A “lost world” adventure tale that follows a young man as he makes his way through what was once England, hundreds of years after the western nations broke off contact with the rest of the world.
An early and by far, less famous work by Mr Burroughs. Beyond Thirty (also published as “The Lost Continent”) was written in the early years of WW1, although the story takes place hundreds of years in the future, it is important to keep this in mind as it sets the tone for the book and gives you some insight into the mindset of Burroughs world at the time of its publication.
During the early days of the Great War, the western nations of the world wash their hands of the whole affair, establish a naval blockade and break off all contact with the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. This self imposed exile is kept alive by the hard fast rule that no one may travel beyond 30 degrees or 175 degrees longitude. The story itself follows the adventures of a young Naval officer after he inadvertently finds himself, his men and his flying submarine on the wrong side of this line. What awaits him in Europe 200 years after last contact? Has the war ended? If so… who won?
My favorite passage:
Presently two warriors entered. The leader exhibited a unique method of discovering my whereabouts in the darkness. He advanced slowly, kicking out viciously before him. Finally he kicked me in the face. Then he knew where I was.
