Excerpt

Excerpt from Pellucidar, by Edgar Rice Burroughs

When Juag saw me fondling the great beast he was filled with
consternation, but I did not have much time to spare to Raja while my
mind was filled with the grief of my new loss. I was glad to see the
brute, and I lost no time in taking him to Juag and making him
understand that Juag, too, was to be Raja’s friend. With the female the
matter was more difficult, but Raja helped us out by growling savagely
at her whenever she bared her fangs against us.

I told Juag of the disappearance of Dian, and of my suspicions as to
the explanation of the catastrophe. He wanted to start right out after
her, but I suggested that with Raja to help me it might be as well were
he to remain and skin the thag, remove its bladder, and then return to
where we had hidden the canoe on the beach. And so it was arranged that
he was to do this and await me there for a reasonable time. I pointed
to a great lake upon the surface of the pendent world above us, telling
him that if after this lake had appeared four times I had not returned
to go either by water or land to Sari and fetch Ghak with an army.
Then, calling Raja after me, I set out after Dian and her abductor.
First I took the wolf dog to the spot where the man had fought with
Dian. A few paces behind us followed Raja’s fierce mate. I pointed to
the ground where the evidences of the struggle were plainest and where
the scent must have been strong to Raja’s nostrils.

Then I grasped the remnant of leash that hung about his neck and urged
him forward upon the trail. He seemed to understand. With nose to
ground he set out upon his task. Dragging me after him, he trotted
straight out upon the Lidi Plains, turning his steps in the direction
of the Thurian village. I could have guessed as much!

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Explanation

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Context of the Source

Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Pellucidar (1914) is the second book in his Pellucidar series, a subgenre of his broader Hollow Earth adventures. The novel follows David Innes, an American explorer who discovers a subterranean world called Pellucidar, where prehistoric creatures and primitive human tribes coexist. The excerpt comes from a moment when Innes, accompanied by his ally Juag (a cave-dweller) and a massive, tamed wolf-dog named Raja, pursues Dian the Beautiful—a woman he cares for—after she is abducted by a rival.

Burroughs’ work is a classic example of pulp adventure fiction, blending swashbuckling action, exotic settings, and heroic protagonists with elements of lost-world fantasy and prehistoric survival. Themes of loyalty, survival, and the struggle between civilization and savagery permeate the series, and this passage reflects those concerns while advancing the plot through tracking, animal companionship, and strategic planning.

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Breakdown of the Excerpt

1. Character Dynamics & Emotional State

• "When Juag saw me fondling the great beast he was filled with consternation..."

  • Juag’s reaction suggests cultural or personal unease around Raja, the giant wolf-dog. In Pellucidar, where humans coexist with dangerous beasts, taming such a creature is unusual, even alarming.
  • "I did not have much time to spare to Raja while my mind was filled with the grief of my new loss."
    • The narrator (David Innes) is emotionally distracted—his priority is Dian’s abduction, not bonding with Raja. This establishes his determination and urgency, a common trait in Burroughs’ heroes.
    • The phrase "new loss" implies Dian’s abduction is part of a pattern of hardship, reinforcing the perilous nature of Pellucidar.

• "I was glad to see the brute, and I lost no time in taking him to Juag and making him understand that Juag, too, was to be Raja’s friend."

  • Innes asserts dominance over Raja, demonstrating his ability to control and direct even a fearsome beast. This aligns with the colonial/adventurer trope—the white protagonist as the natural leader.
  • The rapid establishment of alliances (man-beast, man-man) is crucial in survival narratives.

• "With the female the matter was more difficult..."

  • Raja’s mate is hostile, requiring physical intimidation (Raja’s growls) to enforce cooperation. This mirrors the hierarchical, violent nature of Pellucidar, where strength dictates order.

2. Plot Advancement & Strategic Planning

• "I told Juag of the disappearance of Dian, and of my suspicions as to the explanation of the catastrophe."

  • The "catastrophe" (Dian’s abduction) is treated as a personal and immediate crisis, driving the narrative forward.
  • Innes’ suspicions (likely involving rival tribes or creatures) set up the mystery and conflict of the pursuit.

• "He wanted to start right out after her, but I suggested that with Raja to help me it might be as well were he to remain..."

  • Juag’s impulsive desire to act contrasts with Innes’ strategic thinking—a common dynamic in adventure fiction where the "civilized" hero outplans the "savage" ally.
  • The division of labor (Juag skins the thag—a monstrous creature—while Innes tracks Dian) ensures efficiency, a hallmark of Burroughs’ practical heroes.

• "I pointed to a great lake upon the surface of the pendent world above us, telling him that if after this lake had appeared four times I had not returned..."

  • The "pendent world" refers to Pellucidar’s inner-world geography, where the "sky" is actually the concave interior of the Earth, with landmasses floating above.
  • The lake’s appearances serve as a timekeeping device—since Pellucidar has no sun, natural phenomena replace clocks. This reinforces the alien, prehistoric setting.
  • The four-lake deadline creates tension—will Innes return in time, or will Juag need to summon reinforcements?

3. The Tracking Scene & Animal Intelligence

• "First I took the wolf dog to the spot where the man had fought with Dian... I pointed to the ground where the evidences of the struggle were plainest..."

  • Innes uses Raja’s keen senses (smell) to track the abductor, a primitive but effective detective method.
  • The physical traces of struggle (disturbed ground, scent) make the abduction tangible and urgent.

• "Then I grasped the remnant of leash that hung about his neck and urged him forward upon the trail. He seemed to understand."

  • The leash remnant suggests Raja was previously controlled or domesticated, hinting at a backstory (perhaps Innes tamed him earlier).
  • Raja’s apparent comprehension anthropomorphizes him, a common trope in adventure fiction where animals act as loyal, intelligent companions (e.g., dogs in The Call of the Wild).

• "With nose to ground he set out upon his task. Dragging me after him, he trotted straight out upon the Lidi Plains, turning his steps in the direction of the Thurian village."

  • The immediate, decisive action (Raja pulling Innes) conveys momentum and inevitability—the chase is on.
  • The Thurian village is likely the abductor’s destination, introducing a new faction or enemy. The Lidi Plains (a known location in Pellucidar) ground the pursuit in the world’s geography.

• "I could have guessed as much!"

  • Innes’ exclamation suggests he already suspected the Thurians, reinforcing his intuitive heroism—he’s always one step ahead.

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Themes in the Excerpt

1. Survival & Adaptation

   • Innes and Juag improvise (using Raja, setting deadlines) to navigate Pellucidar’s dangers. The world demands quick thinking and resourcefulness.

2. Loyalty & Companionship

   • The bond between man and beast (Innes and Raja) is central. Raja’s obedience contrasts with the hostility of his mate, showing that trust must be earned.
   • Juag’s willingness to follow Innes’ plan reinforces hierarchical loyalty, a theme in Burroughs’ works where "lesser" characters defer to the hero.

3. Civilization vs. Savagery

   • Innes represents order and strategy, while Juag and the beasts embody instinct and impulsiveness. The taming of Raja symbolizes the imposition of human will on nature.

4. The Pursuit of the Beloved

   • Dian’s abduction is a classic damsel-in-distress trope, but Burroughs frames it as a personal quest, not just a rescue. Innes’ grief and determination humanize him amid the pulp action.

5. The Alien World

   • The pendent world, the thag, the Lidi Plains—all reinforce Pellucidar’s strangeness. The lack of conventional timekeeping (using the lake’s appearances) immerses the reader in this prehistoric, otherworldly setting.

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Literary Devices

1. Foreshadowing

   • The Thurian village is named as the likely destination, hinting at future conflicts or revelations.
   • The four-lake deadline creates suspense—will Innes succeed in time?

2. Anthropomorphism

   • Raja is given human-like understanding ("he seemed to understand"), making him more than just a tool—he’s a companion with agency.

3. Sensory Imagery

   • "Where the evidences of the struggle were plainest and where the scent must have been strong to Raja’s nostrils."
     • The visual (disturbed ground) and olfactory (scent) details immerse the reader in the tracking scene.

4. Contrast

   • Innes’ calm planning vs. Juag’s impulsiveness
   • Raja’s loyalty vs. his mate’s hostility

5. Pulp Adventure Tropes

   • The heroic tracker (Innes)
   • The loyal beast (Raja)
   • The damsel in distress (Dian)
   • The exotic, dangerous world (Pellucidar)

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Significance of the Passage

1. Advances the Plot

   • The excerpt sets up the chase, a key sequence in adventure narratives. The reader is now invested in whether Innes will rescue Dian.

2. Develops Character

   • Innes is resourceful, determined, and emotionally vulnerable—unlike a purely stoic hero.
   • Juag’s loyalty and simplicity contrast with Innes’ strategic mind.

3. World-Building

   • The details of Pellucidar’s geography (Lidi Plains, pendent world) and creatures (thag, wolf-dogs) deepen the immersive fantasy setting.

4. Reinforces Themes

   • The struggle against nature and rival humans is central to Burroughs’ work. This passage embodies the survivalist ethos of the series.

5. Reflects Burroughs’ Style

   • Fast-paced, action-driven prose with minimal introspection—typical of pulp fiction.
   • Clear hero-villain dynamics (Innes vs. the abductor/Thurians).
   • Exotic, larger-than-life elements (giant wolf-dogs, inner-world geography).

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Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters

This passage is a microcosm of Pellucidar’s appeal:

• It blends action, emotion, and world-building seamlessly.
• It showcases Burroughs’ knack for pacing—every sentence drives the story forward.
• It reinforces the themes of survival, loyalty, and the clash between man and nature.
• It immerses the reader in a strange yet vivid world, making the fantastic feel tangible.

For fans of adventure fiction, lost-world tales, or early 20th-century pulp, this excerpt is a perfect example of Burroughs’ enduring storytelling—simple on the surface, but rich in imagery, tension, and mythic heroism.