Introduction

Possibly one of the best treatments of any character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. David Bruce Boxarth speaks with authority, even when writing in a first person female voice. The life of La of Opar, the woman Tarzan scorned, is revealed in a a tightly written tale that covers 100 years. If there are any weaknesses in this tale of romance and adventure, it is the bits and pieces of La's life that we'd like to know more about, yet did not realize until after we finished reading this exciting and touching story in a single sitting!

La of Opar is a novel length story without numbered chapters in the ordinary sense. I have created my summary structure in view of the author's presentation. In lieu of "chapter" breaks or titles, I will use a half-rule to indicate the author's breaks in the narrative:

(Clarifications are parenthetical.) I have more extensive comments which appear in the Afterword.

PART ONE

La of Opar begins her tale before her sixteenth birthday. Life in the decadent and decaying city of Opar, under the rule of the Fifty Frightful Men, is revealed as brutal and degrading. La's mother is the High Priestess. The awful life the women endure has a secret: the women are really in control of Opar's future. The bestiality of the Oparian men is explained: When Cadj passed to the Sun which protected Opar and was the home of all souls the son of Cadj became the next high priest and because he was not the get of Cadj and my mother, he could make no claim on her bed. By law only the son may take his mother or sisters or daughters. But the women of Opar outnumber and out-think the Fifty Frightful. For centuries they collected and enslaved human men which they keep in a valley near the city. It is from this gene pool the women maintain the vitality of the Oparians, even as they grudgingly allow a few monstrosities of inbreeding to be born. La, at age sixteen is shown this secret and, under the guidance of her mother and real father (a slave) is introduced to sex, which the women of Opar consider a duty as well as a pleasure.

Two years later La becomes High Priestess. Her mother had died from a leopard attack. Her human lover had died in a rock slide accident. She becomes the High Priestess and avoids the advances of Cadj, son of Cadj (one of the Fifty Frightful) to bear a child. La reveals the methods by which the women of Opar control the number of beast men: the midwives strangle the abominations, keep the female children, and if the child was a male of the hidden slaves, was spirited away to the ampitheater. Meanwhile, Cadj becomes more insistent, La worries.

The history of Opar is presented: The Frightful delegated work to the women and the first La created their religion. Tarzan, herein called ELMO, comes to Opar. Elmo kills Cadj. La is smitten by Elmo. She desires him, but when he refused she eventually raped the ape-man. He escapes. La is pregnant. A thunderstorm kills twenty of the Fifty. When La's child La is two she convinces the women to rise up and kill the beast men. The enslaved men were brought to Opar, freed, and the city was reborn. Among the slaves is an American named Claude Earl. Captured near Opar, he was a large man of good humor and La selected him for her bed. She learns to speak English. She also listens to his tales of the world and realizes how small and mean is Opar. She heeds his warning that Opar was doomed by discovery from the outside world. "You have saved your people by giving them an education. Now let them go free. Too soon will there be no lost cities." Claude Earl declares he loves La of Opar.

Transition from Africa to America, Texas in specific. La of Opar is startled but also intrigued by civilization. Claude Earl is her guide, continuing to be her lover, and also caring for her daughter La. He takes her home to meet his mother, who says: "She'll do." La begins to understand what family means living in the Earl house. Later, Claude proposes, and has to explain what marriage means. La says yes. The family, which had been watching in secret, congratulates the couple. La reveals questions of the heart: her love for Claude, her lust for Elmo, her gradual understanding of "civilized" love and marriage talking with Claude Earl's sisters. They marry. La becomes embarrassed for having cried out another man's name on their wedding night.

Five years later, after learning more about civilization and giving Claude Earl twin boys and an infant daughter, La is told to pack for a trip to Europe. On the train Claude says that all he has been working for in the oil business is beginning to happen. La realizes Claude has kept all of his promises to her, she kept all but one and her mind is troubled. After visiting the capitals of Europe where Claude is selling Texas oil technology, they are in Paris. Claude forcibly takes La into a villa's garden and tells her she is forgiven, that he loves her, and that he knows she feels something for him. La, directly, replies by pushing Claude into the bushes and making love to him to show just how much she loves him and how sorry she has been so stupid and fearful. Claude extendes their trip to visit Cairo, a long delayed honeymoon. La speaks the language and is amused that in the marketplace there is talk of the lost treasure of Opar. We are told there is no treasure left after Elmo's plunders and La's distributions when she sent the Oparians out into the world.

La and Claude return to Texas. We meet the maid (Effie) and the four children: Darian, Claude Junior, Fannie, and La.

La's life in Texas in her husband's family home is described. La's desire to marry off her sisters-in-law is described. There is an unhappy circumstance where one of Claude's sisters is murdered. La cannot help thinking she was the cause since she introduced the man to the sister. La is very unhappy.

La engrosses herself in modern life (pre-World War I). The family moves to Dallas for three years then to Houston. The Earl family has money and live in an upper class neighborhood. La becomes a socialite, a director member of the symphony and arboretum. Her sense of fashion is impeccable. Yet La is still troubled by the murder of the sister-in-law and her private life with Claude has been less than happy. Claude Earl prepares to go to Washington when the war in Europe begins. He intends to take La's daughter La with him. Mrs. Earl is very surly and almost reminds her husband La is another man's daughter. Effie indicates her disapproval after Claude and young La depart: she burns breakfast and offers her resignation. La, suddenly, regrets everything and clings to Effie, begging her to stay.

While the first months of the war pass, La and Effie raise the kids and become friends. One morning, while sipping coffee and chatting, Effie warns La her sons are too eager to get into the war. La nods, but notices Effie does not look well. A moment later she realizes Effie has died.

Six months later La recieves a bizarre call from her daughter, now married an oil tycoon's son. "Mother! He will kill me!" La flies to New York. Claude Earl is waiting. They drive to young La's house. Breaking in, they find the son-in-law abusing little La. La begs Claude not to kill him as she takes La away. Claude catches up. "I didn't kill him, but I was sorely tempted!" Driving away, Claude asks why she didn't reveal the abuse. Her reply angers her parents. Saying they will return, La and Claude go back and La puts the keen point of her Opar knife to son-in-law's throat, demanding a quick and generous divorce--or else! Later, young La checked by a doctor, the parents blame each other for what happened and then wonder why they are, and have been, fighting.

Returning from New York, Claude, La and La are met by new maid Mrs. Scott. Darian and Claude Junior have joined the army. A month later both boys return home, angry the war is over. Their father is disappointed, but vows they will serve their terms until discharged. Mrs. Scott takes the boys into the kitchen to hear her discussion. The phone rings. Claude must return to Washington. Having reconciled their differences, La attempts to seduce her amused husband. Petulant, La stomps upstairs to help Claude pack. Little La looks out of her room at her laughing parents. "So that's what love is about." She closes the door. The mother wants to go to her daughter. Claude Earl kisses La. "I'd be very disappointed if you didn't."

January 1, 1920, La reads an item in the newspaper which displays a photo of a British spy named Greystoke. La recognizes Elmo. Every uncertainty, every hot desire, all my yearning and thoughts of revenge rushed forth...and how he spurned the love of La. Hours later Claude Earl returns home and becomes concerned when La does not greet him. He looks at the newspaper and puts two and two together. "Handsome devil. British lord. You can pick 'em. Surprised you put up with hamburger when you could have steak." La breaks down and confesses her confusion, hate, lust, and pain over Elmo. Claude understands, having heard La cry Elmo's name from time to time as they made love. He offers to step aside. Startled, La instantly refuses, knowing she is already with the man she loves.

At a 1926 Christmas party at the Earl house Darian attends, bringing a petite young woman with him. Laura is introduced as his wife. La does not display her disapproval, thinking the girl unworthy--and drunk--, but when she is informed the girl is not feeling well, takes her to the bathroom. The girl vomits, La relents and helps the young woman. Then, recognizing morning sickness, asks how long she has been pregnant. Mortified, because the marriage is so new, the girl's reply is cut short when Darian knocks on the door. La drags her son inside, reads him the riot act for not having been a gentleman, and then forgives them both.

Claude and La hurry through the halls of a hospital. Entering the room where Claude, Jr. is barely alive after his parachute failed to open during a military exercise, both are appalled by his injuries. Junior senses his mother's presence and asks for help to go to Opar...a fanciful fictional place told in bedtime stories by his father about their mother, a high priestess of the sun. La knows all that is a lie but touches her son's breast and promises, even as he dies. Running from the room, leaving her grieving husband behind, by the time Claude realizes she is gone, La has left the country.

The year is 1936. La is in Africa. She hires porters for the interior. She kills a gorilla. At a night camp Umbanje, a bearer, warns Arabs are nearby. Next day they the Arabs attack. La kills two then is kicked unconscious. She wakes naked, raped, and bound. Her men are dead, save Umbanje, sore used and bound. Nightfall an Arab comes to La, demanding Opar's location and the gold. La is defiant. The Arab is brutal. He vows she will tell as he prepares to rape her. Nothing happens. La's nerves fray, then she hears her husband's voice! Claude has knifed the rapist. Earl cuts her free. Another has released Umbanje. Claude waits until the Arabs are drunk. La is armed with a revolver and her bronze knife. Claude leads the attack. La kills two, then all is quiet. La asks how Claude found her. He indicates Korak, son of Elmo. La nearly faints, Korak is like his father! Korak explains Claude came to Elmo and Korak came instead. La asks Umbanje to come with them. He has no family. Taking off in Korak's airplaner for Opar, La reveals why she came to Africa. Opar is vanished beneath a lake. Claude has Korak land then urges La to send their son to the Sun. La does and finds relief.

Three years later the Earl family is in New York City. La has a run in with a drunken woman at an event. Confessing the incident to Claude, Claude grins and suggests Coney Island. Next morning they visit the World's Fair. Darian informs La his unit has been called up. Darian takes his wife and kids back to the hotel. Meanwhile Fannie, La's youngest daughter, reveals Claude has given her a drilling job in Sumatra. Already aware, La acts happy for her daughter. Fannie, La, and Claude Earl celebrate dinner and dancing. At breakfast the family, minus Darian, gather. La Jr and husband Tom bring Lara out of the blues and suggest she and the children go to the race track. If the horses win Claude and La will babysit while Tom, La Jr. and Lara see the nightlife. Tom agrees. La and Claude visit New York sights during the day/ That evening they take the grandkids to a family event where Claude can do business. La celebrates what the family calls her birthday (she does not know her birthdate). Claude and Tom take Umbanje to jazz clubs in Harlem.

Mrs. Scott, the housekeeper, accepts Claude's guidance in finanical affairs. Umbanje has become even more Americanized. La muses on the difference in race and status, glad that her friend Umbanje will honor her request that he accompany Fannie to Sumatra.

Twelve days later Hitler attacks Poland. Earl again goes to war as a businessman. La worries about Fannie and calls the office for a report. There is no news. Mrs. Scott gives La a package from Umbanje "if there was trouble." It is La's bronze knife she had discarded in Africa three years earlier.

Family contacts are maintained via telephone calls, but La worries nonetheless. Darian and family are stationed at Pearl Harbor. Fannie reveals during one call that she is pregnant and that Umbanje is the father. La is not disappointed, but is insistent on being there for the birth of her grandchild. To that end she plans a dinner, after giving Mrs. Scott the night off, to tell Claude the news and to convince her husband they were going to Sumatra. She is dressed in only a necklace when Claude comes home. They make love, then eat dinner, all the while Claude keeping La silent. Later, in the bath, Claude tells La she is going to be a grandmother and that her daughter was involved in an interracial relationship. Angry, but laughing, La is happy Claude approves and promises they will go soon.

Arriving at Medam, Sumatura, La, Claude, and Mrs. Scott are met by Umbanje. A load of supplies is put on the truck and they drive to the base camp. Fannie is obviously pregnant, but happy. Umbanje is accepted by Claude and La as a son-in-law, though they know their life will be difficult in society. They meet the rest of the drilling crew and the Australian who operates a boat used to ferry supplies to the advance camp. Brill makes a poor joke and is nearly punished by Rodriguez and Starling. La stops them. Claude eases tensions by telling the story of Claude and La, including her past as a jungle princess.

Fannie's pregancy progresses. La urges her to make use of a hospital. Fannie refuses "you had a baby in the jungle with no doctors or fancy medicine. I want to do the same." La continues over the next few days. Fannie agrees, but too late. The Japanese begin their invasion. Within hours of that Dutch settlers in Sumatra attempt to commandeer Brill's boat. There is a battle. The Americans and Brill escape in the boat. Fannie delivers her child that night.

La has an internal revelation that she understands racial prejudice as regards her daughter and Umbanje. Meanwhile, the group, in the boat, heads south, seeking cover when Japanese war planes are in the sky.

La reveals the losses to their party over a year of time. Only Claude, La, Fannie, Umbanje and baby Edgar survived. The baby is one year and a few months old when a Japanese destroyer sinks their boat.

The party takes to the vast island's interior. Chased by Japanese soldiers, they kill when necessary, but always try to escape. A cave is located high in the mountains. For a time they are at peace. La goes hunting one day. When she returns she finds her grandson stomped to death, her daughter raped and beheaded, and Umbanje murdered. Claude's body is not to be found. She has nightmares after burying her family.

La follows the trail left by the Japanese soldiers. She comes to a coastal town. She waits until nightfall to investigate closer. Using a tree branch to gain the roof of Japanese headquarters, she kills two sentries. She locates Claude, who has been tortured. Freeing him, they go to the ground to escape. Claude has a different idea. He sends La to a docked Japanese gunboat. She is to kill all and take control. He comes running after setting all the vehicles on fire. They escape in the boat after killing many. La is instructed to find everything of value and put it in a towed raftt. Near dawn American war planes are sighted. Claude and La get into the raft after sending the gunboat away. The boat is sunk by bombs as they enter a coastal stream. La tends Claude's wounds then watches over him as he sleeps. She realizes how much she loves her husband and how much the world has changed.

La and her husband survive in the jungle for two years. Killing Japanese soldiers when necessary. The years also reveal that not all Japanese soldiers are monsters. A native girl seeks their help after her Japanese lover is arrested. In the process four American aviators are rescued. La is injured and faints as they make their escape.

Reviving three days later, La meets the American aviators. They continue south in their little boat, sad to know that the native girl ended her tortured lover's suffering and then took her own life.

One night after La and Claude make love, she learns they are to be picked up by a British submarine. A little later, after they are on board, there is a battle. The sub surfaces and takes on survivors. Among them is Elmo. La goes to see him in the wardroom. They reconcile the time passed. La brings Claude to Elmo and they talk. Elmo gives them a gift of immortality.

Arriving at Brisbane, Australia, Claude, La and Elmo are unexpectedly greeted by Jane, the ape-man's wife, and their three year old daughter Claudia. An emotional meeting.

PART TWO

La Jr. takes up the story as a short recollection of childhood to the time mother and father rescue her from the abusive husband. Reconciled with mother, learns about love and regrets as La confesses her obsession with Elmo and her life as the High Priestess in Opar. La Jr. realizes her mother could not have been a happy woman all these years.

When the funds from the divorce settlement arrive, La Jr. waits for an opportunity, then goes to the bank, takes out all the funds, then boards a bus. She goes north until reaching Helena, Montana where she becomes a waitress and rooms at old Mr. Barclay's house. La Jr. meets Tom Langstrom, a cowboy. After a long courtship they marry. One night in their rented house, holding their two infant sons, La Jr. tells Tom she is rich. She suggests they buy a ranch of their own. Tom says, "If you make this happen, I'll make it blossom."

In 1936 La Jr. has a surprise visit from Claude Earl, who is forgiving she ran away. He is introduced to the family. Has dinner. She realizes how much she missed him. When he leaves next morning, she promises to write to her mother. "We'll come visit. I promise!"

See 1939 in Part 1. Later La Earl gives La Langstrom the journal she kept from 1911 to 1946. In 1951 Claude and La Earl spend six weeks at the Langstrom ranch.

June of 1954 La Jr. gets a letter from her mother, postmarked London, England. "Your father has impregnated me." La wants to come to the ranch after the baby is born. La and Steven Ainsworth Earl arrived at the ranch winter of 1956. La Jr. has also recently had a baby. While bathing their children a casual remark about how young her mother looks upsets La, who later confesses she and Claude had gone to Africa and received immortality treatments. "How wonderful is it to watch your children age? If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't. You--old woman!" La Jr. laughs. "I want you to live forever, mother!"

Lawton Langstrom, (at age twenty) becomes ranch foreman. His brother Lincoln was in second year of college. Laja, La Jr.'s daughter had discovered boys, which makes Tom very protective. La Jr. is weeding the grave of her baby who died the age of 22 months when a convertible pulls into the ranch. Two women get out, one is La the other is Jane Clayton, Elmo's wife. "We have come to take you on a vacation," mother tells daughter. We learn La Jr. is a recent cancer survivor. La Jr. initially refuses, but after Lawton speaks to her, she agrees to go. They leave the next day.

A week long automobile trip from Montana to St. Louis is described. Along the way La Jr. has her graying hair colored. Jane and La look young. La Jr. is still a looker, but very thin. A flight from St. Louis to New York, then a transatlantic steamer to England. A train ride, then a chauffeur takes them to Greystoke manor where they meet Claude and Elmo and have dinner. La Jr. is very weary when she goes to bed.

Claude wakes La Jr. Tells her she's been asleep two days. Tells her he must take a business trip. When he looks sad, La Jr. tells him how relieved she is knowing her father and mother will live forever and can watch over her children. Claude perks up. Then says Elmo would like to see her. Twenty minutes later Elmo enters the room. La Jr. looks upon the handsome figure of her biological father, then utters "I have a father, I do not need another." Embarrassed, she regrets the words. Elmo, thoughtful, says that is not his desire. He wants to give her his mother's locket. "This is not for me. It is for your daughter. It is your family. It is your heart. I could never accept this." She accepts a hug instead.

La Jr.'s "vacation" was to be seen by British cancer doctors. After five months La Jr. is very improved. She and Mary, the maid, breakfast each morning, go shopping, tend flowers in the garden, go to movies. La Jr. also keeps track of the increasing tension of the Cold War via news and newspapers. Elmo also escorted La Jr. around. One evening, at a concert, he asked if she liked it. Receving a negative, Elmo leads her out, suggesting they walk back to Greystoke in the evening air. On the way Elmo, at La Jr.'s urging, tells of his jungle life and meeting her mother. A life he loved is fast disappearing. Arriving at the manor they sit on the steps and have a brandy. She believes Elmo carried her to her room when she fell asleep on the steps.

During an extended telephone call to the Langstrom ranch, La Jr. learns daughter Laja has eloped and married Bobby Smith. Tom and Lawton are not very happy. La Jr. takes the news in stride, urging they don't meddle too much, suggesting a wedding gift of a portion of the ranch, to keep the young couple occupied.

La Jr. reveals she began a journal after the cancer, something to leave her children. One of her last entries is a note that Elmo has been arrested and detained by the Russians. The British government appears powerless. La Jr. vows "I will do something about it."

Here begins the tale of Stanley Greenwood regarding his time with La Langstrom (La Jr.). La meets with Greenwood, an agent of the British Secret Service. Introduced by her half-brother John (Korak) Clayton. "You apparently have friends in high places." Greenwood has been instructed to assist. La's plan was simple and straightforward, American rancher's wife seeking horse sales in Russia. Later, during La's phone call home, Greenwood (at another location) kills the tape recorder when the conversation becomes emotional and private.

Building cover story, La meets Greenwood at the hotel restaurant. "The Russians expect depraved Americans. Grab my ass." In front of witnesses, La hands over her hotel key. After Greenwood lets himself in, La begins a seduction, explaining in whispers the room might be bugged "I won't have sex, but make it look like it." Later, La reveals she saw Tolovich. "He doesn't know about me but he knows Dad and Elmo." Greenwood also saw the KBG agent and thinks her instincts are good.

Next morning Greenwood goes to his room, confused by the American and the fake sex that required significant touching. At the dummy office, TomLa Enterprises, Denise, the receptionist, is secret service. The phone rings. La takes the call. Sells horses. Other calls come, more sales. After hours Greenwood takes her to a steak house. Two days of the same follow. James, an agent, becomes the company driver. La wants to call the Russian embassy. Greenwood vetoes: "They need to come to us." Next day La gets a call from the Russians to visit next day. La leaves office, ducking Greenwood and James. Greenwood checks her room all night, finding her in the shower at 5 am. Demanding an explanation he is told "the man I hoped would call did." Greenwood wants to know where she went. "I took a walk. Things get serious from here on out."

La and Greenwood meet Tele Hasek the Russian sub-ambassador. Hasek is more interested in sexy La. Cool to La's demand to inspect pastures in Odessa, Ukraine. La shrugs. Hasek sweats as La displays long legs. "Can we negotiate?" La insists on trip to Odessa. Hasek cannot commit. La and Greenwood leave. In the car La rages. "I failed!" La and Greenwood argue. He directs James to the South African Consulate but to stop for lunch first. La attempts to explain her plan without revealing it. Greenwood, unhappy, agrees to go along. He arranges visit to the South African Consulate because the Russians would be watching. Returning, La shops. Buys a short-hemmed pink dress and is surprised when a courier delivers Hasek's request they return. At Russian embassy La and Greenwood become separated. Greenwood anxiously waits. La returns two hours later, saying nothing. At hotel she takes Greenwood into her room, then the shower. "I know where he is!" From the way La bathes Greenwood guesses why Hasek agreed. Angry with Hasek, Greenwood stays to comfort La while he plots ways of killing the Russian.

La and Greenwood travel to Russia with Hasek and guards. Two days later they are in the Odessa area. Sites are inspected. La turns them down, suggesting other locations. Three days later, after spending time with Hasek, La comes to Greenwood (the pretense of Greenwood being La's lover accepted by the Russians). In the shower she says "There are times I hate being female." and "All I have to fight with is my vagina!" but she tells the agent she knows exactly where Elmo is, and they will be there the next day.

Arriving at a farm 60 kilometers west of Odessa, La, Greenwood, Hasek and bodyguards get out of the car. La turns to Hasek, then pulls a pistol from beneath her pink mini-skirt. Kills Hasek and another, Greenwood kills two, La kills the last and races on foot to a different farmhouse nearby. Greenwood crashes the car though the fence, following. At the door he hears shots inside. Then has to fight others firing from the outbuildings. La exits the farmhouse, half-carrying a badly beaten Elmo, thrust into the back seat. La commands Greenwood to drive west. She fires at two cars following. "Now you know my stupid plan!" Bullets hit their car. La fires again. Greenwood sees the border ahead. Her gun empty, La uses Greenwood's and causes the second car to crash into a ditch. Her victory yell is cut off. (Greenwood:) Someone in the first car blew her brains out as we crossed the border. La's body and the injured Elmo are evacuated by air. Greenwood follows later, debriefed by the American and British agencies, then goes home, depressed.

Greenwood cannot focus on his work. His superior tells him to take time off. He returns to work, avoiding calls from Jack "Korak" Clayton until Denise, his secretary, prods his conscience. Greenwood and Korak meet at a pub and remember La, getting so drunk in the process they are stopped by the police driving back to Greystoke. Korak's high position saves an arrest when Greenwood surrenders his keys and they walk the rest of the way. At Greystoke Jane wants to talk to Greenwood, who is reluctant at first. He accepts an offer of coffee. The chat is not happy. Greenwood leaves.

Greenwood is given a new assignment. Bodyguard for a British lord traveling to America. "Last chance, Greenwood. Fail this and you are retired." The assignment is Lord Greystoke and his family.

Arriving New York, travel to Helena, Montana. Greenwood has avoided conversation with Elmo, but as they get out of the cars, Elmo is determined to speak. He is interrupted by Laja, La Langstrom's daughter, who takes him into the house. Greenwood locates a ranch hand La had mentioned, who tells him where La is buried. Greenwood goes to the grave. Lost in memories, he fails to notice La's husband approach. An awkward moment passes between the men, though full understanding of La is known to both. Langstron says "I knew my wife. She never made bad decisions." Standing at the grave Greenwood puts all into perspective and bids her goodbye.

(Here beings the story of Laja) Family history following the death of La in Russia is revealed. Laja's father (Tom) died the year following. Lawton (brother) ran the family ranch. Lincoln (brother) dies of cocaine overdose. Had married Bobby Smith (eloped) and was given a portion of the TomLa Ranch called White Creek. Later, after Lawton dies, inherits entire ranch. Raised children. Did fairly well for quite sometime. Bobby and Laja have marital troubles for several years. Reconcile in 1991. February 1997 photos of Grandmother La were televised, topless in Bermuda. Laja calls by phone. "What are you and granddad going to do?"

Grandmother (La of Opar aka La Earl) comes to TomLa ranch, young, healthy, vibrant. Bobby says "Die, you old hag, or I'll kill you and Claude Earl." Laja, shocked, soon realizes her husband is correct. "Eternal life will ruin our family, Laja, and don't dare pretend you do not know." Bobby has a plan. La can become their daughter out of wedlock (referencing their earlier split), but under certain conditions. La likes the idea, provided Laja agrees. She does. The news services made a spectacle of the Smith's new daughter and the disappearance of La Earl in the Carribean on the family yacht. La becomes Lizzie Smith and for some months they are a family. La, however, is having an identity crisis as she truly does appear to be young enough to be her granddaughter's daughter, but is also La, matriarch of the Earl family. The crisis comes to a head one morning. Bobby, showing unusual understanding, restores balance and understanding.

March (presumed 1998) Claude Earl is reported injured in a real oil well fire in Venezuela. Lizzie and Laja fly to Washington, DC. At a Federal building (not named) Laja waits as Lizzie enters an office. Later, in the company of agents, Laja and Lizzie are driven to a military airfield where two F-15s fly them to St. Thomas. Met by two agents. A second flight to Caracas. La finds Claude. He is not seriously injured. One of the agents obtains a death certificate for Claude Earl. Lizzie needs a name for Claude to get him released from the hospital. Laja suggests Keith Roberts. Six weeks later Bobby hires Keith Roberts as a ranch hand. Months later Roberts (Claude) asks permission to marry his daughter Lizzie (La). Bobby smiles approval and has a stroke. After Bobbie's death Laja's family fortune already in decline accelerates.

Lizzie Roberts is at Laja's bedside. "There's no give in you, mother!" Laja replies: "Yes, there is, Lizzie. I miss Bobby."

AFTERWORD

I come to the Internet late in life. Among the first things I explored was Edgar Rice Burroughs on the web and came across erblist.com. From that small beginning has come many hours of enjoyment. The Edgar Rice Burroughs Summary Project was devoured and referred to many times. An exceptional work! One of the summaries was for a tale called When The Princess Disappeared. Fascinated, I read that story at Tangor's Pastiche and Fan Fiction and realized that my long suppressed wishes there were more stories by Burroughs had been answered. Dead Cities of Mars by David Bruce Bozarth followed, as well as his many Barsoom shorts. Egads! I must have printed three reams of paper! I liked what I read. Then I read Bozarth's La of Opar and was astonished. I've never read an adventure romance story with more heart, more depth, or more compassion in my life. Yes, I know I'm gushing, but there is a reason.

Technically, Bozarth's prose is brilliant in its simple brevity. He says more to a character and events in one page than most authors can do with entire chapters. His concept of pace and plot rivals that of Burroughs, perhaps exceeds it at times. He has the uncanny ability to create a turn of phrase that is memorable long after the book has been put down. "Shut up, La!", for example, has so many different meanings!

The scope of La of Opar is immense. The time spans 100 years and the locales so diverse: primitive Opar, the Big Thicket of Texas, the chrome and glitter of New York, the muggy jungles of Sumatra, the windswept vistas of Montana, Anytown, USA, London, Russia, South America... And it all rings true.

Bozarth is not afraid of being unconventional. La of Opar is the story of three women: a mother, a daughter, and a granddaughter, told in their first person voices--and the first person voice of a male secret agent! La, La, and Laja. There is another La, the mother of La who is the daughter of La and mother of La. Sound confusing? Not when Bozarth speaks! Opar, lost city, is a savage decadant place, yet so filled with a hope and subtle strength we never saw in Burroughs' version. Bozarth also manages to reveal our world to us through the young eyes of the savage High Priestess of the Flaming God. How strange we must have seemed to La of Opar! We, the reader, get to experience her growth as a woman, becoming American, the wife of a powerful oil tycoon, and ageless matriarch of an extraordinary family.

What is wrong with La of Opar is minor. First, there is the time discrepancies of Claude Jr. and Darian. They could not be old enough to fight in World War I--however, that same discrepancy shows up in ERB's own works. Bozarth does not allude to any meetings between La and Elmo after Return of Tarzan. Some of the transition "chapters" were too short. Bozarth takes great chances at times that his readers will be able to fill in the blanks. Then again, that's one of the reasons I so like this novel because I had a chance to participate in the story. Finally, La of Opar is too short! I want to know more about this fascinating woman!

Having read La of Opar, and having seen that When the Princess Disappeared had been summarized--Bozarth having been one of the authors of that novel--I wondered if other pastiches would be summarized. Turns out that David Bruce Bozarth is a living author who doesn't mind emails! I asked the question. He said, "Go for it!" and revealed there had been discussion of summarizing the pastiches between him and David Adams, the fellow who helped with the ERB Summary Project. Bruce also shared that summaries of foreign edition pastiches was in the works. I read the guidelines for doing a summary and this is the result. I had not expected the work to be so difficult. There is so much more to the novel, interesting asides I left out because of word count specifications. Some of the "chapter breaks" above are deceiving. Long, passages of realistic conversations between interesting characters are often summarized in one or two sentences.

If you've read this summary but have not read La of Opar, READ IT! You will laugh. You will cry. You will come away filled with wonder--and a grateful awe we have among us authors such as David Bruce Bozarth who are capable of such fine work.