Reavers

Reavers is a term used in science fiction and fantasy to describe marauders or monstrous raiders who prey on others and inhabit lawless frontiers. The word itself derives from reave, meaning to raid or plunder, and it has been adapted in various works to denote brutal, often fanatical antagonists.

In Firefly and the film Serenity, Reavers are the best-known use of the term. They are depicted as a terrifying faction of humans who have descended into extreme violence while living on the edge of explored space. Reports and rumors describe them as brutal killers who attack vessels and settlements, sometimes wearing masks or trophies taken from their victims. Cannibalism is a recurring element of their portrayal in the series and film. Canonically, their exact origin is left ambiguous, with explanations pointing to a combination of isolation, trauma, and the harsh conditions of frontier life. They are portrayed more as a symbol of frontier danger and moral collapse than as a single, coherent nation or movement.

Outside Firefly, the term Reaver is used in other media to denote similarly ferocious antagonists—often frontier raiders or berserkers who threaten travelers and remote communities. The concept has influenced broader storytelling by providing a shorthand for an amorphous, exceedingly dangerous foe associated with space or wilderness frontiers.

See also: Reaver (disambiguation) for other uses of the term.