The Coming Race

Having fallen into a deep mine, an unfortunate traveler encounters representatives of a highly developed underground civilization. Mastering the incredible energy of the so-called vril, the cave dwellers have gained abilities that far exceed human ones—they can communicate by thought, inflict or alleviate pain at a distance, and even destroy entire cities in the blink of an eye.
Originally published anonymously, "The Coming Race" created a real sensation in society and had a huge influence on both numerous adepts of secret societies and on creators such as Herbert Wells.