A review by colinandersbrodd
Tarnsman of Gor by John Norman

3.0

So I first read this book many years ago, when I was in high school. I forgot about it until recently, when the series was recommended to me by someone I met online. Oddly enough, I've been seeing references everywhere since. I even saw a copy of this very book in a bin at an Amazon warehouse where I work. Anyway, it is apparently regarded as a very important series by the BDSM community (who knew?). Like Heinlein, but more BDSM.

Anyway, it's not a bad series. But it's not a great series either. The writing can be a little cheesy. And John Norman reminds me of Robert E. Howard, in that he clearly has a philosophy he's weaving into his sci-fi/fantasy/sword&sorcery stuff. In his case, about a rough warrior ethos, and the naturally submissive nature of females. Meh. Howard had this whole "superior barbarism vs. both inferior barbarism [with racial overtones] and decadent civilization. So . . . yeah. It's good, but not great. Fun read. Better if you get into female submission, I guess