Pellucidar is the fictional internal surface of a Hollow Earth invented by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs for a series of action adventure stories. In a crossover event, Tarzan, who was also created by Burroughs, visits Pellucidar.
The stories initially involve the adventures of mining heir David Innes and his inventor friend Abner Perry after they use an "iron mole" to burrow 500 miles into the Earth's crust. Later protagonists include indigenous caveman Tanar and additional visitors from the surface world, notably Tarzan, Jason Gridley, and Frederich Wilhelm Eric von Mendeldorf und von Horst.Pulpdom, Nos. 64, 65, 66, 67, April, June, August, October, "Pellucidar Revisited" by Mike Taylor, published by Camille Cazedessus,
Geography In Burroughs' concept, the Earth is a hollow shell with Pellucidar as the internal surface of its shell. Pellucidar is accessible to the surface world via a polar tunnel, allowing passage between the inner and outer worldsBurroughs, Edgar Rice (1930). Tanar of Pellucidar. New York: Metropolitan. through which a rigid airship visits in the fourth book of the series.Burroughs, Edgar Rice (1930). Tarzan at the Earth's Core. New York: Metropolitan. Although the inner surface of the Earth has a smaller total area than the outer, Pellucidar actually has a greater land area, as its continents mirror the surface world's oceans and its oceans mirror the surface world's continents.
The peculiarities of Pellucidar's geography are caused by the concave curvature of its surface. There is no horizon; the further distant an object is, the higher it appears to be, until it is finally lost in a void of atmospheric haze.
Pellucidar is lit by a miniature sun suspended at the center of the hollow sphere, so it is perpetually overhead and gives a sensation of eternal noon wherever one is in Pellucidar. The sole exception is a region directly under a tiny geostationary moon of the internal sun. As a result, this region is under a perpetual eclipse and is known as the "Land of Awful Shadow". The moon has its own plant life and (presumably) animal life, and either has its own atmosphere or is simply suspended within Pellucidar's. The miniature sun does not change in brightness and never sets. As a result, with no night or seasonal progression, the natives have little concept of time. The events of the series suggest that time is elastic, passing at different rates in different areas of Pellucidar and varying even in single locations. Also, several characters living in Pellucidar who are originally from the outer world appear to age slowly and exhibit considerable longevity. This is known through their interactions with visitors from the outer world, where time passes at a fixed rate.
Culture Pellucidar is populated by primitive civilizations and prehistoric creatures, including dinosaurs. The region in which Innes and Perry initially find themselves is ruled by the Mahars, a species of intelligent pterosaurs resembling Rhamphorhynchus with vast psychic powers. The Mahars use telekinesis on the neighboring tribes of Stone Age humans as a way of securing their territory.Burroughs, Edgar Rice (1922). At the Earth's Core. Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co., passim. Eventually, two explorers united the tribes in overthrowing the Mahars' reign and establish a human "Empire of Pellucidar" instead.Burroughs, Edgar Rice (1923). Pellucidar. Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co., passim.
While the Mahars are the dominant species in the Pellucidar novels, these creatures are usually confined to their handful of cities. Before their downfall, the Mahars used Sagoths (a race of gorilla-men who speak the same language as Tarzan's Mangani) in enforcing their rule over any tribes who disobeyed their orders. Though Burroughs' novels suggest that the Mahars' domain is limited to one relatively small region of Pellucidar, John Eric Holmes' authorized sequel Mahars of Pellucidar indicates there are other areas ruled by Mahars.
Beyond the Mahars' domain exist independent human cultures, many of them at a Stone Age level of development. Technically, more advanced exceptions include the Korsars (corsairs), a maritime raiding society descended from surface-world Barbary pirates, and the Xexots, an indigenous Bronze Age civilization.Burroughs, Edgar Rice (1963). Savage Pellucidar. New York: Canaveral Press. All of the human inhabitants in Pellucidar share a common worldwide language.
Wildlife
Various animals reside in Pellucidar. Many of Pellucidar's fauna consist of prehistoric creatures, which are extinct on the surface world. However, some animals are creations of Edgar Rice Burroughs himself. They are listed below by outer world name (if known), Pellucidarian name (if known), and the novel in which they first appear, along with any relevant comments. Allosaurus — Pellucidarian name unknown. Ant Bear — An elephant-sized orycteropodid (which the Aardvark is a part of) which preys on the Giant Ants. It has no outer world equivalent and its Pellucidarian name is unknown. Antelopes — Pellucidarian name unknown. One antelope species resembles a common eland with spiral horns curved to the back of their ears. It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Apatosaurus — Pellucidarian name unknown. Archaeopteryx — Pellucidarian name unknown. It first appeared in Tarzan at the Earth's Core. Archelon (Tola) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Aurochs (Thag) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Aztarag — A sea creature which is nicknamed the "Tiger of the Sea". The Pellucidarian name for an unidentified outer world equivalent. Brachiosaurus — Pellucidarian name inknown. Cave bear (Ryth) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Cave hyena — Pellucidarian name unknown. It first appeared in Pellucidar. Cave lion (Ta-ho) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Deinotherium — Pellucidarian name unknown. It first appeared in Tarzan at the Earth's Core. Dimetrodon — Pellucidarian name unknown. Dimorphodon — Pellucidarian name unknown. Diplodocus (Lidi) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Dire wolf (Codon) Giant Ants — No outer world equivalent. Pellucidarian name unknown. They are six feet long and are preyed upon by the Ant Bears. Goats — They are domesticated by the Ape-Men. They first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Gomphotherium — Pellucidarian name unknown. Hyaenodon (Jalok) — A dog-like carnivore which is not related to either hyenas or wolves. They have been referred to as Wolfdogs and can be domesticated by the Ape-Men. In Pellucidar David domesticates two of them. It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Hydrophidian — A giant sea snake that is designated by Burroughs. Neither the actual outer world or Pellucidarian equivalent are known. It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Hyracotherium (Orthopi) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Ichthyosaurus (Azdyryth) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Iguanodon — Pellucidarian name unknown. Labyrinthodont (Sithic) — A giant carnivorous amphibian. It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Mastodon (Maj) — It first appeared in Tanar of Pellucidar. Megacerops (identified by its synonym Brontotherium) — Pellucidarian name unknown. Megaloceros — Pellucidarian name unknown. It first appeared in Pellucidar. Megatherium (Dyryth) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Pareiasaurus (Gorobor) — Giant lizard-like reptiles which serve as the Horibs' mode of transportation, as they are the fastest creatures in Pellucidar. They first appeared in Tarzan at the Earth's Core. Phorusrhacos (Dyal) — It first appeared in Tarzan at the Earth's Core. Plesiosaurus (Tandoraz, Ta-ho-az) — The two Pellucidarian names refer to large and small varieties. It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Polacanthus — Pellucidarian name unknown. Protoceratops — Pellucidarian name unknown. Pteranodon (Thipdar) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. They are sometimes used as the pets and guard animals of the Mahars. Pterodactylus (Thipdar) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Rhamphorhynchus (Mahar) — An oversized species of intelligent pterosaurs. It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Sharks — The sharks of Pellucidar are larger than normal sharks. It was never mentioned if these sharks are either Megalodon, Carcharodon hubbeli, or any other related prehistoric sharks. Smilodon (Tarag) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Snakes — Venomous vipers which the characters use to make poisoned arrows. They first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Stegosaurus (Dyrodor) — A carnivorous variety that able to manipulate its back plates to allow it to glide (unlike a real Stegosaurus). Styracosaurus — Pellucidarian name unknown. Tapir — Pellucidarian name unknown. Trachodon — Pellucidarian name unknown. Triceratops (Gyor) — An ill-tempered dinosaur. They are often hunted by Horibs. Trodon — Pellucidarian name for a creature with no outer world equivalent. The Trodon are dragon-like flying reptiles with pouches similar to those of kangaroos. Not to be confused with the Troodon, an actual dinosaur. It first appeared in Back to the Stone Age where it carried Von Horst to its nest in the crater of a dead volcano. Troodon — Pellucidarian name unknown. Tylosaurus — Pellucidarian name unknown. Tyrannosaurus (Zarith) — The Tyrannosaurus are one of the dominant predators in Pellucidar. Von Horst and La-Ja encountered a juvenile specimen the Forest of Death, and was about to devour a Gorbus, a member of a weird, cruel, albino race. Von Horst was able to kill the beast. La-Ja informs him that adult zarith feed on the giant Bos, the aurochs, and on the mighty mammoth. Velociraptor — Pellucidarian name unknown. Whales (referred to as "Herbivorous Cetaceans" by Perry) — The whales of Pellucidar weigh around four to five pounds, are vegetarian and brightly colored, and reside in bodies of fresh water instead of salt water, as whales do in the outer world. They first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Woolly mammoth (Tandor) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core. Some woolly mammoths are used as mounts by a tribe of natives called the Mammoth Men.Burroughs, Edgar Rice (1937). Back to the Stone Age. Tarzana, CA: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Woolly rhinoceros (Sadok) — It first appeared in At the Earth's Core.
Races and tribes Pellucidar is also inhabited by enclaves of various non-human or semi-human races one of whom are the stone age humans of the inner world. Among the known races and tribes in Pellucidar are: Ape-Men — A race of black-skinned creatures with prehensile tails, receding foreheads, long arms, and short legs who are arboreal in nature. They are known for domesticating goats and Hyaenodons. Azarians — A race of 7 ft. primitive man-eating giants with ugly faces and yellow tusk-like teeth.Burroughs, Edgar Rice (1944). Land of Terror. Tarzana, CA: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Beast-Men — Also called Brute-Men, see below. Bison Men — Also known as Ganaks, see below. Brute-Men — A peaceful 7 ft. race of ape-like farmers. They are also called Beast-Men, and sometimes called "Gorilla-Sheep" for the sheep-like appearance of their faces which go with the bull-like neck and fangs of a gorilla. Coripies — A subterranean race of 5 ft. eyeless carrion-eaters. They are also known as the Buried People. Ganaks — A race of squat stocky humanoids with long brown hair, long horns, and tails with brushy tufts at the end; they are also called the Bison Men. Despite being herbivorous, the Ganaks sometimes capture humans and sacrifice them in a morbid ritual. Gilaks — A tribe of Pellucidarian humans with enhanced homing instincts that is on the level of the Stone Age. They are sometimes slaves to the Mahars and their servants the Sagoths.