been described as one observer as a mixture of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Yet, as fantastic as the story sounds, it was widely accepted in that time not only as a great story, but even as a TRUE STORY in some quarters. It should be noted that Edward Bulwer-Lytton was widely read in his day, best known for penning inexpensive novels that appealed to the popular tastes of the day. His work popularized such phrases as “pursuit of the almighty dollar”, “the pen is mightier than the sword” and the famous opening line “It was a dark and stormy night.” While these facts certainly indicate that Bulwer-Lytton had the attention of his audience, they really do not explain the enthusiasm with which this tale, one of the last attributed to him, was embraced.
This acceptance came not only from “commoners” but by very influential people of the day, such as fellow English author George Bernard Shaw and inventor/scientist Nikola Tesla at the height of his fame. It is believed by some that Tesla’s concepts of ether and free energy were heavily influenced by “The Coming Race,” although Tesla publicly denied this to be the case, stating that he merely found the novel “interesting.” Some esoteric and theosophical societies fully embraced “The Coming Race” as the truth and many writings in this genre continue to reference Bulwer-Lytton’s fictional tale. It also has long been rumored that high-ranking members of the Third Reich embraced the idea of Vril power and some were members of the German Vril Society. This society reportedly gave the party hierarchy information that led to the development of long-rumored Wunderwaffe such as Haunebu and Die Glocke (the Bell), both of which were rumored to be prototype flying saucers, or what Allied pilots reported as foo fighers. Although Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s scientific credentials did not match his literary prowess, he was familiar with the work of Michael Faraday, known for his contributions to science in terms of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. It is likely that Edward Bulwer-Lytton took what he knew of Faraday’s work and simply extrapolated the implications into his tale of fiction, which is the life blood of science fiction even today.
As we enter 2012, I am struck by the state of cold fusion/LENR in a paradoxical context. While “The Coming Race” seemed to have an effect much greater than intended on the denizens of that time, cold fusion seems to have had the opposite effect. While there is much stronger evidence for the existence of anomalous heat produced from CF/LENR experimentation then ever has been demonstrated from “Vril Power,” it is still considered by the greater populace to be largely science fiction! How can that be? While the angelic race of Vril-ya, has yet to come to the surface to reclaim the surface of our planet, the race for cold fusion has begun but has been largely unnoticed by the masses.
However, as the race for election (and re-election) comes in earnest to the U.S. in 2012, the rumblings of 2011 may take the forefront in this election year. Michigan candidate for the Senate, Randy Hekman has thrown down the gauntlet in his support of LENR. Not only is the technology a part of his political platform in his coming race for a seat U.S. Senate, it is the CENTERPIECE of his campaign. Mr. Hekman claims that LENR is the “new space race,” proclaiming “Scientists in China and India are hard at work to overcome the technical hurdles and turn this scientific theory into useful consumer products. We need America to be the world leader in this.”
Actually, I was not aware that the China and India were taking an active role in advancing this technology but as an active LENR researcher since 1996, perhaps Mr. Hekman knows something that the rest of us do not. Articles that I have seen from various Chinese media outlets, all government run, have simply been translations of some of the ignorant garbage that has appeared in the Western mainstream media as of late. But since the duplicitous nature of the leaders in Bejing is really no secret, even to its own citizens, their real interest in this technology cannot be accurately gauged by stories that appear in state-run propaganda machines, just as real interest in the West may not be accurately gauged by stories that appear in the corporate-run propaganda machines.
It is no small matter that Hekman is running for office in the State of Michigan, former home of the world’s most powerful and influential automobile industry. That state’s largest city, Detroit, has been absolutely ravished by outsourcing of America’s manufacturing base to points near and far, and if any place could use the boost a new technology like cold fusion could bring, it would be the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan. Detroit is the epitomy of the ugliness brought on by industrialized Western World’s declining manufacturing base. Of course, Hekman is not the only politician that wants to bring LENR manufacturing and development to his state, as he was beaten to the punch by Massachusetts state senator Bruce Tarr and, to a lesser degree, ex-governor of Massachusetts and current Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
However, whatever promise Randy Hekman’s interest in LENR research offers, there are some problems. He, unfortunately, has chosen to hitch his wagon to the Widom-Larsen theory and calls Steven B. Krivit his “friend.” I think that a slippery slope given the tenuous nature of W/L theory and the questionably ethical behavior of Mr. Krivit as of late. A skilled scientist, be he pro or anti-LENR, could easily riddle W/L full of holes and thus discredit it with relative ease. It is a promising theory but not without its deficiencies. It is certainly not one to hang one’s hat on at this point in its development. A working device based on Widom-Larsen would be helpful before proclaiming it the basis of a new economy. I would also take pause at calling my “friend” a man who has consistently accused others of fraud without providing any credible evidence of such. A political opponent would have a field day with such an association.
Yet, we do not live in a world of absolutes and the fact that a candidate for the U.S. Senate is promoting cold fusion/LENR has to be seen as a step in the right direction. If he gains political traction based on this platform, I would fully expect his competitors and contemporaries to follow suit. LENR may well become the “hot button” issue in the coming race for political office in the United States.
So, as you enter 2012, we have a number of coming races vying for our attention. We have the race to market of the first cold fusion/LENR devices, the race for political office, including a race to be the President of the United States, a race against time as the world economy teeters on the brink of a disastrous collapse due to large-scale financial insolvency, and a race against the efforts of rogue nations such as Iran and North Korea to bring an old and dangerous technology to their respective military arsenals. Most of these races would be less vexing if this generation embraced the reality of cold fusion/LENR with the same enthusiasm as readers of Edward Bulwer-Lytton embraced his fictional work nearly a century and a half ago. It seems to be paradox of human nature that we as a species are willing to accept fiction as truth at the expense of what is actually true. Perhaps it is because we lack the spiritual insight and conviction of angels, or perhaps it is because the truth is stranger than fiction and the strange frightens us.
Happy New Year to all. Have a safe but joyous observance and getting ready for the races that are to come in 2012. I would encourage all to be participants and not merely voyeurs. The future of you and your children may depend upon it.
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