Book excerpt: Northern Russia 1924: The Red Army is eliminating those who resist the fledg-ling Soviet government. At The Battle of the Plutonian Plain, the White Russian forces, do not fall, instead retreating into the dangers of Pellucidar. Mikhail Kirillivitch Kirov, a young conscript caught up in this mad scheme, is fascinated by this new world. He finds Pellucidar's Stone Age landscape and inhabitants a revela-tion-until he's grabbed by a mammoth Skal and flown back to its aerie to feed its giant offspring. Thus begins Kirov's astounding adventure in the Northern environs of Pellucidar. Fantastic beasts stalk Kirov as he navigates the complex world of Pellucidar's most dangerous predator: Man. To survive, Kirov must escape slav-ery from the Beautiful Ala and her mighty Black Birdriders, foster a civil war, impress the natives with his "inven-tions," conquer the terrifying Pulka Horde, and become a warlord of several tribes as they flee the Soviet invaders.