History Main / SpaceElves

Some anthropologists [[WildMassGuessing have speculated]] that the tendency to imagine any foreign intruders who are different from us as ElvesVersusDwarves is hard-wired, like the theory that humans are hard-wired to imagine [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]] because of our [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes bad experience]] with snakes. By this logic, we have an innate tendency to classify "powerful" cultures as inscrutable, slender ([[TheGreys tall]] and/or [[LittleGreenMen diminutive]]) beings who were [[MagicalNativeAmerican here before us]], have better tools and are [[WitchSpecies not to be messed with]], versus [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame 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.

** The Nedians from ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory'' are this along with being literal elves in space. They're extremely intelligent, possess technology far more advanced than anyone else in the galaxy, and can use [[FunctionalMagic symbology]] without having to tattoo themselves like most other species because [[WitchSpecies the prerequisite symbols are already written on their DNA]]. They once ruled the entire galaxy and claim to have [[HiddenElfVillage completely isolated themselves for the good of the universe]]. [[spoiler:Turns out they were tyrants who isolated themselves because they ended up destroying their homeworld in a civil war after the bioweapons they created to put down a series of colonial rebellions left them severely weakened and ripe for the rebels to tear apart.]]

Compare AlienFairFolk. Contrast SpaceOrcs.

* The nameless "Yellow Aliens" who gave Comicbook/AnimalMan his powers. In the Comicbook/{{New 52}}, it has been {{retcon}}ned that they actually ''are'' TheFairFolk, more or less, and that they only disguised themselves as aliens because they figured [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith Buddy could accept that more easily.]]

** Spock and his Vulcan ilk are scholarly, long-lived, [[PointyEars pointy-eared]], [[FourTemperamentEnsemble phlegmatic]], and psychic. Vulcans are also vegetarian, and consider their way of life superior to humans'. On top of that, Vulcans are also stronger and tougher than humans, fulfilling SuperiorSpecies. There are already Vulcan examples in CantArgueWithElves... because you can't.

* The sexy [[OurBansheesAreLouder Banshees]] from ''WesternAnimation/RoswellConspiracies''. Also a {{Proud Warrior Race|Guy}}.

* ''Series/{{Farscape}}:

[[caption-width-right:330:[[CantArgueWithElves Space smugness]] comes in [[OurElvesAreDifferent multiple flavors]].[[note]]L - R, top to bottom: A [[Webcomic/{{Outsider}} Loroi]], a [[Franchise/StarTrek Vulcan]], an [[VideoGame/MasterOfOrion Elerian]], a [[Film/{{Avatar}} Na'vi}}, a [[Series/BabylonFive Minbari]], and an [[Series/StargateSG1 Asgard]].[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:330:[[CantArgueWithElves Space smugness]] comes in [[OurElvesAreDifferent multiple flavors]].[[note]]L - R, top to bottom: A Loroi from ''Webcomic/{{Outsider}}'', a Vulcan from ''Franchise/StarTrek'', an Elerian from ''VideoGame/MasterOfOrion'', a Na'vi from ''Film/{{Avatar}}'', a Minbari from ''Series/BabylonFive'', and an Asgard from ''Series/StargateSG1''.[[/note]]]]

!!Examples:

!!!'''Traditional Elves in Space''':

%% Note to tropers: Please do not list Newmans or Numans from Phantasy Star in this section. They do not, in any way whatsoever, fit the role of a "traditional elf in space." They're already covered under Enlightened Mystic Race, which is further down below.

!!!'''Enlightened Mystic Race''':

!!!'''Mystic Alien Intruders''':

!!!'''Psychic GreenSpaceBabe Variety''':

* The aforementioned Loroi in ''Webcomic/{{Outsider}}'' also fall here, as their species is heavily skewed toward females (about 1 in 8 births is a male), their skin tones are various shades of blue, and they have an innate telepathic ability that they use for interpersonal communication and which works to some degree on non-Loroi species...except, apparently, humans, which is a slowly-developing plot point.
** Atypically they are also a ProudWarriorRace where civilians are considered lesser than soldiers and have a tendency to [[WithUsOrAgainstUs attack unaligned races]].

* TabletopGame/{{Traveller}} has several subversions usually HumanAliens with elegant customs and a few unusual traits but which behave like humans or even worse. The Zhodani are humans dominated by a curious psiocracy and the Darrians are humans for whom everything is ForScience The Vilani when first encountered seemed a little like this but when you got to know them it turns out they were just humans with an extreme taste for GoodOldWays.
** The Droyne, despite their rather ugly appearance, are probably Traveller's closest proximity.

* The [[RubberForeheadAliens dominant species]] of the ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' games [[PointyEars resemble elves]] that live on an alien planet (even if they [[CallASmeerpARabbit refer to themselves as humans]] in-game).
* The Pork Elves in ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' fled to the moons to get away from rude and smelly adventurers. Unfortunately, their living space is confined within the shield generator, because all that cosmic radiation can cause some serious mutations.
* In ''VisualNovel/RisingAngels'', most of the species [[HumanSubspecies derived from humans]] are known by invented names, but there are exceptions, and Elves are one of them. They seem to have a typical [[CantArgueWithElves belief in their superiority]], too.

* The non-canon side comic featured on the ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'' website, called "Space Age", is a {{N|otSafeForWork}}SFW comic that paid subscribers can read for a small fee. It features an alternate universe from the main comic, where the titular "drow" have advanced into the age of space travel and skin tight {{Latex Space Suit}}s.
* The Loroi from ''Webcomic/{{Outsider}}'' are blue space elves. Aside from being [[BlueSpaceBabe mostly-female]] and psychic, they've got an explicit [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy "warrior elf"]] [[http://well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider050.html thing]] [[http://well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider078.html going]].

* In the Spanish webcomic [[http://www.afrikislife.net/eagerscout/ Eager Scout]], Carl is a space prince elf...who travels along the sister of the most feared {{Space Pirate|s}} in the universe.

* The Nourasians from ''WesternAnimation/ObanStarRacers'' come complete with magical arrows.

%%* ''Film/{{Avatar}}'': The Na'vi are [[OurElvesAreDifferent Wood Elves]].

* In addition to the other examples from ''Franchise/StarTrek'' (mostly listed below), the Ba[[PunctuationShaker ']]ku from ''Film/StarTrekInsurrection''. To quote Website/SFDebris:
--> You know what these people are? They're elves. "[[CantArgueWithElves We're smarter]], [[InHarmonyWithNature in tune with nature,]] have greater gifts, [[SocietyOfImmortals live forever,]] and [[HumansAreWhite are white.]] [[CantArgueWithElves We're just all around better than you in every conceivable way!]]" Yeah. [[ScrewYouElves Piss off]] back to [[ArborealAbode your tree]] and make me some cookies."

** An oddly specific and [[OlderThanTheyThink not-so-recent]] phenomenon. For some reason, certain Space Elves tend to manifest as an AlwaysFemale GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe with PsychicPowers. Sometimes known as "blue hotties", they're more likely to be blue than green. [[note]]Possibly because of the "LittleGreenMen" stigma about [[SciFiGhetto science fiction]], and the fact that green skin is more likely than blue to look like you have a horrible fungal infection.[[/note]] Sometimes they are part of a [[{{Matriarchy}} Sexy Matriarchy]].

* Prince Baral of the Aldebaran empire in the animated series "Valerian et Laureline"

* The Elves in ''ComicBook/ElfQuest''. They ironically didn't take on elf form [[AncientAstronauts until after]] they were stranded on Planet Abode, and didn't get back ''into'' space for about 20,000 years.

* In ''The Nightmare Stacks'', book 7 of Literature/TheLaundryFiles, elves are revealed to be a HumanSubspecies from a parallel universe with pointy ears, an evolutionary knack for magic, and no sense of empathy, which led them to dive headlong into ScaryDogmaticAlien territory from the moment they began developing into civilizations. They have a history as PlanetLooters of alternate Earths, and once had an outpost in the British Isles; their predations on the native Britons became the basis of all mythology about TheFairFolk.

* There's also the asari from ''Franchise/MassEffect''. Monogendered blue-skinned women with [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld incredible lifespans]], low-level telepathy and ''high''-level [[GravityMaster gravity manipulation]]. Other races need to be exposed to element zero ''in utero'' to develop those gravity powers, but asari have them inherently [[spoiler: thanks to some prothean genetic engineering.]] They've been in space the longest of any sentient species [[spoiler: in this cycle]], and the ones who rub this in are often the targets of "ScrewYouElves"

** The ''ComicBook/MarvelStarWars'' 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.

* There's also the Asari from ''Franchise/MassEffect''. Monogendered blue-skinned women with [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld incredible lifespans]], low-level telepathy and ''high''-level [[GravityMaster gravity manipulation]]. Other races need to be exposed to element zero ''in utero'' to develop those gravity powers, but asari have them inherently [[spoiler: thanks to some prothean genetic engineering.]] They've been in space the longest of any sentient species [[spoiler: in this cycle]], and the ones who rub this in are often the targets of "ScrewYouElves"

[[caption-width-right:330:[[CantArgueWithElves Space smugness]] comes in [[OurElvesAreBetter multiple flavors]].[[note]]L - R, top to bottom: A Loroi from ''Webcomic/{{Outsider}}'', a Vulcan from ''Franchise/StarTrek'', an Elerian from ''VideoGame/MasterOfOrion'', a Na'vi from ''Film/{{Avatar}}'', a Minbari from ''Series/BabylonFive'', and an Asgard from ''Series/StargateSG1''.[[/note]]]]

When they are not behaving as a [[OurElvesAreBetter standard fantasy elf]] or, as is often the case, an [[ProudScholarRaceGuy enlightened mystic race]] such as [[Franchise/StarTrek Vulcans]] or [[Film/{{Avatar}} Na'vi]], they are off [[AlienAbduction beaming up humans]], [[AliensStealCattle cattle]], and [[ChangelingTale children]] just like their FairFolk ancestors.

* '''Traditional Elves in Space''' ''[-(main article: OurElvesAreBetter)-]''

[-''This is a {{supertrope}} discussing references to Space Elves in various tropes, including: OurElvesAreBetter, ProudScholarRaceGuy, TheFairFolk and/or TheGreys. Examples of each type would also fall under such other tropes.''-]

* ''Literature/{{Dragaera}}'' [[ScienceFantasy mixes fantasy and science fiction]], and the series is implied to take place on some other planet, to which humans had been brought. Some of these humans were subject to genetic manipulation, producing the "Dragaerans", who are [[OurElvesAreBetter elves]]. Humans in the setting sometimes call them faerie or elves, and on one occasion, a Dragaeran refers to humans as dwarves.

* The [[OurElvesAreBetter Elves]] of [[TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}} Golarion]] are literally from a foreign planet in the same solar system.

* In ''VisualNovel/RisingAngels'', most of the species [[HumanSubspecies derived from humans]] are known by invented names, but there are exceptions, and Elves are one of them. They seem to have a typical [[OurElvesAreBetter belief in their superiority]], too.

--> You know what these people are? They're elves. "[[CantArgueWithElves We're smarter]], [[InHarmonyWithNature in tune with nature,]] have greater gifts, [[SocietyOfImmortals live forever,]] and [[HumansAreWhite are white.]] [[OurElvesAreBetter We're just all around better than you in every conceivable way!]]" Yeah. [[ScrewYouElves Piss off]] back to [[ArborealAbode your tree]] and make me some cookies."

** The Vedala, as portrayed in the novel [[Literature/StarTrekDepartmentOfTemporalInvestigations ''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 [[OurElvesAreBetter Vedala are better than you]].

** Spock and his Vulcan ilk are scholarly, long-lived, [[PointyEars pointy-eared]], [[FourTemperamentEnsemble phlegmatic]], and psychic. Vulcans are also vegetarian, and consider their way of life superior to humans'. On top of that, Vulcans are also stronger and tougher than humans, fulfilling OurElvesAreBetter. There are already Vulcan examples in CantArgueWithElves... because you can't.

* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': The Romulan WarriorMonk Elnor is a Space Elf whose elven attributes are cranked UpToEleven, so he's essentially a ScienceFantasy character in a ScienceFictionSeries. He's {{Elfeminate}}, his name is [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Sindarin]] for "Star-Run" [[note]]which is another way of saying "Star-Trek"[[/note]], he has SuperReflexes that no other non-Qowat Milat Romulans or Vulcans possess in the Franchise/TrekVerse [[note]]while it can be argued that Romulans outside of the Qowat Milat lack the mental discipline to achieve those high speeds, Vulcans do exert great control over their minds and bodies, yet we've never seen a Vulcan move as fast as Elnor[[/note]], plus he [[ArchaicWeaponForAnAdvancedAge wields a sword instead of an energy weapon]]. Furthermore, the Qowat Milat monastery that was once his home is [[ArborealAbode carved into a giant tree]] and it's situated in a [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Rivendell-like forest]].

* The Eldar in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', who started out quite literally as ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'''s High Elves InSpace. Humanoid, pointy-eared, [[FantasticRacism condescending to the lesser races]], and powerful [[PsychicPowers psykers]] in lieu of having actual magic, they're a DyingRace after the fall of their empire and now live primarily in a handful of Craftworlds -- {{Hidden Elf Village}}s crossed with planet-sized starships. Their name is even the one Tolkien's elves used for themselves.
** Also, their "Dark Kin", the Dark Eldar, are Space Dark Elves, a particularly terrifying example of Dark Elves no less.
** The planet-bound Exodites are essentially Wood Elves; they live off the land, have a harmonious relationship with their planets, don't really get involved in fights unless the place they live in is threatened. They aren't as prominent as their fantasy counterparts, probably because they can't really get involved in the galactic struggle. So, [[OutOfFocus they stay in the background]], [[ApocalypseHow until the galactic struggle comes looking to involve them]].

** There are some elven beings in ''Star Wars'' comics, including the Jedi Master [[MeaningfulName Fay]]. Fay was unfortunately a one-issue wonder.

** The Literature/NewJediOrder's Yuuzhan Vong are what happens when the mindset of Space Dark Elves meets the appearance and brutality of Space Orcs. Their backstory revealed in the last book makes it plain that they were once more traditional examples before being attacked and nearly destroyed by a race of vicious cyborgs. The Vong succeeded in fighting them off, but in the process [[HeWhoFightsMonsters became even worse then their enemy]]. This is also, not incidentally, where their extreme technophobia comes from.

Compare AlienFairFolk.