Co-Tan joins Bradley in a journey toward freedom, finding sanctuary at a river's head, away from the Wieroo's grasp. Their time together is blissful, and like Ajor, Co-Tan chooses to leave Caspak with Bradley. Both women poignantly abandon their roots for the uncertain world beyond, driven by love for the men who have captured their hearts.

The trio of novellas within The Land That Time Forgot introduces us to a cast of three distinct protagonists, each navigating their own rugged journey. In the first novella, "The Land That Time Forgot," our hero is Bowen J. Tyler, Jr., hailing from a lineage of Californian shipbuilders. In "The People That Time Forgot," we meet Thomas Billings, an ex-cowboy turned secretary for Tyler’s father, bearing a striking resemblance to the author himself, Burroughs. Finally, "Out of Time's Abyss" features the laconic Lieutenant Bradley, a sailor of few words. True to Burroughs's signature style, these characters aren’t deeply explored beyond the essentials needed to explain their presence in the mysterious land of Caspak.

Burroughs unapologetically sprinkles his narratives with eye-popping coincidences, and Bowen Tyler's tale is no exception. As the offspring of a shipbuilding tycoon, Tyler is keen to contribute to the Allied efforts in World War I. En route to test his mettle with the Lafayette Escadrille, his ship falls prey to a German U-boat. Amidst the chaos, he saves a captivating young woman named Lys La Rue, only for both to be rescued by a British tug. The plot thickens when destiny throws them back into the path of the very submarine that attacked them. The tugboat’s crew feigns surrender, only to launch a surprise assault, overpowering the Germans in a fierce melee. By a twist of fate, the submarine was crafted by Tyler’s own company, granting him intimate knowledge of its operations. More intriguingly, the U-boat’s captain, Baron von Schoenvorts, is revealed to be Lys’s fiancé. Caught in a storm of emotions, Tyler grapples with jealousy and suspicion, particularly when the submarine’s navigation is sabotaged.

Tyler emerges as a natural leader, brokering peace between the British and German crews and assuming command of the submarine as they venture into Caspak. Within this prehistoric realm, he orchestrates the construction of a stone fortress, fortifying his team against the lurking threats of dinosaurs and ape-men. He also spearheads food expeditions and dispatches Lieutenant Bradley on explorations of the island’s mysteries, searching for an escape route. Betrayal strikes when Baron von Schoenvorts, having refined crude oil for fuel, turns the submarine’s firepower on their fort before fleeing. Tyler’s resourcefulness is tested further as Bradley’s return is delayed, and Lys is captured. He embarks on a daring rescue, confronting the complex, dangerous web of Caspak’s evolutionary tribes, each one fiercely at odds yet interconnected as they ascend the evolutionary ladder.

The People of Caspak

Caspak’s inhabitants present a fascinating blend of savagery and sophistication. The Alu, the most primitive, wield only clubs and exist at the foundation of human evolution in this land. Just like the other tribes, their society is male-dominated, and they cast envious eyes upon the women of more advanced lineages. Nestled in the south, or the "beginning" in Caspakian language, the Alu mark the start of human transformation. To the north, evolution branches along the east and west sides of a vast sea, manifesting in mirrored tribes. Next in line are the Stolu, one tribe on each side of the waters, identified by their hatchet weapons. They reside in caves and articulate in the most rudimentary Caspakian speech, the Alu being "speechless." Progressing up the chain, the Band-lu evolve, skilled with knives and clad in rudimentary animal skin clothing. The Kro-lu, spear bearers and resembling the ancient Cro-Magnons, follow. Eventually, the Galu emerge, with most completing the full cycle of evolution, though a select few are born naturally, known as "no-egg-men" or Cos-ata-lu. These diverse tribes challenge and engage Tyler and Lys as they strive to survive in this perilous world.

Tyler's Romantic Struggles

While Tyler commands great authority, he finds himself at a loss for words around women, his relationship with Lys clouded by his own prudishness. Though blessed with the affection of a remarkable woman, he hesitates to return her love, preoccupied with fears of overstepping boundaries. Lys, intelligent and brave, grows frustrated by Tyler’s baseless suspicions and his hesitance to embrace their bond. Unlike Tyler, she adapts swiftly to the challenges of Caspak, undeterred by the unavoidable nudity their adventures demand, focusing instead on survival in a land rife with dangers.

In "The Land That Time Forgot," a novella teeming with intrigue and danger, the antagonists include a treacherous agent named Benson, the archetypal Prussian officer Baron von Schoenvorts, and several Caspakian natives with sinister intentions. These natives yearn to kill Tyler and Lys for resembling the Galus or covet Lys as a prospective mate. Among these malefactors, Benson emerges as the most thoroughly developed, though his lack of subtlety is apparent. Astute readers will discern Benson's treachery long before Tyler, with his rather oblivious disposition, realizes that Benson is the saboteur undermining the submarine and fomenting discord among the British crew. Benson harbors a deep-seated grievance against Tyler's kin, stemming from his dismissal from their shipyard, and has turned into a German operative due to his disdain for Americans. His malevolent schemes nearly culminate in the demise of Tyler and the British crew as he endeavors to restore German dominion over the submarine. Contrasting Benson's complexity, Baron von Schoenvorts is a one-dimensional depiction of a Prussian officer, devoid of any compelling motivation akin to Benson's backstory. Unflinching and unperturbed even when his fiancée rejects him due to his merciless torpedoing of a passenger vessel, the Baron punishes his subordinates ruthlessly, breaching all trust bestowed upon him. His ignoble end comes as his own sailors, weary of his tyranny, refuse to battle the British on his behalf.

The Protagonists

Narrated through the eyes of Tyler, "The Land That Time Forgot" immerses readers in his world, providing a vivid lens into his adventures. Its sequel, "The People That Time Forgot," follows suit with Thomas Billings, Tyler's father's dauntless personal secretary, steering the narrative. Billings embarks on a daring quest to uncover Tyler's fate after the unexpected recovery of Tyler's manuscript chronicling the mysteries of Caspak. Piloting a biplane across the enigmatic land, he faces off against a colossal pterodactyl, ultimately crashing near a young woman in peril. This woman is Ajor, chief of the Galu's daughter, pursued by primeval tribesmen. Ajor's saga is one of survival, having escaped the clutches of the Wieroo and been stranded far from familiar ground. As a Cos-ata-lu, she possesses the unique ability to bear children for both Wieroo and humans. Her courage, beauty, and adventurous spirit resonate with Billings, who falls for her instantly, recognizing in her a kindred spirit beneath her grime and tattered garments. This insight reflects well on Billings, affirming his shrewd judgment of character. An eloquent and literate man, his accounts of these adventures are vividly penned, enriched by his cowboy roots, which equip him with a fearless love for physical challenges. His expertise with a rifle and skill in taming wild horses prove invaluable in navigating the myriad dangers surrounding them both.

Bradley and "Out of Time's Abyss"

The saga's third installment, "Out of Time's Abyss," shifts to a third-person narrative, spotlighting Bradley, a character whose terse prose was briefly introduced in the preceding novella. Burroughs finds himself constrained by Bradley's portrayal as a lackluster writer, precluding a transformation into a dynamic storyteller for this continuation. Consequently, the immediacy and shared thrill of adventure with the protagonist diminish with this narrative shift. However, the plot gains a tighter focus, woven with the recurring motif of romantic love.

The Theme of Love

Throughout "The Land That Time Forgot," romantic love serves as a steadfast motivator for the protagonists. In the initial novella, suspense hinges on whether Lys will lower her defenses and if Tyler will find the courage to voice his feelings, as Burroughs teases readers with moments ripe for confession, only to shatter them with fresh perils, like Lys's abduction. "The People That Time Forgot" presents a seemingly assured love between Billings and Ajor, yet complications arise from Billings's presumptions about civilization and Ajor's perceived primitiveness. Their romance remains tense until Billings reconciles his beliefs, acknowledging Ajor's superiority to any woman he had met in California. Of the three heroes, Bradley ultimately savors the most fulfilling romantic connection, offering a satisfying conclusion to the series.

Perilous Exploration in Caspak

In "The Land That Time Forgot," when Tyler dispatches him and his crew to unravel the mysteries of Caspak, they find themselves besieged under the shroud of night by the ominous Wieroo. These creatures, with their piercing night vision, strike fear into the hearts of his men, who tremble and whisper of ghosts and spirits. The relentless threats of Caspak have shaken them to their core, leaving them vulnerable to these winged assailants. Two of his men, surrendering to despair, fall prey to the island's insatiable beasts. One fateful night, while on watch, Bradley is ambushed; a cunning distraction by one Wieroo allows another to seize him. Spirited away to the island of Oo-oh, he finds himself imprisoned in a peculiar chamber atop an extraordinary city. The Wieroo, collectors of skulls, adorn their slender cities with the bones of their enemies and their kin, weaving them into the fabric of walls and doorways. As creatures of the sky, ground-level paths are unnecessary; instead, their homes have roof entrances for aerial ingress. Though a few rare buildings, like the dining hall Bradley frequents, boast ground-level doors. Lacking technological prowess, the Wieroo overlook Bradley's pistol, an oversight that grants him a peculiar advantage.

Struggles and Defiance

Bradley's predicament soon deepens. Besieged by a flock of Wieroo, he lashes out, an act that violates their sacred rule—no outsider may lay hands upon them, though they freely harm each other. Enraged, his captor retaliates, only to meet his end at Bradley's hands. As he plots his escape, Bradley encounters a Galu woman, abducted to become a subservient mate for Him Who Speaks for Luata—a fate wrapped in grim foreboding. Within this tale's unfolding, Bradley stumbles upon a nursery—a prison of sorts, where Cos-ata-lo Galu women dwell in confinement with their Wieroo offspring, trapped beneath the earth in cramped quarters.

Escape and New Beginnings

Indomitable and resolute, Bradley orchestrates his escape from a hellish cell, and fate leads him to the temple of the city, where he encounters the girl named Co-Tan. Brave and defiant, Co-Tan yearns to flee from the abominable future as a Wieroo breeder. Bradley's practicality shines through as he navigates perilous skirmishes with a steady hand, and when peace reigns, he refrains from needless confrontation. Together, they discover a refuge at a river's head, a sanctuary shielded from the Wieroo's reach, where they revel in tender affection. Ultimately, they, like the star-crossed lovers of other tales, confess their love. Co-Tan, though her worldview is bounded by Caspak's horizons, chooses to leave the island with Bradley upon his rescue. Ajor, also driven by love, follows suit, making both women poignant figures at the close of "Out of Time's Abyss," as they depart from family ties for a world they can scarcely imagine.