At the Earth’s Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs
A rousing tale of exploration that continues to inspire over a century after its first publication.
In At the Earth’s Core, Edgar Rice Burroughs plunges readers into an imaginative, subterranean world teeming with prehistoric creatures, exotic civilizations, and perilous adventure. Originally serialized in 1914 and later published as a novel, this first installment of the Pellucidar series stands as a hallmark of early 20th-century science fiction, blending the Victorian fascination with exploration with Burroughs’ signature flair for fast-paced action and fantastical world-building.
The novel follows David Innes, a wealthy American who funds a powerful mechanical drill—dubbed the “iron mole”—designed by the eccentric inventor Abner Perry. In a test run gone awry, the machine drills deep into the Earth's crust, leading them not to molten rock, as expected, but to Pellucidar: a vast, hollow world inside our own. Here, the sun hangs perpetually in the sky, time has no fixed measure, and Earth’s ancient creatures—such as the saber-toothed tiger and mastodon—still roam. Captured by the dominant and telepathic reptilian Mahars, David must fight not only for his freedom, but for the fate of an entire inner-world civilization.
At its heart, At the Earth’s Core is a meditation on human courage and the unquenchable thirst for discovery. Burroughs presents a dual theme of liberation—both personal and collective. David’s journey from an unwitting passenger to a revolutionary leader reflects the novel’s deeper political current, as he inspires subjugated tribes to rise against their oppressors. Another compelling theme is the clash between brute force and intellect. The Mahars, though physically weak, maintain their dominion through mind control and superior knowledge, posing ethical questions about the nature of power and civilization.
The novel also subtly explores temporality. Pellucidar’s lack of day-night cycles and linear time adds a metaphysical layer to the adventure, challenging the reader’s perception of reality and progress. In this sense, Burroughs anticipates later science fiction’s interest in relativistic and psychological time.
While Burroughs’ protagonists often verge on archetype, they are compelling in their clarity of purpose. David Innes is the quintessential early 20th-century hero—physically fit, morally upright, and unflagging in adversity. Perry, his older companion, offers comic relief and scientific curiosity, though at times he becomes a caricature of bumbling intellect. The inner-world heroine, Dian the Beautiful, embodies the romantic ideal of the noble savage, her strength and loyalty elevating her above the common trope.
The true star of the novel, however, is Pellucidar itself. Burroughs crafts a rich, multi-layered setting filled with fantastical flora and fauna, ape-men, telepathic reptiles, and stone-age humans. The hollow Earth conceit, while scientifically improbable, allows Burroughs to remix Darwinian survivalism and lost-world tropes into a thrilling, if implausible, milieu. His vivid descriptions and confident narrative voice suspend disbelief long enough to immerse the reader completely.
At the Earth’s Core is consistently engaging, particularly in its first half as David and Perry descend into the Earth and encounter the bizarre rules of their new world. The pacing is brisk, if occasionally uneven, with action sequences carrying the momentum whenever exposition threatens to slow it. The scenes of captivity, escape, and rebellion are especially gripping, and Burroughs keeps the stakes high with a sense of escalating peril.
The romance between David and Dian, though formulaic, adds an emotional undercurrent that enriches the narrative’s otherwise relentless action. The final chapters—while somewhat rushed—set the stage effectively for future adventures.
Burroughs’ prose is straightforward and kinetic, well-suited for the pulp audiences of his time. His first-person narration, framed as a retelling to an outsider, lends authenticity and immediacy. Descriptions are efficient rather than ornate, often serving the needs of pacing more than atmosphere. While literary flourishes are minimal, Burroughs demonstrates a masterful control over tension and curiosity. Notably, he uses the unfamiliar setting not just as backdrop, but as a catalyst for character development and thematic resonance.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of At the Earth’s Core is the sheer originality of its world-building. Burroughs’ inner world defies geography, biology, and chronology, yet operates according to its own logic. His imaginative audacity is infectious. The novel also excels in capturing the raw excitement of exploration—an impulse that resonates even today.
However, the book is not without its flaws. The characters, while memorable, lack psychological depth, and the dialogue often veers into stilted heroism. The treatment of gender roles—particularly the portrayal of Dian—reflects early 20th-century values and may strike modern readers as reductive. Moreover, scientific plausibility is largely sacrificed for narrative thrill, which may limit the book’s appeal to more hard-science-oriented readers.
At the Earth’s Core remains a foundational work in the canon of speculative fiction. While it bears the marks of its pulp origins—broad characters, implausible science, and colonial-era attitudes—it also embodies the genre’s finest virtues: bold imagination, high-stakes adventure, and a sense of wonder. Readers who appreciate the escapist thrills of Journey to the Center of the Earth or Tarzan (another Burroughs creation) will find much to enjoy here.
Recommended for fans of classic science fiction and fantasy, At the Earth’s Core invites readers to suspend disbelief and embrace the thrill of the unknown.
—N3UR4L Reviews
