Let's get into it. 'Out of Time's Abyss' is the third book in Edgar Rice Burroughs's 'Caspak' series, but you can absolutely jump in here. The story follows Lieutenant Bradley, separated from his expedition on the prehistoric continent of Caspak. His rescue mission goes horribly wrong when he's captured by the Weiroo—pale, bat-like humanoids with a chillingly advanced society.

The Story

Bradley is taken to their island city of Oo-oh, a place of stone towers and strange science. He's not thrown in a simple cage; he's studied, examined like an animal. He quickly learns the Weiroo have a horrifying goal: they are trying to steal the human 'life spark' to achieve immortality for their own dying race. Bradley finds an ally in a fellow captive, a brave native woman named Co-Tan. Their fight for survival becomes a race against time, blending desperate prison breaks, tense hideouts in the city's underbelly, and a final, frantic bid for freedom across a deadly landscape. It's a straightforward chase story at its heart, but the setting makes it extraordinary.

Why You Should Read It

What I love about this book is how it shifts gears. It starts as a classic lost-world tale and morphs into a gripping sci-fi horror. The Weiroo are genuinely creepy villains—not mindless monsters, but intelligent, cruel, and motivated by a logic that makes their actions even scarier. Bradley is a great Burroughs hero: pragmatic, tough, and relentlessly resourceful. His partnership with Co-Tan feels genuine, a bond built on mutual respect in the face of horror. Burroughs's imagination is in top form, building a world that feels both fantastical and grimly believable.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who craves pure, imaginative adventure with a dark edge. If you enjoy the 'anything can happen' spirit of old pulp magazines, the relentless pace of a survival thriller, or just a really cool, creepy monster concept, you'll have a blast. It's a fast, fun, and surprisingly intense escape into one of adventure fiction's most memorable nightmare worlds.