Strong characterizations help elevate The Land That Time Forgot above the standard adventure yarn. Tyler, the protagonist of the first novella, is a typical Burroughs hero; he is somewhat bland, but gifted with leadership qualities that make those around him willing to follow wherever he leads. A bit prudish, he finds it difficult to accept the Caspakians' casual nudity. It is not Tyler's value system that Burroughs calls into question, but rather the rigidity of his outlook; under the circumstances—a land where men and women run around without any clothes on as a matter of course—Tyler's opinions about proper behavior are impractical and silly.

Lys starts the novella as a fairly stereotypical Burroughs heroine; she is beautiful, fair, and in need of the hero's protection. However, as the plot advances, she grows into another standard Burroughs type—the strong, capable woman...