Although eclectic and complex, Capek's novel borrows principally from two literary forms: the technological dystopia and the adventure story. Dissimilar as they may be, a conspicuous link between them is their treatment of characters. In the dystopian tradition the focus is often on broader societal trends which individuals and their peripeties tend to reflect and exemplify. In the adventure story the emphasis is on exciting and colourful action, frequently at the expense of psychological depth or extensive character individuation. Moreover, the genre often relies on its stock of robust and colourful character types associated with recurrent geographical settings, such as the African interior or the South Seas.

Capek's novel brilliantly evokes and at the same time parodies the diverse conventions of the adventure story, including some of its readily identifiable character types.

Captain van Toch, the first of the subordinate players in the global drama of Warwith the...