Flight to Opar

Khokarsa #3

by Philip José Farmer, Bob Fowke (Illustrator)

Flight to Opar is a fantasy novel by Philip José Farmer, first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1976, and reprinted twice through 1983. The first British edition was published by Magnum in 1977.[1] The novel is a sequel to Farmer's earlier novel Hadon of Ancient Opar. Both books purport to fill in some of the ancient history of the lost city of Opar, created by Edgar Rice Burroughs as a setting for his Tarzan series.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction

223 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Philip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, but spent much of his life in Peoria, Illinois.

Farmer is best known for his Riverworld series and the earlier World of Tiers series. He is noted for his use of sexual and religious themes in his work, his fascination for and reworking of the lore of legendary pulp heroes, and occasional tongue-in-cheek pseudonymous works written as if by fictional characters.

Reviews

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had never considered Hadon of Ancient Opar to be more than a pulpy confection, so it's peculiar to see the editor discuss long-ago DAW edits, the placement of the story into Farmer's worldbuilding, and especially the lengthy appendices on language. There's deep fandom here that I don't share.

Farmer does substantially upgrade the Burroughs formula, in that the usual love story becomes a triangle: Hadon is associated with the priestess-queen Awineth but loves another, and Awineth is quite determined to make his life miserable for that. They are forced to work together to preserve their way of life and quash the civil war now raging through the empire, and Hadon is in a delicate balancing act between supporting her and eliminating a threat to his wife and unborn child.

But like Burroughs this becomes a long wilderness chase as Hadon eludes the emperor's forces and later eludes Awineth, eventually arriving in Opar. And it felt like the story only really starts once Hadon is there and takes an active role in dealing with the strife within the city, quelling the rebellion of that city's king. Escapades in the undercity are quite compelling.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent pulp adventure novel. Farmer had a particular love of Burroughs and this is right up the same alley.

Opar might sound familiar to Tarzan fans, but this story takes place several millennia before the Ape Man’s time.

A solid actioner and worth a look if you’re a big pulp fan.

The illustration on page 5 has boobs.

[Jim Kuenzli · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a shame Farmer didn’t compete this series. A ton of groundwork, society, and lore were perfectly set up in the first 2 volumes. Hadon really has quite an adventure making his way back to his home city of Opar. We get s very brief visit from the time traveler Tarzan, and we get to witness the birth of La. I’m looking forward to reading the third book finished by Christopher Paul Carey. Carey also wrote two additional novels himself.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flight to Opar is the second of three adventures that Farmer planned set many thousands of years prior to Tarzan's adventures in that lost city-colony of Atlantis. It's preceded by the equally enjoyable Hadon of Ancient Opar, and this one continues the story that began there fairly closely; he had not finished the third book at the time of his death, and it was completed by another writer and published posthumously by a different publisher. It's a pretty good pastiche of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and also serves as an homage to many of H. Rider Haggard's African adventures. Farmer adopted the Burroughs style and formula, though the character of Hadon is not as likable as Burroughs'. (The book is copyrighted by Farmer, not the Burroughs folks.) The DAW first printing of Flight to Opar had a vibrant cover by Roy G. Krenkel, but they put one by Ken Kelly on the reprint. They did keep the several nice interior illustrations that Krenkel drew.

[Xabi1990 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abandonado no porque sea mucho pero que su anterior de la saga, sino porque no aporta nada nuevo y ya me he quitado la morriña del estilo "clasico" de aventuras con el anterior, "Hadon de la antigua Opar".

La nota se debe a eso, a que no está peor escrito pero la trama es mucho más aburrida.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good entry in this two book series. I wish Farmer had written more.

[Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Got better near the end.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bold adventure story set in the days when Opar ( the lost city from the Tarzan novels) was a colony of Atlantis.

Lots of swordplay, intrigue and adventure.
Farmer captures a nice Robert E Howard vibe.