Edgar Rice Burroughs

One of the most popular and influential science fiction tales of all time, The Land That Time Forgot was first published in book form in 1924. Set on the lost island of Caspak in the South Pacific, this novel is a dazzling blend of imagination, daring adventure, and intriguing scientific speculation. Hidden behind towering, impassable cliffs, Caspak will not easily give up its secrets. Unique and terrible animals and peoples inhabit the island. Dinosaurs terrorize tropical jungles to the south, while menacing winged humanoids dwell in cities on a large island in the north. Caught between these threats are scattered groups of human beings. Despite their differences, however, Caspak’s animals and peoples are all connected in a mysterious and marvelous way. This commemorative edition features the entire Caspak trilogy in one volume, as intended by the author. In his introduction, Mike Resnick celebrates Edgar Rice Burroughs and the timeless appeal of this story. Also included are Scott Tracy Griffin’s glossary of terms from the Caspakian language, a rare map of Caspak drawn by Burroughs, and the classic J. Allen St. John illustrations.

The Land that Time Forgot

The Land that Time Forgot follows the narrative of Bowen Tyler, who is among the few who survived after their ship sank while heading for a battle during World War I. Accompanied by Lys La Rue, the only woman on the ship, and a loyal dog, Bowen is rescued by a British ship. However, their relief does not last long after they discover that a German spy is aboard and has been sabotaging the vessel and crew. Forced to drop their anchor at a mysterious island, the group makes their way to shore, united only by their will to survive. After finding a corpse close to the shore, the group are disheartened, but have nowhere else to go. As the group explore part of the island and make a camp, they notice the prehistoric fauna, flora, and exotic species that surround them, uncovering a great threat to their survival. While a war rages on in the world around them, this group of diverse nationalities must reconcile and work with one another in order to survive the mysterious and isolated island. Inspired by the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Jules Verne, The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs is a high adventure, pulp fiction fantasy with elements of romance. Featuring topics of evolution, war, and human nature, The Land that Time Forgot is an intriguing adventure with sequences of action, romance, and mystery. First published in 1924, this imaginative work has remained to be a fun read, and has inspired both film and comic adaptations. This edition of The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in an easy-to-read font. With these accommodations, The Land that Time Forgot caters to a modern audience while preserving the original wonder and adventure of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ work.

The Land That Time Forgot

It definitely wasn't the story I expected. I was expecting a lot of dinosaurs for some reason and it was mainly about U-boats and war games than anything else. They get to the island at the halfway mark and we only see mention of four dinosaurs. I was curious about the idea of evolution based on areas of the island or continent, but it was really shallow and I'm not sure if it's due to the beliefs of the time or if Burroughs was trying to show his own idea of evolution.

Not a bad read to say I have read it. It was definitely entertaining but much too short in key areas.

Melissa Railey

The Land That Time Forgot opens with the discovery near Greenland of a floating thermos flask containing a manuscript by castaway Tyler Bowen, Jr. The document recounts a series of adventures that starts with a sea battle against a German U-boat and ends on a mysterious island populated by hostile prehistoric animals and people. The second part of the book, “The People That Time Forgot,” continues the story with the tale of Tom Billings, who has been sent on a mission to rescue Bowen after his manuscript was discovered. He flies solo over the mountainous cliffs that encircle the island and is attacked by a monstrous flying reptile, forcing him to crash-land. Billings then attempts to make his way on foot back to the rest of his party while contending with dangerous inhabitants from different stages of human development. The final installment of the story, “Out of Time’s Abyss,” reveals what happened to Bradley, a crew member who was sent on a scouting expedition earlier in the story and was never heard from again. This trilogy of short novels was originally published serially in 1918 in Blue Book Magazine. In 1924 they were published in a single volume by A. C. McClurg. The Burroughs fan community seems to fall into two camps about whether the story comprises three separate novellas, or whether it’s a single novel divided into three parts. This production follows the 1924 edition in combining the three into a single novel. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

The Land that Time Forgot

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