Book Reviews: "The Land That Time Forgot: Commemorative Edition" (Edgar Rice Burroughs, Mike Resnick) by Devin J. Meaney

The Land That Time Forgot: Commemorative Edition

Written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and Mike Resnick

Format: Paperback

Language: English

Length: 434 pages

Publisher: Bison Books

Release date: March 1, 1999

Many years ago my uncle recorded a copy of “The Land That Time Forgot” on his VCR for me. As a kid I watched this many times and even now in my thirties the film still intrigues me. It wasn’t until many years later though that I found out this was originally a book written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I did read it years back—but recently I had an urge to give it a re-read.

I went to the library and ordered a copy. This version was the “Commemorative Edition” and features all three parts. The Land That Time Forgot, The People That Time Forgot and Out of Time’s Abyss. It occurred to me that I never actually read the second and third installments so I was happy that I had snagged the commemorative edition.

All three parts take place in Caspak on the Island of Caprona. Caspak is riddled with many saurians and other pre-historic creatures—a lot of which are vicious “carnivora” that make journeying through the island a struggle. There are also different evolutionary forms of man ranging from primitive apes to speechless men known as Alu all the way to Galu (rope men) and a handful of different variations in between.

There is a lot to be said about Caspak and the adventures that take place in the land that time forgot—but I will just state simply. The first installment is a narration of the adventures of Bowen Tyler and his company, the second the escapades of Thomas Billings (a man who journeys to Caprona when he finds out Tyler was lost there) and the third the adventures of Bradley (one of the original party members that accompanied Tyler).

Many encounters are had—ranging from fights with dinosaurs to abduction by the “wieroo”—a higher form of winged humanoid that live on Caspak. I’d say more—but I think it would be best to just give a read yourself. The Land That Time Forgot and its second and third installments are lovely (although dated) stories—and aside from some old-timey sexism and racism it makes for a nice read in the wee hours of the morning—making the brain spiral with intrigue and thoughts of adventure—and really—who would have it any other way? -Devin J. Meaney