The Land that Time Forgot: A Trilogy

I had planned to only read the first volume of The Land that Time Forgot but I got so caught up in the adventure that I ended up reading all three volumes. Edgar Rice Burroughs certainly knew how to stir the imagination and give us larger-than-life heroes. Tarzan stands today as popular as he was when introduced in magazine serialization in 1912. The Land that Time Forgot was also introduced in magazine serialization in 1918, as a novel in 1924 and as a popular film in 1974.

This fantasy story about a group of people who stumble upon the lost continent of Caspak is filled with dinosaurs, sabre-tooth tigers and fierce Neanderthals. Even the assorted crew of the submarine they arrive in are divided into two camps. It is set during WW I and show more the people are Germans, English and American. The author ensures our attention by giving us three distinct romances to follow, with Bowen Tyler and Lys, Tom and Ajor and finally Bradley and Co-tan. The first volume involves their coming to Caspak and finding themselves in a very strange land, cut off from the rest of the world, where they find flora and fauna of prehistoric times. The second volume follows a group of would-be rescuers, while the third is the story of explorer Bradley and his adventures with the flying Wieroos in the land of “Oo-oh”

While far from being socially conscious in anyway, Burroughs is generous with racial slurs and his overly protective treatment of women characters reflects his time. Yet the books are filled with enough excitement, courage, love and adventure to please all. Of course there is also violence, treachery and savagery to spare. This is an author who understood the meaning of “pulp” fiction and was able to inspire a generation of fantasy and science fiction writers. show less

Classic Edgar Rice Burroughs Caspak Trilogy which were the source for two cult classic AMICUS movies from the 70s which starred Doug McClure and included some rather dodgy special effects.
The first story covers the initial discover of a lost island of dinosaurs and primitive tribes ("The Land That Time Forgot") by a mixed group of WW1 German U-Boat crew and survivors from a torpedoed allied ship. The second part covers the further adventures of characters from the initial story and a subsequent rescue party, with the final tale concluding the adventures and including a rather bizarre outline of the evolutionary process of Caspak and its various lifeforms.
Although these stories are not the best written fantasy tales of the period (see show more Wells, Verne & Conan-Doyle), they are great fun and full of wild imagination and imagery, much of which is still influential today in both books and films. show less

I love Burroughs books, but I have to take them in doses as the plot does tend to repeat itself. I enjoyed this trilogy, but I think it will be awhile before I pick up another one of his books - just need to give it a break for a bit.