Pellucidar Books in Order

The Recommended Pellucidar Reading Path

For the best experience, we strongly recommend reading the Pellucidar series in its original publication order. Edgar Rice Burroughs built his subterranean setting chronologically, with later books introducing characters, technology, and factions established in the earlier volumes. Reading them out of order will spoil major plot points, including the outcomes of regional wars and the fates of key explorers.

Because the overarching story relies on a continuous timeline—from the first drilling of the mechanical 'Iron Mole' to the establishment of the Empire of Pellucidar—the standard order ensures you do not miss how the hollow Earth evolves. Here is the recommended path through the core novels:

1. At the Earth's Core (1914) – The essential starting point where David Innes and Abner Perry first breach the Earth's crust.
2. Pellucidar (1915) – The direct sequel tracking David's struggle to build an empire and rescue his love, Dian the Beautiful.
3. Tanar of Pellucidar (1928) – The story shifts focus to Tanar, a native warrior, and introduces the pirate Korsars, establishing radio contact with the outer world.
4. Tarzan at the Earth's Core (1929) – The famous crossover where Tarzan leads an expedition to the hollow Earth to rescue David Innes.
5. Back to the Stone Age (1937) – A spin-off focusing on Lieutenant Wilhelm von Horst, an outer-world explorer left behind by Tarzan's expedition.
6. Land of Terror (1944) – Follows David Innes as he struggles to return home through strange, hostile territories after getting separated during a search mission.
7. Savage Pellucidar (1963) – A posthumously published collection of four interconnected stories detailing new adventures of Innes and others.

The Core Novels Explained

At the Earth's Core (1914)

This is where the adventure begins. Mining heir David Innes and inventor Abner Perry construct the 'Iron Mole,' a massive prospector vehicle designed to drill deep into the Earth. Instead of encountering solid rock, they break through to a hollow inner world. Pellucidar is a prehistoric jungle where the sun sits perpetually at the zenith, casting no shadows and making time meaningless. Humans here are kept as slaves by the Mahars—highly intelligent, telepathic, flying reptilian descendants of the pterodactyls. David must unite the scattered human tribes, spark a revolution, and win the heart of Dian the Beautiful.

Pellucidar (1915)

Picking up immediately after the cliffhanger of the first book, David returns to the inner world only to find his efforts in ruins. Dian has been abducted, and the human alliance has collapsed. To rebuild his dream of a unified Empire of Pellucidar, David must travel across the wild landscape, battle savage tribes, and track down the rival who stole his love. This volume cements the geography and politics of the central Empire.

Tanar of Pellucidar (1928)

Set generationally after the initial conquest, this book shifts the spotlight to Tanar, the son of David's close ally Ghak. Tanar is captured by the Korsars, a group of ruthless pirates who are descendants of surface-world buccaneers who entered the hollow Earth via a polar opening centuries ago. The narrative introduces the concept of radio communication between the inner and outer worlds, setting the stage for the series' most famous crossover.

Tarzan at the Earth's Core (1929)

When David Innes is captured by the Korsars, Abner Perry's radio distress call reaches the surface world. Tarzan of the Apes answers the call. Commissioning a giant dirigible called the O-220, Tarzan leads an expedition of surface-world soldiers and explorers through the North Polar opening into Pellucidar. This classic crossover blends the survival skills of Tarzan with the prehistoric dangers of the hollow Earth, though Tarzan eventually becomes separated from his crew, leading directly into the next book.

Back to the Stone Age (1937)

Initially serialized as Seven Worlds to Conquer, this entry shifts focus entirely to Wilhelm von Horst, a member of Tarzan’s expedition who was left behind in the subterranean wilderness. Von Horst must survive on his own, navigate alien tribes, and find a way back to the empire. It is a fantastic survival adventure that expands the lore of Pellucidar beyond the main characters.

Land of Terror (1944)

This novel is unique because it was published directly in book form during World War II rather than starting as a magazine serial. The story follows David Innes, who gets lost while trying to locate the missing von Horst. David faces bizarre new dangers, including the Oog giant tribe and the horrific, brain-eating Ruva savages. It is a darker, more episodic adventure that shows the vastness and terrors of the inner world.

Savage Pellucidar (1963)

Published thirteen years after Burroughs' death, this book compiles four interconnected stories originally written in the early 1940s: 'The Return to Pellucidar,' 'Men of the Bronze Age,' 'Tiger Girl,' and the title story 'Savage Pellucidar.' The stories follow various perspectives, including David Innes and a new surface-world explorer, and bring a satisfying, action-packed conclusion to Burroughs' original run.

Understanding Chronological Caveats

While the publication order is the most straightforward way to read the series, there is a minor chronological overlap regarding the final two books. Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the stories that make up Savage Pellucidar in 1941 and 1942, before he wrote Land of Terror. However, due to the chaos of World War II and Burroughs' later passing, the stories in Savage Pellucidar remained unpublished in book form until 1963.

Because the events of Savage Pellucidar flow directly from the early 1940s writing sessions, some readers prefer to read it before Land of Terror. However, because Land of Terror functions well as a standalone survival story and was available to the public first, reading in publication order remains the safest and most satisfying choice. The temporal weirdness of Pellucidar—where a central sun means there is no night, no seasons, and time is entirely subjective—makes precise chronological mapping a fun but ultimately secondary concern for readers.

Tie-Ins, Spin-Offs, and the Expanded Universe

Pellucidar did not end with Burroughs' death. The franchise has seen several officially authorized sequels and expansions that are considered canon by fans of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe (ERBU):

• The Holmes Pastiches: In 1976, science fiction writer John Eric Holmes wrote Mahars of Pellucidar, an authorized sequel featuring a new protagonist, Christopher Yatman, who must deal with a lingering Mahar rebellion. A second book, Red Axe of Pellucidar, was written in 1980 but blocked from publication for decades. It was finally officially authorized and published by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. in 2022.
• The Modern ERB Universe: Recently, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. launched an expanded literary universe. Win Scott Eckert wrote Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar (2020), which connects the hollow Earth to other Burroughs properties, while Christopher Paul Carey penned Victory Harben: Fires of Halos (2022) and the short story 'Pellucidar: Dark of the Sun,' expanding on the mythology of the inner world.

Practical Reader Advice

If you are looking to start, you must begin with At the Earth's Core. Attempting to jump directly into the Tarzan crossover, for example, will leave you confused about the rules of the world, the nature of the Mahars, and the technology of the Empire. Fortunately, the first two books are often packaged together and are widely available in the public domain.

While Back to the Stone Age and Land of Terror function reasonably well as standalone adventures, the first four books form a tightly wound tetralogy that should not be disrupted. Keep an open mind regarding the pulp-era language and pacing, and prepare yourself for one of the most imaginative settings in classic science fiction.