Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.95 AVERAGE
2.95 AVERAGE
Wasn't as good as people told me it was, I have a lot of friends and relatives who have read this book and they give it high marks, but I was disappointed. I also never disliked a main character before, more than I did Tarl Cabot.
To be fair, I "read" this via audiobook. I'm pretty sure I read it in hardcopy years ago. This version was hampered by having a narrator with a somewhat high pitched British accent. That made it difficult to accept the more brutal parts of the story... though the brutality is pretty tame... and the sexuality even tamer. I've the next couple in the series, but I won't be turning to them right away.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed the lore and the plot, but Tarl Cabot is the biggest Mary Sue I've read in ages!
For all the kinky shit this book inspired, it's fairly birds and bees about the actual thing.
For all the kinky shit this book inspired, it's fairly birds and bees about the actual thing.
I decided to read Tarnsman of Gor after reading an interview with John Norman on the sci-fi site i09. He was well spoken and reminded me a great deal of my college philosophy professors, and as a fan of pulp sci-fi I wondered why I had never actually read his stuff before. I knew of this series' infamy, but decided to go in with a completely open mind.
Regardless of what you may have heard (or really, what the latest release's cover may imply) this is not a collection of fantasy-themed S&M erotica. It's not even close. If that's what you want, then I'm sure there are better books out there to cater to that. Instead what Tarnsman of Gor is, is a decent (but not spectacular by any means) pulp sci-fi novel. It's very similar in concept to John Carter of Mars, but has a few differences.
For one thing, the protagonist of A Princess of Mars (and the books that followed) was a soldier, well-trained in the art of war. The central figure in Tarnsman of Gor (who has the unlikely name of "Tarl Cabot") is a college professor. If (like me) you found the plausibility of Ender's Game difficult to swallow, you may find yourself scoffing at the notion that a college professor with a small amount of fencing training was able to become, not just a warrior, but the greatest warrior on the entire planet, in a matter of weeks. It's a little silly, and clearly contains more than a little wish fulfillment on the part of the author.
The manner in which Tarl is brought to Gor is really weird, and somewhat of an open question. I almost wish Norman had skipped that part entirely, as it's even stranger than John Carter's means of transport (which was so poorly defined as to be beyond question).
The world itself is well defined however, and other than the wild winged beasts, there's other interesting wildlife and a nice feel to the politics of this region. Gor itself is supposedly on the other side of our sun, which is a little silly, but there's a lot here that's silly, so I let it go.
Of course, I can't talk about this book without mentioning the way it treats its female characters, which is, to say the least...uncomfortable. I was willing to take everything at face value, and it didn't keep me from continuing, but there were a few points in the book that I was a little taken aback. Yes, slavery is very much alive and well on Gor. Women are property (as are men, but that isn't discussed all that often). I was willing to go along with that, but Norman really slaps you across the face with it at times.
He goes out of his way to introduce a strong and willful female character, only to have her humiliated and in chains moments later. Further on in the book, after she has been won over by the apparent charms of Tarl Cabot, she is on her knees begging him to dominate her.
But again, it's not the focus of the book. Ultimately, Tarnsman of Gor is just another pulp sci-fi novel. The writing is no better or worse than your average pulp, and it was enjoyable enough.
If you can get past those instances of uncomfortable dealings with women (and there aren't that many, I swear) then you'll enjoy it, as I did. I'm not sure I'll continue with the series, but it was an enjoyable enough novel to read on a plane (even if I did raise an eyebrow every now and then).
Regardless of what you may have heard (or really, what the latest release's cover may imply) this is not a collection of fantasy-themed S&M erotica. It's not even close. If that's what you want, then I'm sure there are better books out there to cater to that. Instead what Tarnsman of Gor is, is a decent (but not spectacular by any means) pulp sci-fi novel. It's very similar in concept to John Carter of Mars, but has a few differences.
For one thing, the protagonist of A Princess of Mars (and the books that followed) was a soldier, well-trained in the art of war. The central figure in Tarnsman of Gor (who has the unlikely name of "Tarl Cabot") is a college professor. If (like me) you found the plausibility of Ender's Game difficult to swallow, you may find yourself scoffing at the notion that a college professor with a small amount of fencing training was able to become, not just a warrior, but the greatest warrior on the entire planet, in a matter of weeks. It's a little silly, and clearly contains more than a little wish fulfillment on the part of the author.
The manner in which Tarl is brought to Gor is really weird, and somewhat of an open question. I almost wish Norman had skipped that part entirely, as it's even stranger than John Carter's means of transport (which was so poorly defined as to be beyond question).
The world itself is well defined however, and other than the wild winged beasts, there's other interesting wildlife and a nice feel to the politics of this region. Gor itself is supposedly on the other side of our sun, which is a little silly, but there's a lot here that's silly, so I let it go.
Of course, I can't talk about this book without mentioning the way it treats its female characters, which is, to say the least...uncomfortable. I was willing to take everything at face value, and it didn't keep me from continuing, but there were a few points in the book that I was a little taken aback. Yes, slavery is very much alive and well on Gor. Women are property (as are men, but that isn't discussed all that often). I was willing to go along with that, but Norman really slaps you across the face with it at times.
He goes out of his way to introduce a strong and willful female character, only to have her humiliated and in chains moments later. Further on in the book, after she has been won over by the apparent charms of Tarl Cabot, she is on her knees begging him to dominate her.
But again, it's not the focus of the book. Ultimately, Tarnsman of Gor is just another pulp sci-fi novel. The writing is no better or worse than your average pulp, and it was enjoyable enough.
If you can get past those instances of uncomfortable dealings with women (and there aren't that many, I swear) then you'll enjoy it, as I did. I'm not sure I'll continue with the series, but it was an enjoyable enough novel to read on a plane (even if I did raise an eyebrow every now and then).
Enjoyable read. The story could have been better in places, but still a good book.
Not my cup of tea - very tedious to read, could not even finish it.
I may have read more than one book in this series, but even as a somewhat naive twenty-year-old, it didn't take me long to grasp that this wasn't the adventure fantasy I was expecting. What I got instead was male-centric D&S soft-core porn, with no agency at all for the female characters (if one can call them that) who were portrayed as whole heartedly enjoying their status as "slaves".
Now I like a good porn story as much as the next person, and I don't hold high literary expectations for the genre. BDSM stories, if well written, can be a good entertainment for those of us of the more vanilla persuasion. But this? Dreck! And of course it's a series, so it goes on and on in the same vein.
Strangely enough, when I said as much to my then-husband, he denied that it was porn at all, to him if was heroic fantasy. Since then of course, I've discovered that there are soft-core sub-genres in most male-oriented fiction, be it western, detective, or thrillers. I just wish they were flagged for those of us who are reading with another purpose - like plot, action, or the intellectual challenge of solving a mystery before the final page.
Now I like a good porn story as much as the next person, and I don't hold high literary expectations for the genre. BDSM stories, if well written, can be a good entertainment for those of us of the more vanilla persuasion. But this? Dreck! And of course it's a series, so it goes on and on in the same vein.
Strangely enough, when I said as much to my then-husband, he denied that it was porn at all, to him if was heroic fantasy. Since then of course, I've discovered that there are soft-core sub-genres in most male-oriented fiction, be it western, detective, or thrillers. I just wish they were flagged for those of us who are reading with another purpose - like plot, action, or the intellectual challenge of solving a mystery before the final page.
Ah, yes... the Gor series. At first it was just sort of Nietzchean-Burroughsian sword-and-sandal escapism with an overtone of sexist-pigotry, but then he spun off into porno world-building. Not that I don't like porn (I do), but the series became increasingly bizarre and the author's sexual obsessions got more and more obvious as the series progressed. It is kind of like watching a slow-motion train wreck.
If he'd written them as porn, he would have been long since forgotten; I'm still pretty amazed that a mainstream publisher ever published these. It's all astonishingly Burroughsian and kinky at the same time.
Truth be told, I love these books -- I think Norman's writing is pulpy and effective and the stories cook along at a brisk pace. I think the action sequences work and the politics and world-building are WAY less clunky and boneheaded than that of ERB -- in fact, I think Norman's universe is actually pretty fun even taking the SM out of the equation. I find them enjoyable and fun. And Tarnsman of Gor is my favorite among them.
If he'd written them as porn, he would have been long since forgotten; I'm still pretty amazed that a mainstream publisher ever published these. It's all astonishingly Burroughsian and kinky at the same time.
Truth be told, I love these books -- I think Norman's writing is pulpy and effective and the stories cook along at a brisk pace. I think the action sequences work and the politics and world-building are WAY less clunky and boneheaded than that of ERB -- in fact, I think Norman's universe is actually pretty fun even taking the SM out of the equation. I find them enjoyable and fun. And Tarnsman of Gor is my favorite among them.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Read this and more crime, thriller, horror and pulp reviews on CriminOlly.com
To say that John Norman’s ‘Gor’ books are problematic is an understatement. Set in a fantastic and brutal “Counter Earth”, they describe a society where slavery is a natural part of life (for both slaves and their owners) and women typically submit to men in S&M style relationships. The mix of pulp fantasy and misogynist philosophy made the books very popular in the 70s and 80s and has even spawned a Gorean sub-culture which lurks both online in places like ‘Second Life’. Despite being in his late 80s now, Norman is still writing the books, albeit at a much slower rate than he did in their heyday. The most recent, ‘Avengers of Gor’ is number 36 in the series.
I was fascinated by the books as a teenager, for reasons that will be obvious to anyone who has seen the covers of the Star books editions in the UK, but I don’t think I actually read any of them until I was well into adulthood. Like many pulp fiction works, they challenge the modern reader to answer the question – is it okay that I’m enjoying this horrible book?
Plot-wise this is typical sci fi/fantasy fare, with a definite nod to Edgar Rice Burroughs. Hero Tarl Cabot is a university professor in the USA (as was the author) who gets whisked off to Gor in a flying saucer type thing. Once there he meets his father (who had vanished when Tarl was a child) and becomes immersed in Gorean society. This involves him learning to fight and then going on a quest to steal a relic from a rival city state. Along the way there are plenty of slave girls, giant birds which people ride (called tarns), huge intelligent spiders and lots of fighting. We’re also introduced to the concept of the ‘Priest Kings’, mysterious creatures who rule the planet and restrict technology to keep it in a kind of medieval state.
Despite the promise of those covers, there’s no explicit sex at all, although there is a lot of S&M style paraphernalia, with the slave girls wearing handcuffs and hoods. There’s also a romantic sub plot involving Tarl and a princess, who is at first his sworn enemy but who he manages to dominate to the point she falls in love with him. You get the picture.
For all it’s appalling philosophising on gender politics, it’s an entertaining read. It moves at the right pace for this kind of thing, is packed with action and colour, and has the kind of energy that makes pulp adventures fun. Whilst it’s impossible to put the misogyny completely out of your mind, it didn’t ruin the book for me. Your mileage may vary.
To say that John Norman’s ‘Gor’ books are problematic is an understatement. Set in a fantastic and brutal “Counter Earth”, they describe a society where slavery is a natural part of life (for both slaves and their owners) and women typically submit to men in S&M style relationships. The mix of pulp fantasy and misogynist philosophy made the books very popular in the 70s and 80s and has even spawned a Gorean sub-culture which lurks both online in places like ‘Second Life’. Despite being in his late 80s now, Norman is still writing the books, albeit at a much slower rate than he did in their heyday. The most recent, ‘Avengers of Gor’ is number 36 in the series.
I was fascinated by the books as a teenager, for reasons that will be obvious to anyone who has seen the covers of the Star books editions in the UK, but I don’t think I actually read any of them until I was well into adulthood. Like many pulp fiction works, they challenge the modern reader to answer the question – is it okay that I’m enjoying this horrible book?
Plot-wise this is typical sci fi/fantasy fare, with a definite nod to Edgar Rice Burroughs. Hero Tarl Cabot is a university professor in the USA (as was the author) who gets whisked off to Gor in a flying saucer type thing. Once there he meets his father (who had vanished when Tarl was a child) and becomes immersed in Gorean society. This involves him learning to fight and then going on a quest to steal a relic from a rival city state. Along the way there are plenty of slave girls, giant birds which people ride (called tarns), huge intelligent spiders and lots of fighting. We’re also introduced to the concept of the ‘Priest Kings’, mysterious creatures who rule the planet and restrict technology to keep it in a kind of medieval state.
Despite the promise of those covers, there’s no explicit sex at all, although there is a lot of S&M style paraphernalia, with the slave girls wearing handcuffs and hoods. There’s also a romantic sub plot involving Tarl and a princess, who is at first his sworn enemy but who he manages to dominate to the point she falls in love with him. You get the picture.
For all it’s appalling philosophising on gender politics, it’s an entertaining read. It moves at the right pace for this kind of thing, is packed with action and colour, and has the kind of energy that makes pulp adventures fun. Whilst it’s impossible to put the misogyny completely out of your mind, it didn’t ruin the book for me. Your mileage may vary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Decent story, once you get into it, though Norman could have used a much better editor. The writing itself sometimes gets in the way of the story, and Norman has never met a five-syllable word he didn’t want to stuff into his writing.
That being said, there are some legitimate criticisms of this book when it comes to the misogynistic viewpoint of the citizens of Gor. That is the beauty of fiction, though, that one can explore a lot of different viewpoints, even if they’re controversial.
If you like light fluff that has a cult following, it’s for you. If you’re going to be put off by mediocre writing, a TON of deus-ex-machina, and a distinctly misogynistic society, you’re probably going to want to pass.
That being said, there are some legitimate criticisms of this book when it comes to the misogynistic viewpoint of the citizens of Gor. That is the beauty of fiction, though, that one can explore a lot of different viewpoints, even if they’re controversial.
If you like light fluff that has a cult following, it’s for you. If you’re going to be put off by mediocre writing, a TON of deus-ex-machina, and a distinctly misogynistic society, you’re probably going to want to pass.