# The Sixteenth Men — Last and First Men character guide

> The Sixteenth Men in Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the Sixteenth Men, the Sixteenth

**First appearance:** 0066-xv-the-last-men

## Who they are

A later human species mentioned in the future history, part of the sequence of evolving humanity.

## In the story

### [Humanity on Venus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/xiii-humanity-on-venus)

Mentioned as the species that harpooned the seal-men out of existence, though not a focus of the chapter.

### [I: Taking Root Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-taking-root-again)

The narrator, who is one of the Last Men, recounts this history.

### [XIV: Neptune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/xiv-neptune)

A new species created by the Fifteenth Men, with telepathic abilities and improved sensory powers, who began to explore the past and contemplate a 'crusade to liberate the past.'

### [III: Slow Conquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-slow-conquest)

New species designed by the Fifteenth, with telepathy and improved senses, gained control of planet's orbit, sought to create higher type.

### [XV: The Last Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/xv-the-last-men)

Mentioned for their forlorn crusade to rescue the tragic past.

### [IV: Cosmology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-cosmology)

Mentioned as predecessors who undertook a forlorn crusade to rescue the tragic past, an enterprise now seen as desperate but not fantastic.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/characters/the_sixteenth_men
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/characters