At the Earth’s Core

At the Earth’s Core is a book by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first published in 1914. It is the first novel in the Pellucidar series and introduces readers to a fantastical hidden world beneath the Earth’s surface, where time stands still and prehistoric life thrives. Combining early science fiction with lost-world adventure, the novel reflects Burroughs’ fascination with exploration, evolution, and human courage in the face of the unknown.

The story follows David Innes, heir to a mining fortune, and the brilliant but reckless inventor Abner Perry. While testing a revolutionary drilling machine known as the Iron Mole, the two men are hurled deep into the planet’s interior, emerging into Pellucidar — a vast hollow world illuminated by a miniature inner sun. There, they discover a land ruled by the intelligent but cruel Mahars, populated by enslaved humans and savage prehistoric creatures.

As Innes struggles to survive and understand this strange environment, he becomes embroiled in the conflicts of Pellucidar’s inhabitants. He allies himself with primitive human tribes and develops a bond with Dian the Beautiful, a captive whose fate becomes central to his mission. Communication without written language, the absence of night, and the constant presence of danger force Innes to adapt quickly or perish.

Blending action, romance, and imaginative world-building, At the Earth’s Core stands as a foundational work of early science fiction and adventure fantasy. Edgar Rice Burroughs, best known for creating Tarzan, brings the same sense of momentum and wonder to this underground epic, making it a compelling read for fans of classic sci-fi novels, pulp adventure stories, and lost world fiction.