The Land That Time Forgot · Character

Bowen J. Tyler

A Santa Monica shipbuilder's son and submarine expert who traded the family yard for the Lafayette Escadrille, only to be torpedoed into a world no man has seen.

major

Also known as Bowen, Tyler, Bowen Tyler, Bowen J. Tyler, Jr., Tyler, Jr.

First appearance: Part I: The Land That Time Forgot

As a major figure in The Land That Time Forgot, Bowen J. Tyler is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Narrator and protagonist of the manuscript; survivor of the liner torpedoing.

In the storyPart I: The Land That Time ForgotOpen this moment free

Bowen Tyler knows submarines the way a mother knows her baby's face, yet his heart belongs to aviation, and it is that restless pull toward the new that puts him aboard a doomed ship in 1916. When the U-33 is captured and then lost, he must hold together a crew of enemies and allies while the sea delivers them somewhere no chart admits. His manuscript, found in a thermos bottle off Greenland, is the voice that carries the reader into Caspak.

See Bowen J. Tyler in Part I: The Land That Time Forgot Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Character Web

23 connections

A slice of how Bowen J. Tyler sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Other

Character groups

Protagonist and allies
Wieroo antagonists and crew
Protagonist

+18 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional/psychological peak occurs when the protagonist experiences his first true sense of peace and sec…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Co-tan
friendship · positive
Thomas Billings
friendship · positive
Thomas Billings
friendship · positive
Co-tan
friendship · positive

Co-tan
Bowen J. Tyler and Co-tan are acquaintances, with Tyler interacting with her as part of the group's dealings with natives.
Thomas Billings
Bowen J. Tyler and Thomas Billings are fellow explorers and friends, sharing a common goal of survival and discovery.
Thomas Billings
Bowen J. Tyler and Thomas Billings are fellow explorers and friends, sharing a common goal of survival and discovery.
Co-tan
Bowen J. Tyler and Co-tan are acquaintances, with Tyler interacting with her as part of the group's dealings with natives.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Bowen J. Tyler in Part I: The Land That Time Forgot

In the story

Bowen J. Tyler appears across 18 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Part I: The Land That Time Forgot
Narrator and protagonist of the manuscript; survivor of the liner torpedoing.
I
Narrator and author of the manuscript; survivor of the torpedoed liner; rescues a young woman from the sea.
II
Takes command of the captured U-boat, reveals his knowledge of submarines, and saves Lys from drowning.
III
Captain of the U-33; investigates sabotage and struggles with suspicion of Lys.
IV
Narrator and commander of the U-33; leads the river exploration, hunts a plesiosaur, and discovers the subterranean river entrance.
V
Narrates the chapter, commands the U-33, and proposes a truce between the English and German crew.
VI
Narrator and leader; oversees camp construction, confronts von Schoenvorts over his brutality, and expresses his love for Lys.
VII
Narrator and protagonist; alone on the cliff, he writes his final entry and recounts the German betrayal and Lys's abduction.
VIII
Narrator; gets lost while hunting, rescues Lys, and defends her in a cave.
IX
Narrator and protagonist; uses jujutsu and rifle to escape capture; searches for Lys among the Sto-lu.
The Last Message
Narrates from his cliff cave; rescues Lys and kills Kho; marries Lys.
Part II: The People That Time Forgot
The missing friend whom Billings is seeking.
I
The missing son of Bowen J. Tyler Sr., whose manuscript provides the only knowledge of Caprona and Caspak. He is presumed to be still alive somewhere in the crater world.
II
The primary rescue target; Billings reflects on his college friendship with Bowen and his manuscript describing Caspak.
III
Mentioned as having previously noted the absence of young among Caspak's races; his narrative is referenced.
The Oath of Allegiance
Narrates the chapter; learns the Caspakian oath, accepts To-mar's friendship, and kills a cave-lion with his rifle to save So-al.
V
Rescues Chal-az from the Band-lu, demonstrates marksmanship, and learns about Ajor's background and the political situation in Caspak.
VII
Narrator and protagonist; searches for Ajor, hunts with Nobs, and rescues Ajor from Du-seen.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Bowen J. Tyler unlock in the free preview.

See Bowen J. Tyler in Part I: The Land That Time Forgot