The Lost Continent

Terra incognita: check. Savable babe: check. Treacherous traveling companion: check. Death cult and/or human sacrifice: check. Inane romantic misunderstandings: check. Everything else in the genre's list: check. This time, "there" is the bizarre and unknown world outside the US. Some poorly-stated conflict divided the world into America (South America included, not that anyone important lives there) and All The Rest. Sabotage and misfortune drive Our Hero et al. outside the ken of civilized people and onto the carnivore-ridden shores of Great Britain, then beyond. Beyond means "where all those guys who aren't Anglo-colored live." The story has passed its 90th birthday, so WWI was fresh in mind for the original reader. Burroughs knew that US isolationism was a dream or nightmare on many minds, as it is when I write this. He played and preyed on that to create the setting for his next pot-boiler. But he did it really well. Also known as "Beyond Thirty" (the thirtieth line of longitude), this historical artifact carries all the distressing prejudices and jingoistic assumptions of its time. A modern reader might like this best if it's read at arm's length. You'll want to taste all the racist and implicitly imperialist culture of the time, but not swallow. We're not perfect these days, but it's nice to know that we're doing a damm lot better. -- wiredweird

This is one of Edgar Rice Burroughs most obscure works. It is about the year 2137. North and South America have been out of contact with the rest of the world for over 200 years, with no one being allowed to cross 175 degrees longitude to the west or 30 degrees longitude to the east. The title "Beyond 30" refers to an aero-submarine Captain who accidently crosses 30 degrees longitude and ends up in Europe. There, he discovers that World War I never really ended, and Europe has been reduced to barbarism. This being Burroughs, he naturally meets a beautiful half-naked barbarian princess to fall in love with. This is an enjoyable enough example of pulp fiction, although the ending feels a bit rushed. But fans of ERB should enjoy it.

In "Beyond Thirty: The Lost Continent" Edgar Rice Burroughs provides an interesting combination of adventure and social commentary. The premise behind this novel is that the United States did not get involved in the "Great War" in Europe but instead followed its isolationist tendencies to such an extreme ("The East for the East...The West for the West") that no one from the United States has gone past 30 degrees or 175 degrees latitude for over 160 years. It is now 2137 and a raging storm has thrown the Pan-American aero-submarine "Coldwater" past the 30 degree mark. The damaged vessel under the command of Lt. Jefferson Turck lands in England and German helmet and Felis tigers. In time, the crew will discover what happened to "The Lost Continent" of the Old World. Of course, since this is a ERB novel we know that there will be a damsel in distress for Lt. Turck to save from the great evils that he finds. One of the main strengths of Burroughs was his ability to create ancient civilizations. "The Lost Continent" is actually atypical for Burroughs who usually plunges his heroes into these strange new worlds a lot quicker than what happens in this novel, so this time around there is much more of a sense of mystery to the proceedings. Still, by the last half of the novel we are definitely on familiar and well-trod ground in terms of a ERB adventure story. Before World War II Burroughs wrote "Beyond the Farthest Star," about a distant planet that had been at war for centuries and where technological advances in warfare threatened to destroy all life, which makes it the other ERB novel to check out if you are interested in looking at another example of his rare attempts at social commentary. I do not think the payoff is worthy of the set up in "The Lost Continent," but it is intriguing to think that the United States completely cutting all ties with Europe was a viable basis for telling a futuristic adventure.

First published in 1915, the motivations for this story are obvious. The nations of the western hemisphere have taken an extreme isolationist stance in the early years of World War I, to the point that 200 years later they do not even know whether anything or anyone has survived the massive armed conflagration that began in the early 20th century. The hero inadvertently gets stranded in Europe and makes all of the startling discoveries of the outcome of the conflict and ensuing 200 years. The story is ERB's standard fare. However, like many of his books from this period, there are a few themes to the story that are of interest above and beyond the light adventure story. The elements foremost in this novel are the destructive nature of war and racism. There is also a certain amount of naivete from the period and the relative newness of the United States as a world power.Most of Burrough's books are good reading for pre-teen to early adolescent, and nostalgic adults; this one is no exception.P-)

The Lost Continent by Edgar Rice Burroughs is, as every science fiction fan and writer knows, a classic. Burroughs long known for his Tarzan series, is at his best when writing about the future and outer space. In the Lost Continent, Asia and Europe have destroyed themselves in a massive war. Both continents are completely devastated. North America and South America merge forming "Pan-America". Europe and Asia are put off limits by law and Pan-Americans are forbidden travel pass a certain parallel (The original title of the book was Beyond Parallel... I've forgetten the exact number). Hundreds of years pass and everyone forgets that there was ever an Asia or Europe. The book details the voyage of a submarine Captain and his crew as they rediscover acient lands and the humans that inhabit them. Burroughs creates a language, culture and history that in some form or another have appeared in every science fantasy/fiction written since. It's an easy read, full of adventure and romance. And, you will be amazed at Burroughs vision and skill.