Philip José Farmer's Ancient Opar (Khokarsa) Series

[IronEmperor]

Are there any other fans of Philip José Farmer's Ancient Opar (Khokarsa) Series? Think Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age, but set in Ancient Africa, 10,000 B.C.

A Map of the Empire of Khokarsa: http://www.pjfarmer.com/khokarsa/map_1.jpg

More maps of Khokara :http://www.pjfarmer.com/khokarsa/maps.htm

Farmer was inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs, H. Rider Haggard, and two Tarzan fans, Frank J. Brueckel and John Harwood when constructing this series.

In the Tarzan series, the jungle lord visits the lost city of Opar on a number of occasions. Farmer used some of the speculations of Brueckel and Harwood and wrote two fantasy novels set in Tarzan's Ancient Africa. However, he also combined Tarzan's Ancient Africa with H. Rider Haggard's Lost Cities as well. Farmer really created a whole new society and culture from the ground up. His world building on this series is very reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien, with a mix of Robert E. Howard.

In Farmer's Ancient Opar books, Opar is just one queendom in the vast empire of Khokarsa (the name was inspired by Ambrose Bierce's short story, "An Inhabitant of Carcosa"). That's why these books are more or less referred to as the Khokarsa series as of late. Ancient Opar plays a role in the books, but the story lines take place throughout the whole Khokarsa empire. The Khokarsan Empire is matriarchal , where the Queen/High Priestess holds the most power. The high deity of the Khokarsan religion is Kho, the Mother/Earth Goddess. However, during the course of the series, their husbands, the kings attempt to usurp the priestesses and Kho with their god, Resu (the Sun).

It's a great adventure series. The magic is very minimal, though. No sorcerers hurling fireballs or lightning bolts.

Here is a nice overview of the series from author Christopher Paul Carey's website: http://cpcarey.com/site/the-khokarsa-series/

This site is a great resource and really showcases the detail Farmer put into his worldbuilding, the release dates for books are outdated, though (see below): http://www.pjfarmer.com/khokarsa/khokarsa.htm

The Khokarsa Series:

The Original Trilogy:

Hadon of Ancient Opar by Philip José Farmer: http://www.amazon.com/Hadon-Ancient-Opar-Khokarsa-Prehistory/dp/1781162956/

Flight to Opar by Philip José Farmer (a new restored edition is up for pre-order): http://meteorhousepress.com/flight-to-opar/

The Song of Kwasin by Philip José Farmer & Christopher Paul Carey: Was only printed in the Gods of Opar omnibus from Subterranean Press, but I would bet a stand alone edition will be coming soon, too.

Preludes:

Time's Last Gift by Philip José Farmer: http://www.amazon.com/Times-Newton-Prehistory-Universe-Novel/dp/0857689657/

Exiles of Kho by Christopher Paul Carey: http://www.amazon.com/Exiles-Philip-Jose-Farmers-Khokarsa-ebook/dp/B00HX7LURA/

Short Stories and Novellas:

A Kick in the Side by Christopher Paul Carey: http://meteorhousepress.com/the-worlds-of-philip-jose-farmer-1-protean-dimensions/

Kwasin & The Bear God by Philip José Farmer & Christopher Paul Carey: http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Newton-Universe-Philip-Farmer-ebook/dp/B00CCONU5E/ |http://meteorhousepress.com/the-worlds-of-philip-jose-farmer-2-of-dust-and-soul/

[maarsen]

Nice to see another Phil Farmer fan here.

[Myshkin]

Good old Kilgore Trout.

[Calibandar]

Sounds pretty interesting actually.

[maarsen]

Good old Kilgore Trout.

Good old Ralph Von Wau Wau....I think.

[Myshkin]

Good old Ralph Von Wau Wau....I think.

I think you mean Jonathan Swift Somers III. Ralph is the dog. Although based on your av maybe you did mean Ralph.

[maarsen]

I think you mean Jonathan Swift Somers III. Ralph is the dog. Although based on your av maybe you did mean Ralph.

Myshkin, the memory is not what it used to be. Some of the stuff I read in the 70's is starting to become hazy now. Forgiveness is asked.

[Myshkin]

Myshkin, the memory is not what it used to be. Some of the stuff I read in the 70's is starting to become hazy now. Forgiveness is asked.

Ha, I wasn't even alive in the 70's! So I'll forgive you. Because you're old. I don't know why I feel like being mean right now.

ETA: Sorry for pointing out your oldness. If I'm honest with myself it's probably because over the last year or so my beard's been going gray, and I wanted to make myself feel better.

[maarsen]

Ha, I wasn't even alive in the 70's! So I'll forgive you. Because you're old. I don't know why I feel like being mean right now.

ETA: Sorry for pointing out your oldness. If I'm honest with myself it's probably because over the last year or so my beard's been going gray, and I wanted to make myself feel better.

My beard was gray since I was in my 20's. So far I have managed to keep my hair from getting gray by sheer force of will. My oldness keeps pointing itself to me every day. I am having to resort to pulling my pants on one leg at a time now.

[IronEmperor]

Hadon, King of Opar, the latest installment in Philip José Farmer's Khokarsa (Ancient Opar) series just went up for pre-order from Meteor House.. It's written by Christopher Paul Carey, who co-wrote The Song of Kwasin and Kwasin and the Bear God with PJF.

Check out the amazing cover by Bob Eggleton: http://meteorhousepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Hadon-front-final1.jpg

Meteor House has the pre-order page up: http://meteorhousepr...n-king-of-opar/

It's available in both hardcover and softcover, you can buy both for a reduced price. Meteor House has also put out a hardcover of Exiles of Kho by Christopher Paul Carey. You can order all three for a reduced price. This is the first time Exiles of Kho is available in hardcover, and sports a new cover by Mark Wheately.

For more info: http://meteorhousepr...-exiles-of-kho/

[IronEmperor]

Here is an interview with Christopher Paul Carey about the new restored edition of Philip José Farmer's Flight to Opar that's now available for pre-order.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6glxKlYhWGI


He gives several examples of what has been restored. Overall nearly 4,000 words have been added back in. CPC isn't undoing the countless quality edits the DAW copy editor made back in the day, but he is restoring passages that were cut for no other reason than to make a page count for the book. He's also restoring one that was edited due to being deemed to graphic back in the day.

In the past, Farmer himself restored a similar scene. An editor edited out a scene from "The Gate of Time", but when it was republished as "Two Hawks From Earth", PJF put the original text back in. So there's some nice precedence for that.

The interview also gives a nice broad overview on what the Khokarsa (Ancient Opar) series is about.

[IronEmperor]

Christopher Paul Carey discusses his new novella, Hadon, King of Opar, now available for pre-order from Meteor House. This is the all-new fourth volume in Philip José Farmer's Khokarsa (Ancient Opar) series. Chris fills us in on how the story came into existence, his writing process, and what Hadon's up to. We took great care in not discussing spoilers.

I was able to review an advanced review copy of an early draft, and this novella has my highest recommendation. I'll be posting a review shortly. I'm super excited that Khokarsa is back. This is truly the Summer of Opar.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojdVRuzhJNI

or

MP3: http://pulpcrazy.com/podcast/113.mp3

[IronEmperor]

A text review of Hadon, King of Opar by Christopher Paul Carey.

http://pulpcrazy.com/?p=925

[IronEmperor]

Christopher Paul Carey discusses the new standalone edition of The Song of Kwasin which he co-authored with Philip José Farmer. This is the first standalone edition of the book and serves as the climax to Farmer's original Ancient Opar/Khokarsa series (Hadon of Ancient Opar and Flight to Opar).