The Land That Time Forgot

By: Edgar Rice Burroughs

Narrated by: Raymond Todd

Length: 3 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

When adventurer Bowen Tyler is taken aboard an enemy submarine, he never dreams that his voyage will end in a land where time itself is prisoner. But in the uncharted seas at the bottom of the world, Tyler and the crew of the U-33 discover the mysterious forgotten continent of Caspak, where the savage denizens of a thousand lost ages roam vast primeval jungles.

Surrounded by dinosaurs and Bronze Age warriors, saber-toothed tigers and cunning beast-men, Bowen Tyler begins to unravel the incredible secret of Caspak, even as he battles to save the life of the woman he loves.

(P)1918

Critic Reviews

"The story...moves along nicely, aided by Raymond Todd's energetic narration." (Library Journal

The Land That Time Forgot

This may have been an enjoyable book had it not been for the narrator, Raymond Todd. Todd reads with very little emphasis or emotion, but what is most irritating is his race to get through the book. Also, for a book that deals with ships and the sea, he mispronounces basic nautical terms such as ensign and gunwale. Thank goodness this book is only 31/2 hours long!

not a bad book

this was alright. too many dinosaurs not enough people and dialog to make it a

Fun pulpy adventure

You gotta love Edgar Rice Burroughs. He underperformed in life until, as a pencil sharpener salesman who spent his free time reading pulp magazines, he figured he could be paid to write ???rot??? at least as good as the ???rot??? he read in the pulps. And thus started the illustrious career of the man who brought us Tarzan, John Carter, and David Innes??? And who inspired a generation of fantasy and science fiction writers.

The Land that Time Forgot, a lost world story set during World War I, is the first in Burroughs??? CASPAK trilogy. It was originally serialized in Blue Book Magazine in the fall of 1918 and then published as a novel in 1924.

Bowen Tyler is on a boat that???s torpedoed and sunk by the Germans. He saves a beautiful drowning young woman who he immediately falls in love with (that???s always how it happens in these stories) and they end up on a submarine with several other Englishmen and several Germans. Eventually (half way through the novel) the story picks up when they land on a lost volcanic island that is inhabited by dinosaur-like animals and a few subhuman races that seem to be at different evolutionary stages.

Like many lost world stories, The Land that Time Forgot has beautiful scenery, scary animals, primitive humans, and lots of adventure. Also like many of these stories, the action is the focus of the story and the characters are only shallowly drawn. For example, the beautiful young woman who the protagonist falls in love with has almost no personality, yet Bowen knows immediately that he loves her and, as expected, he is called on to bravely save her life more than once (while her previously modest clothing is now in tatters). There are the usual issues with sexism, racism, and classism, but these are the things that fans of old lost world stories know to expect ??? I have never read one that didn???t contain these annoying elements. For readers who know what to expect, The Land that Time Forgot is fun pulpy adventure that???s sure to please.

I listened to the audio version of The Land that Time Forgot which was produced by Blackstone Audio and narrated by Raymond Todd. Todd???s voice is a bit mechanical sounding and he had a couple of mispronunciations (such as ???gunwale??? pronounced like it looks), but I sped him up a bit and was satisfied, though certainly not thrilled. I wouldn???t hesitate to suggest this title to audio readers, but I wouldn???t be recommending it for the performance.
Originally posted at FanLit.

Edgar Rice Burroughs best book.

This is the first of a 3 book set and is the best of the series and the best of Edgar Rice Burroughs book I have read so far. I?ve read 6 of his 60 books, all in the last week, so his books are fairly short but agreeable and satisfying. They are fantasy and the science behind them is a little thin but they are full of action and daring, with a little romance. They are enjoyable to read. The reader is very good, professional and well suited to this book. A lot is left unexplained so you will want to finish the series.

The Audio could use some.work

The audio quality was low and could use some work otherwise a fantastic story. What Rice Burroughs is a fantastic writer and have enjoyed his work, the movie adaptations are always hokey and goofy.

Great Audible

As a kid growing up I always enjoyed the movie. This audible filled the gaps where it so needed to be filled really loved it.

A classic, last century action adventure yarn.

I really enjoyed the story. it probably helped that is seen the 1970s movie starring the inimitable Doug McClure - but Id recommend it to anybody who enjoys a solid adventure story.

Classical Sci-Fi?

I’ll be kind. You do have to take into context the time this stuff was written. A lot of times back then science and science fiction were two complete separate entities. Yes, this was made into a movie. It didn’t help. The disparity is mostly the fact that we have socially changed since this was written. Yet, you could take it as a time capsule of sorts. Providing a look back into to how people thought back then.

Classic Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs' The Land that Time Forgot is a brief tale that seems targeted towards a juvenile audience but is clearly adult themed. During WWI, A German U-boat sinks an English ship with an American passenger. They are rescued and attacked again, but the English manage to take over the sub. The American is involved with sub manufacturer. After some sabotage, the party find themselves near Antarctica and come upon a 'lost' island. The island supports life, including humans from various stages of evolution. The find a source of oil and the Germans manage to steal the sub, stranding the English and the American. The tale ends with the American finishing the text and placing the manuscript in a bottle which is how the books starts.

While basically juvenile in structure, Burroughs places the time period as WWI and engages in various subterfuge and violence, including a dog dying. There's a bit of romance and an attempt to present the evolutionary trajectory of humanity, all living on the same island. This was originally as a three-part serial and this is the complete series.

The narration is well done with decent character distinction. Pacing is brisk for a quick listen.

Imaginative but a bit racist

The narrator drones a bit and has a few strange pauses, but is overall okay. The story is imaginative, but as with many of Burroughs' books, there is a bit of racism sprinkled in.

Spaces and expression would be nice

There are no spaces between paragraphs, sometimes even sentences. Very little expression. Story obviously dated but good fun.

Dated slow burn but enjoyed it

The story starts as a bit of a slow burn as we get to the titular setting as we first deal with drama of a more grounded nature. Not what I expected from a story about a lost island of dinosaurs but it’s not boring.

I did find myself liking the love interest as she not above verbal putting the hero in his place a few times and doesn’t prove herself to be a load though she doesn’t contribute too much it’s still more then I expected.

I will say this the casual and matter of fact use of several terms or phrases as well as the hero’s attitude to his love interest severe as unfortunate reminders of when this story was written. Not meant in a malicious context but I’m not sure that would amount to much.

The narration is pretty good the guy speaks clearly at a good pace and is easy to follow a one critique however is that early on he’s clearly really close to the mic as you can hear him loudly inhale for breath. Another one is that he’ll suddenly stopped mid sentence probably to turn the page of his script or something.

Fortunately this is less of an issue further into the story but it is really noticeable and distracting.

Despite these flaws I did enjoy the story and plan of checking out the rest of the series at some point. I would recommend if you want some early 20th century science fantasy but as mentioned some dated views may effect enjoyment.