# The Third Men — Last and First Men character guide

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

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Third Men

**First appearance:** 0043-x-the-third-men-in-the-wilderness

## Snapshot

A short-lived, life-loving species that breeds for brain and for mediumship, splitting over what remaking human nature should mean.

## Who they are

The Third Men feel society as an organism and let that sentiment master even their egotistical impulses, though not without struggle. Their remaking of human nature fractures into parties: orthodox perfecters, breeders of mediums to communicate with the Life God's other world, and a faction that would strip man down to pure brain. Their passion for living things and their craving for immortality set up the decisive gamble of the middle book: what kind of successor species should inherit the earth.

## In the story

### [X: The Third Men in the Wilderness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/x-the-third-men-in-the-wilderness)

The new human species described in detail, with their physical and mental traits, and their cultural tendencies.

### [I: The Third Human Species](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-third-human-species)

The focus of the chapter, detailing their physical, mental, and cultural traits.

### [II: Digressions of the Third Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-digressions-of-the-third-men)

The central species of this chapter, characterized by their biological interests and susceptibility to cultural digressions.

### [III: The Vital Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-the-vital-art)

The focus of the chapter, describing their civilization and their unique art form.

### [IV: Conflicting Policies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-conflicting-policies)

The focus of this chapter, as they debate and implement policies for their own further evolution.

### [Man Remakes Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/xi-man-remakes-himself)

The Third Men are the creators of the Great Brain, dividing into factions over the project. They later serve the Great Brain and provide the raw material for the Fourth Men.

### [I: The First of the Great Brains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-first-of-the-great-brains)

The earlier human species that created the super-brain and served it.

### [II: The Tragedy of the Fourth Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-tragedy-of-the-fourth-men)

The natural species reduced to menial servitude, who rebel against the Fourth Men's tyranny.

### [III: The Fifth Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-the-fifth-men)

Mentioned for their sensory advantages and easy childbirth, which are incorporated into the Fifth Men's design.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/characters/the_third_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