Following a shipwreck on a remote South Sea island, Humphrey Arbuthnot and two companions discover a subterranean civilization where two ancient beings, Bastin and Bickley, remain in a state of suspended animation. These survivors from an antediluvian past, the Oro and his daughter Yva, possess advanced scientific knowledge and mental powers that far exceed modern intelligence. Oro, a master of planetary mechanics and occult engineering, seeks to reset the world's axis and destroy current humanity to rebuild his lost empire.
This story serves readers interested in the bridge between Victorian lost-world adventure and early cosmic horror. It appeals to those fascinated by the conflict between rigid scientific materialism and spiritual mysticism. Readers gain a perspective on early twentieth-century anxieties regarding global destruction and the fragile nature of civilization. The narrative provides a specific look at the speculative idea that prehistoric technology could rival or surpass modern engineering, leaving the reader with a grim meditation on human survival and historical cycles.
Practical, outward-looking, clear-cut and escapist; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1919
- Language
- EN
