I originally picked up this book in WH Smiths in the UK when it came out on paperback via Coronet Books in 1994. I had just come back from my first trip around South East Asia and was really suffering from the holiday blues when Larry Rostant's front cover really caught my eye. The full complete book is quite a big read at just under 700 pages and what a read it is! It is quite the epic saga. Following the paths of a number of very interesting characters over 20 years and how there stories are connected is a fascinating read (almost like the movie pulp fiction). This is a true book of escapism and the descriptions are so so vivid especially if you have been to this part of the world. I always wondered over the years why this book was never made into a film? Think The Killing Fields, Air America, Pulp Fiction, The Godfather and Blood Sport all rolled into one. That is the best way to describe this book. Now there's a film I'd like to see!Opium can easily compete against the likes of The Beach by Alex Garland or the DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. These two books I enjoyed and where made into movies but I think if the same was done to Opium it could lay waste to them both. I have read this book several times over the years and worn out a few paperbacks. Nice to see it digital but I wish it was complete and not in a series.I don't see Triad listed here which follow's Opium's timeline and has a few surprises thrown in. If you have read the full Opium series, your gonna love Triad!
