David Innes, a wealthy mine owner, and Dr. Abner Perry, a paleontologist and inventor, embark on an extraordinary journey into the Earth's core using Perry's "Iron Mole," a rocket-powered burrowing machine[1]. During a test bore, the machine goes out of control, plunging them deep beneath the surface[1]. Their descent is marked by drastic temperature fluctuations, from 110 degrees Fahrenheit at four miles deep to 10 degrees below zero in ice strata, before rising again to 153 degrees at 400 miles[1]. Perry theorizes that at 250 miles, they passed the Earth's center of gravity, causing their seats to revolve and effectively changing their "downward" progress to an "upward" one towards the inner world's surface[1]. The prospector eventually comes to a halt exactly 500 miles from the Earth's surface, bringing them to the hidden land of Pellucidar[1].
Pellucidar is revealed as an inner world, illuminated by an "eternal noonday sun," which is a relatively tiny, superheated core of gaseous matter suspended at the Earth's exact center[1]. This central sun perpetually diffuses light and heat across the inner surface[1]. The landscape is bizarre yet beautiful, with the surface curving upward, making distant objects appear to stand on edge and merge with the sky[1]. The concept of time, as known on the outer Earth, does not exist in Pellucidar, as there are no nights, stars, or moon, and the sun remains stationary at zenith[1]. Consequently, there are no fixed directions like north, south, east, or west, only "up" being clearly defined[1]. The force of gravity is also less on Pellucidar's surface compared to the outer world[1]. Pellucidar boasts an immense land area of 124,110,000 square miles, significantly larger than the outer world's 53,000,000 square miles of land[1].
Pellucidar is teeming with prehistoric life, including colossal bear-like creatures resembling Megatherium, wolf-like hyaenodons, giant tigers known as tarags, and double-horned rhinoceros-like sadoks[1]. The seas are home to plesiosaurs (tandorazes) and ichthyosaurs (azdyryths), while the skies are dominated by giant pterodactyls called thipdars[1]. The flora includes giant arborescent ferns and primeval tropical forests[1]. Several distinct races inhabit Pellucidar. The Mahars are the dominant species, described as hideous, six to eight-foot-long reptiles with long, narrow heads, large round eyes, beak-like mouths lined with fangs, serrated bony ridges, webbed feet, and membranous wings[1]. They are deaf and communicate through a "sixth sense" or "fourth dimension"[1]. Mahars are highly intelligent, residing in sophisticated underground cities like Phutra, which are carved from solid limestone[1]. They view humans as lower orders, even breeding and fattening them for consumption[1]. Uniquely, the Mahar race consists exclusively of females, a result of a scientific discovery enabling chemical fertilization of eggs[1]. This "Great Secret" is meticulously guarded within Phutra[1]. Serving the Mahars are the Sagoths, gorilla-like men with shaggy brown hair and brutal faces, who act as guards and slave drivers[1]. They possess a spoken language[1]. Human slaves, such as Dian's tribe, are forced into manual labor; they are depicted as noble-appearing with well-formed physiques[1]. Another group, the black ape-men, are man-like creatures with dark skin, receding foreheads, long arms, short legs, and tails used for climbing, living in tree-top villages[1]. The Mezops are copper-colored island dwellers, skilled fishermen and warriors, who have a unique truce with the Mahars, supplying them with fish[1]. Lastly, the Thorians, from the "Land of Awful Shadow," are notable for riding enormous quadrupeds called "lidi"[1].
Upon their arrival, David and Perry are captured by the black ape-men and later become slaves of the Mahars in Phutra[1]. David meets Dian the Beautiful, a human woman from the Amoz tribe, and falls in love with her[1]. He also befriends Ghak the Hairy One, a loyal Sarian[1]. Perry, through studying Mahar archives, uncovers the "Great Secret" of their race: the chemical formula for egg fertilization, which is the sole means of their reproduction and is hidden in Phutra[1]. Realizing the potential for human liberation, David resolves to steal this secret[1]. During an escape attempt, David kills four Mahars and successfully retrieves the "Great Secret"[1]. He, Perry, Ghak, and the treacherous Hooja the Sly One, disguise themselves in Mahar skins to exit Phutra[1]. After escaping, they journey towards Ghak's homeland, Sari, planning to unite the human tribes against the Mahars[1]. David, with his knowledge of outer-world warfare, and Perry, with his scientific understanding, aim to teach the Pellucidarians to make advanced weapons like bows, arrows (tipped with viper venom), and eventually gunpowder and rifles[1]. David is tentatively chosen as the first emperor of Pellucidar[1].
Despite their progress, Perry realizes they lack sufficient knowledge to fully advance Pellucidar's civilization[1]. It is decided that David should return to the outer world in the prospector to gather books and scientific information[1]. Dian insists on accompanying him, eager to see his world[1]. However, just as they are about to depart, Hooja the Sly One, seeking revenge, tricks David by replacing Dian with a Mahar in the prospector's passenger seat[1]. The machine plunges into the Earth at an unexpected angle, taking David back to the Sahara Desert instead of the United States[1]. David, stranded and separated from Dian and Pellucidar, spends months waiting for a white man to find him, fearing that the shifting sands will bury the prospector, his only hope of return[1]. He attempts to lay a telegraph line between the two worlds, hoping to communicate if he ever returns to Pellucidar[1]. The narrative concludes with the uncertainty of David's fate and whether he ever reunited with Dian or returned to the inner world[1].
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