List of fictional humanoid species in literature


This is a list of fictional humanoid species in literature, and is subsidiary to the lists of humanoids. It is a collection of various notable humanoid species that are featured in text literature, including novels, short stories, and poems, but not originating in comics or other sequential art.
SpeciesAuthorWorkNotes
Avian AmericansJames PattersonMaximum Ride series
BlemmyesPlinyNaturalis historiaTribe which became fictionalized as a race of creatures believed to be acephalous monsters who had eyes and mouths on their chest. Pliny the Elder writes of them that Blemmyes traduntur capita abesse, ore et oculis pectore adfixis. The Blemmyes were said to live in Africa, in Nubia, Kush, or Ethiopia, generally south of Egypt.
The BorrowersMary NortonThe Borrowers series
BrobdingnagiansJonathan SwiftGulliver's Travels
Death bringersAdam BladeBeast QuestDeath bringers resemble bloated humanoids with four long tentacles. In Series Four of Beast Quest, The Amulet of Avantia, Nixa the Death Bringer guards one of the Amulet's shards. She can assume a ghost-like form.
ElvesJ. R. R. Tolkienlegendarium
DwarfChristopher PaoliniInheritance CycleThe dwarves are the two races native to Alagaësia, the others being the dragons, or possibly the spirits. The dwarves went into many wars with the dragons. They dwell in the Beor Mountains. The other races, humans and Ra'zac, came from an unknown continent, while the elves and Urgals came from Alalëa.
DwarvesJ. R. R. Tolkienlegendarium
EloiH. G. WellsThe Time Machine
Frankenstein's MonsterMary ShelleyFrankensteinCreated by Dr. Frankenstein, the Monster was stitched together from human flesh and organs originating from multiple sources. It is suggested that he retains some traits and muscle memory from the humans he was composed of. He is exceptionally large and strong, and can easily survive on food that is difficult to digest for humans.
GallivespiansPhilip PullmanHis Dark MaterialsDiminutive humanoids no taller than the width of a human's hand, who had spurs on their heels that could deliver poison to a target. They lived for an average of ten human years, and were a natural species alongside humans on Earth in their native universe.
GoblinsJ.K RowlingHarry Potter
Hobbits/HalflingsJ. R. R. Tolkienlegendarium
Horse-menAdam BladeBeast QuestMen with the lower bodies of horses. There are only two known, Tagus the Night Horse/Horse-Man and Equinus the Spirit Horse. Tagus guards Avantia, and was put under an evil, corrupting curse cast by Malvel. Tom, the protagonist, along with his companion, Elenna, free Taguus from the curse. He later helps them defeat Trillion the Three-Headed Lion, and he is later captured by Torgor the Minotaur. Equinus, however, is a true evil beast sent by Malvel. Equinus can turn people evil.
House elvesJ.K RowlingHarry Potter
LeonidersStrugatsky brothersNoon Universe
LilliputiansJonathan SwiftGulliver's Travels
MorlocksH. G. WellsThe Time Machine
NewtsKarel ČapekWar with the Newts
NomesTerry PratchettThe Nome Trilogy
Oompa-LoompasRoald DahlCharlie and the Chocolate Factory
OrcsJ. R. R. Tolkienlegendarium
Ra'zacChristopher PaoliniInheritance CycleReptilian beings that have three stages like an insect, egg, youngster, and the adult. They have beaks and black eyes with no pupils or eyelids. Their breath can put people in a dream-like state, and they hide their bodies with black cloaks. The Ra'zac dwell in Helgrind, the Gates of Death. At the time when Eragon was living, there were only two Ra'zac left, though Galbatorix, the main antagonist, hid many Ra'zac eggs. Two of the eggs were destroyed at Helgrind. When it is 20 years, old, a Ra'zac becomes a lethrblaka, which resembles a bony, withered, Ra'zac-like dragon.
SciapodesPlinyNaturalis historia
ShadowhuntersCassandra ClareThe Mortal InstrumentsAlso known as Nephilim, are human-angel hybrids created by the angel Raziel, who poured his blood into a sacred object, the Mortal Cup, and declared that any who drank from it would become Shadowhunters. Shadowhunters are not nephilim in the traditional sense, as they are not the offspring of an angel and human pairing.
ShadesChristopher PaoliniInheritance CycleHumans that have merged with spirits and become evil. Known shades are Durza, and Varaug.
SpiritsChristopher PaoliniInheritance CycleMystical beings that are summoned by magic users and others. They can use magic and take any form they desire. It is possible that they are native to Alagaësia, along with the dragons and dwarves.
Stone CharmersAdam BladeBeast QuestTall, purple humanoids that have no face, except for their large, green eyes that turn people to stone. Although they have no mouths, they can speak in beautiful, feminine voices. The only known Stone Charmer is Soltra. Soltra guards the golden breastplate in Series Two of Beast Quest, The Golden Armor.
Urgals/KullsChristopher PaoliniInheritance CycleResemble giants with spiraled horns. Urgals that become very tall are called Kulls. Urgals came from the same continent elves came from, Alalëa.
VeelaJ. K. RowlingHarry Potter
YahoosJonathan SwiftGulliver's Travels