Uglik The Oparian: A Review"

Uglik The Oparian

By

George Walter Alonso

In 1993 fellow ERB-APA member George Alonso wrote a 68-page Tarzan pastiche which he printed in Simba #10. George was extremely nice and circulated his fan publication Uglik The Oparian, free of charge, with our current ERB-APA members. The long title was Tarzan And His Friends Go To Opar (Uglik The Oparian!)

Simba #10

George presented an Opar story that featured Danton Burroughs, Gordon Scott, Denny Miller and tons of other Edgar Rice Burroughs fans. The story begins in Tarzana California at the offices of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. on a Sunday morning. There Uglik the Oparian approaches John Westervelt in search of Danton Burroughs. John explained the office was closed and he would have to come back on Monday.

Danton Burroughs

Uglik came back to Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. early Monday morning, but John was gone to breakfast. The receptionist explained to Uglik that Danton did not come into the office on Mondays. Uglik explained to the receptionist that he was a friend of Tarzan and he had come all the way from Africa to deliver a life and death message to Tarzan. He needed Danton to help find the jungle lord who was in Los Angeles.

Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

The receptionist supplied Uglik with Danton's home address and the Oparian made his way there. Uglik explained to Danton that he had come to Tarzana in search of Tarzan. Uglik explained he was sent by La, Queen of Opar, with a life and death message. Opar had fallen into Civil War with revolting gorillas. After much thought, Dayton called Uglik on the phone and said Tarzan and Jane were living on a boat in Marina del Ray.

Danton Burroughs Home

Uglik set out in search of Tarzan once more, but again the Oparin had no luck. Uglik did run into Gordon Scott at the Marina del Ray who explained Tarzan and Jane went on a vacation and weren't expected back anytime soon. After talking to Gordon, Uglik quickly bonded with the former movie Tarzan, and explained his urgent and desperate mission.

Gordon Scott

Tuesday morning early, Uglik returned to Danton's home. Once there the Oparian patiently waited for Burrough's grandson to exit the house and approach his car on the way to work. Uglik explained that Tarzan was gone on vacation and wasn't expected back anytime soon according to Gordon Scott.  Danton took Uglik to Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. to figure out some other alternative. They barely made themselves comfortable before Gordon Scott arrived.

Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

Uklik explained to Danton and Gordon that without Tarzan many many men would be needed to replace him. The Oparian had no clue as to how he would find them in time to aid Queen La. Suddenly Danton and Gordon came up with a plan simultaneously. They would contact ERB fans from around the world and ask for volunteers to go to Africa and defend Opar in Tarzan's absence.

Gordon Scott

Offstage I was one of those called on that Tuesday morning. My name is James Michael Moody and I live in Johnson City, TN. After speaking to Danton on the phone and hearing about the Civil War in Opar I could not help but offer my services. After all, Tennessee is known as the volunteer state. Danton told me about the Saturday meeting in Tarzana. I made personal arrangements and it was off to the Tri-Cities Airport, then on to California.

James Michael Moody

Saturday was a beautiful summer day in Tarzana, California. ERB fans were flocking the offices of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. The many fans came from far and further. After Dayton called the meeting to order Uglik was given permission to tell the gathered ERB fans about the gorilla revolt against Opar. Uglik explained he needed many men to take Tarzan's place and was seeking volunteers to go to Africa to stand for La and Opar.

Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

The first to volunteer was Gordon Scott. The second was Denny Miller, also a movie Tarzan. Bob Hyde, the chairman of the Burroughs Bibliophiles volunteered third. The list grew with Tony Menegazzo, Pete Ogden, Joe Ferrier, Mike Conran, Jim Thompson, Alan Hanson, Bill Tredinnick, myself, John Martin, and many many others.

Denny Miller

As the days went by more Tarzan fans signed up for the Opar excursion. Not all were Americans. From Canada came David Hanes, Raymond Cuthbert, and Nels Myrhoj. From England came Frank Westwood, Ken Hall, and Laurence Dunn. From France were Michael Decuyper and Bernard Trout. From the Czech Republic were Vladimir Tucapskey and Milan Krejci. From Germany, there was Kurt Denkena. From Switzerland Dr. T.G. Hyman. From Iceland Richard Korn. The Opar rescue team was a truly international operation.

Mike Moody & Lawrence Dunn

Not to take away from George's much-appreciated ERB pastiche, the Tarzan fans made their way to Nairobi. From there it was on to Opar. After many many adventures, the rescuers finally arrive at Opar. 

Michael May

After many more adventures in the lost city of Opar, the Tarzan fans face off against the revolting gorillas. Just seconds before the two sides clash Tarzan arrives to defeat the revolting gorilla leader and save the day. The Oparian uprising is crushed and La resumes as unchallenged Queen of Opar.

Roy G. Krenkel

As a lifelong ERB and Tarzan fan, I was tickled pink to get a part in George's Opar adventure. I only got a speaking part, and I didn't get to kick butt and take names. Maybe on the next adventure that ERB fans are needed in a daring rescue.

Rick Johnson

My first speaking line was on page 14.

• "Let the kid come with us," said James Michael Moody.                                                                      



John F. Roy & James Michael Moody

My second speaking line came on page 21, It was not credited to me or Joe Ferrier by George. Both  Joe and I know it was us, however.

• One guide told the fans that Nairobi was founded as a railroad camp in 1899.             
• "Tarzan was only" eleven," said one fan. (Joe Fierrier). 
• He was seventeen by then," said another fan. (James Michael Moody)  

Ralph Brown, Mike Moody, John F. Roy

My third speaking line came on page 33. Earlier in George's story, I am introduced as. James Michael Moody, but in this line, George refers to me as Mike Moody. That is the name my family, schoolmates, and homies, know me by. George accidentally left out this speaking line to my name in the index list at the back of the story.

• "Richard Korn, the man from Iceland, is gone too," said Mike Moody.                             

Thomas Yeates

My fourth speaking line came on page 47.

• "This food looks delicious," said James Michael  Moody.                                                    

Michael May

My fifth speaking lines were on pages 62 and 63.

• Mike, why are you so moody today? asked Joe Ferrier. "I don't remember having attacked you in my last comments on your chronology." 
• Well. Joe, you don't seem to believe I can prove my views on the Tarzan chronology," answered Mike Moody 
• "At least, so far, nobody seems to be able to prove you wrong either," admitted Joe. "Now, wait a minute, Joe," interrupted Alan Hanson. 
•  "First, the great apes who raised Tarzan were not gorillas, and until some specimens of this species are found and studied, we can not assume they have a gestation period of 265 days like the gorillas. Second, ERB never said he described a lunar eclipse in his story Tarzan Rescues The Moon. Third, I believe Korak of Tarzan The Untamed is not the same child Burroughs talks about in The Beasts Of Tarzan. Fourth, you call your own, personal assumptions, facts 'clearly' stated by Burroughs, and yet, you do not accept the 1888 date specifically given by him. In my book, that is inconsistent, as well as contradictory, and I can't accept it." 
• "Alan replied Mike, "did you know there was a lunar eclipse on November 4, 1892, which  fits perfectly my 1872 chronology" My chronology, based on that lunar eclipse, has no Korak discrepancy, Jack and Korak are the same people, and everything fits just perfectly."     
• "Why don't you guys accept my explanation?" asked Joe. "It is very possible Tarzan and Jane might have been a little younger than Burroughs wanted to admit, that's all." "Well, it was probably for the same reason Burroughs might have chosen not to say that Tarzan was 13 and Jane was 15 when they first met," emphasized Joe. "Instead he said Tarzan was 22 and Jane 20 because he was probably afraid of moral implications, which in 1914 could have ended his career as a writer."  
• "This is almost child pornography, laughed John Martin. 
• What I can't understand is why nobody asked Tarzan how old he was when he had the opportunity to do it at the victory party," lamented Mike.                                     
•  "Maybe you were afraid to do it, and make a fool out of yourself in front of everybody,"  said  Alan. 
• "You know, Alan, you didn't ask him either," replied Mike, "were you afraid to do it, making a fool out of yourself in front of everybody?"
• "Now, guys, that's enough," intervened Gordon Scott.  
• "Stop that argument and forget about the chronology." 

Alan Hanson

My sixth speaking lines were on page 66 and Alan Hanson and I got to close out the story.

• "Mike, guess what!" said Alan. 
• "Tell me, Alan," replied Mike Moody. 
• "We forgot it again! We didn't ask Tarzan how old he is!" said Alan. 
• "Tarzan," called Mike Moody.
• "Tarzan," called Alan Hanson.  
• But Tarzan was nowhere to be found.    

Greystoke Chronologist James Michael Moody

The following two pictures are the index of ERB adventurers who went to defend Opar.

Index Of Participates-1

Index Of Participates-2

Has anybody seen my phone? Attention, please. HAS ANYONE SEEN MY PHONE? A-h-h-h-h-h... there go my photos taken in Opar. I don't know where I lost it. Maybe it will show up somewhere?.

Oparans

About The Author

James Michael Moody is a lifelong fan and collector of Edger Rice Burroughs. Moody has contributed over two hundred articles to various ERB-related fanzines, over a span of forty-five years. He also manages an unauthorized Tarzan blog titled, Greystoke Chronologist: James Michael Moody. There the researcher chronologies the Tarzan books starting in May 1872 (known as the pushback theory).instead of the more excepted date May 1888.

James Michael Moody is also the author of the action-packed Sci-Fi fantasy adventure Unium series. Pioneers On Unium, published December 31, 2019, and Exiled On Unium, published August 25, 2022. Swordsman On Unium is going through the publishing process.