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glowingskeleton's review against another edition
3.0
Doesn't have a plot as much as it has a description of strange events and weird encounters. Very much the "And then..." school of writing. Kinda rules, kinda dumb as hell. The conceit of the series that time doesn't exist in the inner earth world of Pellucidar continues to be nonsense, but adds to the fever dream quality of the book.
dotorsojak's review against another edition
2.0
I just reread this book after many decades. I probably last read it some time in the early 1970s, but am not sure. The edition I read is the Ace paperback series first published in the 1960s, a paperback I have owned since the ‘70s. This is an early ERB, first published in 1915, an immediate sequel to AT THE EARTH’S CORE. It’s not as good as the first one, but it does contain pointed Burroughsian comments on evolution and race and human society generally. Here’s an interesting quotation from David Innes, our hero. He is reflecting on “the dominant race” of Pellucidar, the Mahars, who look like a cross between crocodiles and pterodactyls. Noting the reptilian intelligence of the Mahars, Innes says:
She was a member of the dominant race of Pellucidar. By a strange freak of evolution her kind had first developed the power of reason in that world of anomalies.
To her, creatures such as I were of a lower order. As Perry had discovered among the writings of her kind in the buried city of Phutra, it was still an open question among the Mahars as to whether man possessed means of intelligent communication or the power of reason.
Her kind believed that in the center of all pervading solidity there was a single, vast, spherical cavity, which was Pellucidar. This cavity had been left there for the sole purpose of providing a place for the creation and propagation of the Mahar race. Everything within it had been put there for the uses of the Mahar. (Chap 1)
And here’s another. Innes, who has been captured by the Mahars, comments on what a dominant group thinks of the inferiors whom the dominant ones enslave:
While it had always been difficult for me to look upon these things [the Mahars] as other than slimy, winged crocodiles… I was now forced to a realization of the fact that I was in the hands of enlightened creatures—for justice and gratitude are certain hallmarks of rationality and culture.
But what they purposed for us further was of most imminent interest to me. They might save us from the tarag [a beast who devours humans in the arena] and yet not free us. They looked upon us yet, to some extent, I knew, as creatures of a lower order, and so as we are unable to place ourselves in the position of the brutes we enslave—thinking that they are happier in bondage than in the free fulfillment of the purposes for which nature intended them—the Mahars, too, might consider our welfare better conserved in captivity than among the dangers of the savage freedom we craved. (Chap. 5)
You can’t say that ERB is exactly enlightened, but he clearly thinking about the implications of so-called racial superiority.
This book ends badly. Innes ends up bringing “civilization” to Pellucidar. This civilization mostly consists of repeating rifles, canons, and large ships (which can carry canons). The world envisioned as civilized most resembles an aggressive imperial raj.
She was a member of the dominant race of Pellucidar. By a strange freak of evolution her kind had first developed the power of reason in that world of anomalies.
To her, creatures such as I were of a lower order. As Perry had discovered among the writings of her kind in the buried city of Phutra, it was still an open question among the Mahars as to whether man possessed means of intelligent communication or the power of reason.
Her kind believed that in the center of all pervading solidity there was a single, vast, spherical cavity, which was Pellucidar. This cavity had been left there for the sole purpose of providing a place for the creation and propagation of the Mahar race. Everything within it had been put there for the uses of the Mahar. (Chap 1)
And here’s another. Innes, who has been captured by the Mahars, comments on what a dominant group thinks of the inferiors whom the dominant ones enslave:
While it had always been difficult for me to look upon these things [the Mahars] as other than slimy, winged crocodiles… I was now forced to a realization of the fact that I was in the hands of enlightened creatures—for justice and gratitude are certain hallmarks of rationality and culture.
But what they purposed for us further was of most imminent interest to me. They might save us from the tarag [a beast who devours humans in the arena] and yet not free us. They looked upon us yet, to some extent, I knew, as creatures of a lower order, and so as we are unable to place ourselves in the position of the brutes we enslave—thinking that they are happier in bondage than in the free fulfillment of the purposes for which nature intended them—the Mahars, too, might consider our welfare better conserved in captivity than among the dangers of the savage freedom we craved. (Chap. 5)
You can’t say that ERB is exactly enlightened, but he clearly thinking about the implications of so-called racial superiority.
This book ends badly. Innes ends up bringing “civilization” to Pellucidar. This civilization mostly consists of repeating rifles, canons, and large ships (which can carry canons). The world envisioned as civilized most resembles an aggressive imperial raj.
hstapp's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book better, even though it has all the same problems as the last book. Really how long would it take for people to create the tools needed to make cannons and rifles and the balls to go with them. Even if you have books to help. Still I enjoyed the story overall, and it's nice that David's taken an interest in something other than genocide.
tstevens3's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
pixelorchid's review against another edition
3.0
Not Burroughs best work. Some of his works have aged well and are still enjoyable despite the inherent prejudices from the time period. This book reads like a repetetive chain of getting captured then saved by ridiculous coincidences. The last third of the book is a depressing tale of brutal imperialism where the native people are slaughtered and subdued by the vastly superior advanced military weaponry that was brought to the world by the protagonist. It becomes ironic that he talks extensively about how money is the root of all evil and will not allow it, yet he brings guns and cannons and full scale naval warfare to these people.
andrewspink's review against another edition
1.0
Science fiction is of course not really about the future but about contemporary society. This book, written 100 years ago is clearly about colonialism. The fascinating and somewhat horrifying thing is that this is a novel glorifying colonialism, presenting it as something necessary and good for.the "savages" (a recurring word in the book). The outsiders with their guns and their ships are clearly destined to dominate and subdue them and this is a Good Thing.
It is not a good idea to judge the morals of one era by those of another. Neverthless this is close enough to our own time that we know there were enough alternative voices at the time who were also clear about colonialism's evils that that a bit of judgementalism isn't such a bad idea here. Who to side with, Rhodes or Ghandi?
It is not a good idea to judge the morals of one era by those of another. Neverthless this is close enough to our own time that we know there were enough alternative voices at the time who were also clear about colonialism's evils that that a bit of judgementalism isn't such a bad idea here. Who to side with, Rhodes or Ghandi?
catra121's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid book from Edgar Rice Burroughs. I really enjoy these books and the idea of another world at the center of this one is so fun.
bertturtel's review against another edition
4.0
Another fun series by ERB! Librovox has a wonderful narration of this book.
bertturtel's review against another edition
4.0
Another fun series by ERB! Librovox has a wonderful narration of this book.
leirben's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Misogyny