Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
It’s not Burroughs best writing, but I kinda like the plot: a mixed German/British crew in a damaged U-boat are shipwreck on an island with Dinosaurs, Sabertooths, and Cavemen.
I’m guessing the other two parts of the story reveal more of the mystery, but I’m not sure I’m that interested enough to read them.
I’m guessing the other two parts of the story reveal more of the mystery, but I’m not sure I’m that interested enough to read them.
I had planned to read one book in this series one at a time with things in between but Burroughs is such a damn engaging storyteller that once I built up momentum in book 1, well, book 2 was just sitting there. so I'll do a second review of the compiled set.
The first book in the series, "Land that Time Forgot", grew on me as I read the other two in the series - they all tie together with different characters in overlapping frames in the timeline, and stuff from the first book pays off handsomely in the third, "Out of Time's Abyss", which is quite good. There is a slow unraveling of the mysteries of Caspak's ecosystem, but if you are expecting a science fiction explanation for the wacky way this island works, well, don't get your hopes up. But since ERB is much more of an action writer than anything like a scientist.
no, really. Anything like a scientist.
I do have to point out that the hero of the second book, The People That Time Forgot, while a classic pulp hero and capable adventurer, is a world class doofus.
Finally, it was written in 1918. Keep that in mind when thinking about geopolitics and race relations.
The first book in the series, "Land that Time Forgot", grew on me as I read the other two in the series - they all tie together with different characters in overlapping frames in the timeline, and stuff from the first book pays off handsomely in the third, "Out of Time's Abyss", which is quite good. There is a slow unraveling of the mysteries of Caspak's ecosystem, but if you are expecting a science fiction explanation for the wacky way this island works, well, don't get your hopes up. But since ERB is much more of an action writer than anything like a scientist.
no, really. Anything like a scientist.
I do have to point out that the hero of the second book, The People That Time Forgot, while a classic pulp hero and capable adventurer, is a world class doofus.
Finally, it was written in 1918. Keep that in mind when thinking about geopolitics and race relations.
This was distinctly Burroughs, but not a patch on his John Carter stories. Still, all the elements of his proto-pulp writing are present and accounted for. Caspak is an interesting puzzle that I'm sure the later books will explore, the villains are villainous and the heroes heroic. It's certainly better than the Center of the Earth books.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not surprisingly, contains a fair amount of casual sexism and racism. Otherwise, decent adventure story of the Jules Verne/H.G. Wells variety. Trying to rate it 3 stars (since I can't do 2.5) but my app is being squirrelly.
This was a cute quick read! It was a fun adventure novel that was obviously a product of it's time, but enjoyable none the less. It put me in the mood to read Jurassic Park.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated