--- In allplanets-hollow@y..., "Hazel" <lunaticfringe@b...> wrote:
Mike, If what you have said is true, and it probably is, then
surely the
same must be said of Etidorhpa and the suppossed reptile
man, etc.? However,
these 'mythical' novels have an uncanny resemblance to 'know'
facts, such
as, these realms are subterranean, habitats of prehistoric
creatures, the
home of giants, and a very sacred land? Yours, Reproved,
Hazel.
Dear Hazel,
I think that we are talking about degrees of quality and meaning.
"Zanthodon," for instance, was based wholly of Burrough's work,
and Lin Carter gladly acknowledged this as he was a huge fan of
Burroughs. But Burrough's Pellucidar, on the other hand, had
much more depth, took a hard look at the science behind the
hollow earth concept, etc. It was based on the work of Symmes,
primarily, but Burroughs had obviously done a great deal of
research on the topic. Like Verne, he populated the inner world
with prehistoric reptiles, including reptilian humanoids.
The trick here is to follow the tradition or thread. Verne, as some
have postulated, seems to have been a member of many secret
societies, and thus disguised many "truths" as fiction or else
strongly hinted at them in his books. So did H.G. Wells, and the
"visionary" power of both men may have been due to their
involvement with certain esoteric, secret-knowledge societies.
So Verne's inner world of reptiles (very likely a model or
inspiration for Burroughs), along with Well's allusion to an
unseen cavern world which manipulates surface humanity
(demonstrated in The Time Machine through his "fable" of the
Eloi and the dero-like Morlocks) might very well be attempts on
their part to "tell" us all something, without really coming out and
saying. For instance, The Time Machine predicted many events
of the 20th century with amazing accuracy, and Verne's work
predicted the Submarine, the Lunar Capsule, a form of nuclear
power, and so on. I think that, given the underhanded
shenanigans and cover-ups in the world today, we would all do
well to get a copy of The Time Machine and re-read the section
about the Morlocks. Wells was definitely trying to tell us
something!
The same thing can be said for Lloyd's Etidorpha. The
information presented parallels much "traditional" and "esoteric"
schools of thought, including but not limited to the cavern worlds,
the change in matter density at different levels, the inner
concavity ("hollow earth") and so on. The physics and the
philosophy presented both indicate an uncanny knowledge of
supposedly "secret" or "mystical" traditions. The very name
Etidorpha, which is Aphrodite spelled backwards, may be a hint
from the start that the book is an allegorical puzzle to be solved,
and may be based in fact.
Carter's work--all of his fiction--was pure escapist fantasy, and
there's nothing wrong with that. But he came nowhere near the
level of a Burroughs, Verne or Wells in terms of quality,
originality, or of "hinting" or telling secret or largely-unknown
things. He was purely an imitator, and that's pretty much the
reputation he has today in the scifi-fantasy world.
There are books like those of Verne, Wells, Lloyd, Emerson and
others which seem to be fiction overlaying truth (possibly for the
author's own protection, for instance in the interest of not
breaking a secret society oath or vow), or else they ARE truth,
disguised as fiction. Books like this aren't too numerous, but
they're out there. I believe Leslee mentioned Lewis Carroll, and
he, too, seems to have been hinting at some greater concealed
reality.....
The inside of the Earth may be a place with many cavities,
caverns, layers, levels, and an ultimate hollowness at the center.
If so, there might be room for both good and evil there, in
numerous forms, of numerous types....
--Mike
