Philip José Farmer’s Khokarsa series

In the 1970s, Philip José Farmer started a trilogy set in the world of Opar, the city discovered by Tarzan that is supposed to be a lost colony of Atlantis.

This trilogy, called the “Khokarsan Series,” is actually set 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. At the time, a Bronze Age civilization arose among Stone Age people. They then developed a civilization centered around two connected inland seas in Africa which cover the Chad and Congo basins.

The capital of this empire is based on an island in the northern part of the northmost sea, called Khokarsa (this is the “Atlantis” of this world). Opar is an outlying city of this empire.

This world is populated by several races. In addition to the Caucasian race of Khokarsa, there are blacks in outlining areas, a yellow-skinned race, a Neanderthal race, and a human-Neanderthal hybrid race.

Farmer also ties in characters from H. Rider Haggard‘s works as well. Allan Quatermain discovered, through regression, his previous life as a “cave man” in “Allan and the Ice Gods,” and the characters who appeared in that novel were used in the series. Other hints to Haggard’s works, such as Kor, the city of “She,” and the forerunners of the Zu-Vendis (discovered in “Allan Quatermain”), are also included.

Farmer also tied in one of his own other works, “Time’s Last Gift,” as well as his translation/expansion of J.H. Rosny‘s “Ironcastle.” So, yes, this makes the series part of the Wold Newton Universe. A pre-history of it, if you will.

At the time, Farmer only wrote two of the planned three: “Hadon of Ancient Opar” and “Flight to Opar.” Only after Farmer passed away was the third volume finished by Christopher Paul Carey: “The Song of Kwasin.” So far, this book is only available as part of a compilation of the three from Subterranean Press: “The Gods of Opar.” Titan Books has reprinted the first Khokarsan book, but at this point have no plans to reprint the second or third.

So the full series can be considered:

• “Time’s Last Gift,” Farmer (1972, reissued by Titan, 2012)
• “Exiles of Kho,” Carey (Meteor House, 2012)
• “Allan and the Ice Gods,” Haggard
• “Hadon of Ancient Opar,” Farmer (1974, reissued by Titan, 2013)
• “Flight to Opar,” Farmer (1976)
• “A Kick in the Side,” Carey (“Worlds of PJF” #1, Meteor House)
• “Kwasin and the Bear God,” Farmer and Carey (“Worlds of PJF” #2 and “Tales of the Wold Newton Universe,” v1, Titan Books, 2013)
• “Song of Kwasin,” Farmer and Carey (2012)

As to these works:

“Time’s Last Gift” really kicks off the overall series. In it, a time travel expedition is conducted from 2070 to the time of 12,000 BC. One of the members of this expedition is a John Gribardson, who remains in the past, becoming known as Sahhinder to the Khokarsans as he is immortal.

He introduces them to many things that allows them to become a Bronze Age civilization. Sahhinder will be hinted at in future works. Who is Gribardson, really? Read the book and maybe you’ll figure it out. As noted, Titan Books has recently reprinted it.

“Exiles of Kho “is a novella that tells of the events leading to the founding of Opar. Sahhinder also makes an appearance, and it also ties in the lost world found in “Ironcastle.” So far, this book was only available as a limited edition from Meteor House. Hopefully, Titan Books can be convinced to reprint it, as it’s out of print, and it should be made available to a wider audience.

As mentioned, characters from “Allan and the Ice-Gods” make an appearance in the series. So, if you wish to learn more about them, get the book and read it. It’s available in various editions, both print and electronic. (I got a nice paperback edition from Wildside Press.) But we do learn about them in the series itself, so it’s not a must have.

The action then kicks off with “Hadon of Ancient Opar.” In it, a young Hadon sails off to Khokarsa to compete in the Great Games. These deadly games are held among the youth of the various cities of the Khokarsan empire. The winner will hopefully win the hand of the priestess-queen and become the new king.

Hadon wins, but on his triumph, the current king sends him off on a quest to bring back three people. This political/religious in-fighting will affect the whole series. He also meets up with his herculean cousin, Kwasin, who will also be a major character in the series.

“Flight to Opar” picks up next. Due to the political upheaval, Hadon and his associates must flee Khokarsa. This journey will take them awhile until Hadon and his new wife arrive at Opar. We learn that Hadon has a daughter, La of Opar.

Next up, “A Kick in the Side” begins just after Chapter 19 of “Flight to Opar,” and “Kwasin and the Bear God” is set between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of “The Song of Kwasin.” Both stories appeared in volumes of “The Worlds of Philip José Farmer” published by Meteor House, which includes unpublished or rare works by Farmer as well as new works by others in Farmer’s worlds.

“Kwasin” has been reprinted in Titan’s “Tales of the Wold Newton Universe.” “A Kick” focuses on what happened to one of the secondary characters in the series. “Kwasin” is a side-line story from an alternate outline of “The Song of Kwasin” that Carey finished.

“The Song of Kwasin” closes out the main series. It focuses entirely on Kwasin, who will soon become the new king of Khokarsa. But the old king, the priestess-queen and their forces are still to be contended with. Furthermore, Khokarsa is a volcanic land, and the volcanoes have been acting up. Soon it all comes to an end as “Atlantis” sinks. Hadon and his family are safe in distant Opar.

Extra material, including maps, a timeline, and other materials that explain the people, places, and things of this world, is also available. This material is included with Subterranean Press’s “The Gods of Opar” and the new Titan edition of “Hadon of Ancient Opar.”

Another work that fans of this series should be aware of is “Heritage of the Flaming God” by Frank J. Brueckel and John Harwood. Planned for the fanzine Burroughs Bulletin, but never saw print. It was finally printed by Waziri Publications as “Heritage of the Flaming God” in 1999, along with additional material.

It lays the groundwork for the ancient land of Opar that is the basis for Farmer’s series. Among some of the additional material in this book is part of a letter by Farmer on his series and his original plans, which hints that he had plans for more then just three novels! Copies are still available, but only a limited number were printed, so get one while you have a chance.

This is a great series overall. What is unfortunate is that Titan Books has no plans at present for further Farmer works, which means no plans to bring the rest of the series into print for a wider audience. While I wouldn’t normally do this, I encourage people to reach out to Titan Books and tell them politely that you’d like to see these works republished. These works should be made available to new readers.