# Last and First Men explained — Last and First Men

> Chapter companion for Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon.

## What happens

The opening chapter of 'Last and First Men' introduces the grand scope of the narrative, which spans the entire future history of humanity. It sets the stage for a story that will cover the rise and fall of many distinct human species over millions of years, from the First Men to the Last Men, and touches on themes of cosmic time, evolution, and the ultimate fate of the human race.

## Themes in this chapter

### Human Nature and Evolution

The chapter introduces the central theme of human evolution, emphasizing the transformation of human nature across vast epochs.

### Immortality and Death

The narrative's scope, spanning the rise and fall of entire species, implicitly engages with the mortality of civilizations and the quest for permanence.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

The narrator sets the stage for the entire future history of humanity, speaking from a distant future perspective.

### The First Men

The First Men are the initial human species, whose story begins in the near future and whose evolution is the subject of the narrative.

### The Last Men

The Last Men are the final human species, whose distant future perspective frames the entire narrative.

## Key lines

> Last and First Men A Story of the Near and Far Future

The book's title announces its dual focus: the immediate future of humanity and the ultimate destiny of the species.

_The title itself encapsulates the narrative's temporal scope._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/last-and-first-men
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/last_and_first_men_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters