This essay is going to address the worldbuilding and plot arcs of the Books of the Raksura series. Specifically, it’s going to cover the Raksura, their relationship with the Fell and contain some speculations about the ancestral species they both originated from. I may also compare and contrast this set up with Chronicles of the Cheysuli by Jennifer Roberson, which vaguely has some plot points in common with the early Raksura B plot of “The Fell want to interbreed with the Raksura because they’ve been led to believe this will help them use artifacts/technology belonging to the now extinct ancestor species.” As a result, it’s probably going to be very spoilery, so keep that in mind.
Actually, that would be a pretty tall order for one essay. This probably going to be at least two essays, maybe more. This specific essay is going to cover the wide variety of sentient species in the Books of the Raksura setting, and speculation about the speciation that occurred with the Raksura/Fell ancestor species. Other essays will potentially cover the underpinnings of Raksura and Fell society and further speculation about the ancestor species.
First, an explanation of “ring species.” A ring species is one where related species are able to interbreed and produce viable offspring. However, it will only be specific species that can breed with each other. Species A can interbreed with Species B, and Species B can interbreed with Species C but Species C cannot interbreed with Species A, for example. In the books of the Raksura, Wells has multiple sentient ring species. This makes for an interesting setting, and introduces us to the opening plot arc of the Raksuran conflict with the Fell.
Second, Why Am I Comparing Contrasting With a Completely Different Series by a Completely Different Author: So, the main story arc of the Chronicles of the Cheysuli is the struggle between two related human subspecies. The Cheysuli, who are shapechangers with animal companions, and the Ilhini, who are sorcerers. At one point the Cheysuli and Ilhini were one people but they split over the subject of a prophecy the Ilhini wanted no part of, because it foretells the “reunification” of their race/subspecies and the Ilhini wanted to remain a distinct culture.
In this setting the Ilhini were alignment: evil and the Cheysuli were alignment: good. The Ilhini were actively trying to manipulate the prophecy and destroy the Cheysuli, and the Cheysuli were attempting to follow the prophecy in whatever passes for good faith when you are practicing eugenics, and male Cheysuli were continuously getting very predictably seduced by Very Obvious Ilhini Honeypots. (Note: the last book in the series tries to refute the “Ilhini are inherently evil” but all Roberson managed was “this specific Ilhini woman I’ve paired off with this specific Cheysuli dude is not evil because she defied the evil god of the evil Ilhini.” Or something. It’s actually been years since I read the series, but I’m pretty sure that’s what happened, after a standard amnesia/mistaken identity plot where they don’t know that the Cheysuli dude is actually a Cheysuli and the Cheysuli dude doesn’t know either.)
On the surface level this is somewhat the situation with the Fell/Raksura conflict of the novels. The Fell are attempting to interbreed with the Raksura because they believe that that the resulting children will be keys to unlock artifacts/technology created by the Fell and Raksuran ancestor species. (Which the Fell can’t use by themselves because they aren’t compatible with the technology.) However, it’s a lot more complicated. Instead of a simplistic “follow the will of the gods/prophecy” vs. “the ones who would like to nope out of the prophecy and retain their individual culture are the bad guys” divide we have “the at some point this species’ society apocalyptically collapsed and the survivors picked different survival strategies that resulted in speciation.”
The Fell are nomadic obligate carnivores that prey on other sentient species (and if they’re starving they will prey on each other). They are not culturally inclined to see “prey” as people. Progenitors and rulers might not be inclined to see kethel and dakti as people. Due to being mind-controlled by their Progenitors and rulers there is very little in the way of culture, society or art, because in order to have any of that you need to be able to have independent thoughts.
(An aside: On a discord I’m on, there’s a theory/hypothesis that the kethel and dakti were at one point separate subspecies to the rulers/progenitors that got subsumed by the ruler/progenitor subspecies. In a way similar to the way the Arbora and Aeriat came together, except with slightly less cannibalism and mind control.)
Fell are not inherently evil, they have a toxic culture based in whatever generational trauma created their attitudes toward other species and each other. (I have a slight theory that the collapse of their civilization caused a planet-wide apocalypse, simply because of all the references to there having been one at some point.) When presented with the possibility of choosing a different way of life that does not involve being mind controlled, they take to it immediately. (Though there are understandably hiccups because they are the horses in the horse in the hospital joke. They’ve never had agency before! They’re as confused about it as you are!”
Contrast with with the Cheysuli series, where the Ilhini are evil because they do not want to be forcibly integrated back into singular species with their Cheysuli cousins, and have allied themselves with an evil god who is manipulating them. On the other hand there is a slight similarity, though in a reversed way. (Instead of the good guys attempting to reunite into one species because the gods said so, it’s the “bad guys” trying to create a skeleton key to use an artifact/technology of some kind. The Fell it turns out are also being manipulated, so there’s another similarity. )
The ancestors of the Raksura dodged the bullet of nomadic predation and extreme xenophobic/antisocial behavior when they encountered the Arbora. Aeriat (or specifically, the ancestors of that would become the Aeriat) were pretty much socialized/domesticated by the Arbora. How this happened could be in a number of ways. The Arbora might have been more resistant to the control of Aeriat Progenitors, which would tend to put them on a more equal footing and this resulted in the First Actual Alliance this remnant of the ancestor species ever experienced. The remnant ancestor species could have been a much smaller group, which would have made them more willing to have and honor an alliance with the Arbora ancestor species. In any case, I specifically state that the Arbora “domesticated” the Aeriat rather than the Aeriat conquering the Arbora because everything about Arbora-Aeriat interactions seems to indicate that. I think it’s also possible that they didn’t have a Progenitor, or the Progenitor was a child. The Aeriat group may have been more like refugees than desperate post apocalyptic raiders (which seems to be the case with Fell behavior patterns.)
It should be noted that Wells did something really fun with the Raksura (aside from the gender norms, which are also Fun). To outsiders, Arbora appear to be a servant class. And in some ways, Arbora seem very like certain “servitor races” in certain fantasy series. (I am giving considerable glances askance at Mercedes Lackey and her hertasi.) However, Wells subverts this trope in the sense that Arbora are actually the acknowledged back bone and brains of the Raksura. The Arbora are artisans, teachers, healers, and manage the entire infrastructure of the colony. They keep track of things. They are also hunters, farmers and soldiers. Magic users/seers called “Mentors” are highly respected and have a great deal of authority. They advise the queens and daughter queens, keep track of information, and make many if not most decisions about the running of the colony. It should be noted that these are all jobs, except for the Mentor role, which is a matter of having magical talent.
Aeriat are divided into three groups. A) Infertile warriors, who act as air support for the soldiers and hunters, and as transportation when the colony has to move. B) Fertile consorts who are bigger and faster than warriors in the air. C) Fertile Queens, who in turn are bigger and faster than consorts. Queens also have the ability to prevent an Arbora or Aeriat from transforming. They also have an empathic link with the individuals of their colony. This link does not seem to have any aspects of control but instead fosters a sense of community and togetherness–Queens are the literal hearts of a colony.
Male consorts pair off with queens, but also have relationships with Arbora women (and men). Relationships are very open and poly among Raksura. This produces Arbora but also Aeriat warriors. A pairing between Arbora might produce Aeriat warriors, Arbora and Arbora with Mentor talents. In a stressed colony with few warriors, some Arbora might suddenly become Aeriat warriors (much to the chagrin of the poor Arbora–this is not a promotion, and poor Chime is Having a Time).
There are several situations in the books where outsiders make the assumption that the Arbora are a servant class–only to discover this is not the case. There are also numerous incidents where it’s clear it’s the Arbora are the ones in charge, and the warriors are much lower in status. Arbora generally seem treat warriors the way exasperated teachers/caregivers treat especially rambunctious kids. ( And the warriors definitely call to mind the image of a very large otherwise macho dude being cowed by their much smaller and feistier grandmother who is scolding him for being pigheaded or reckless or something.) This interaction has a lot to do with the way Raksura kids are raised.
Raksuran children are raised communally by a combination of mostly Arbora caretakers/teachers and by Aeriat consorts. (Who seem to have something of a daddy emu thing going on, if Moon’s interactions with kids is any indication.) Aeriats grow up being taken care of and taught by Arbora, and are essentially socialized to treat Arbora as authority figures. Which is exactly the case, because that’s exactly what they are.
In the next essay, I want to try and tackle the differences and similarities between Fell and Raksuran social castes. I also want to address the differences (and similarities) between the two cultures/species. I will also get into the worldbuilding hints and tells Martha Wells includes in her work. Wells tends to offer worldbuilding details indirectly and this can be both extremely effective but also confusing if you need to have things directly stated.
How to Socialize Your Aeriat: Imprinting and Husbandry
Some headcanons about the how the Raksura developed, as well as reiterating points made in the first essay.
How to Socialize Your Aeriat Fell: Little Wolf Who Cried Girl
This is mostly about Consolation and her Flight.
Edit: Some minor revisions as of 08/31/2025
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