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Gor

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For other uses, see Gor (disambiguation).

Gor, the Counter-Earth, is the alternate-world setting for John Norman's "Chronicles of Gor," a series of 26 novels that combine philosophy, erotica and science fiction. On- and off-line followers of the philosophies and lifestyle outlined in the books are called Goreans.

Summary

Gor is an intricately detailed world in terms of flora, fauna, and customs. John Norman — pen-name of Dr. John Lange, a professor of Philosophy and a classical scholar — often delights in ethnography, populating his planet with the equivalents of Roman, Greek, Native American, Viking, and other cultures. The Gorean humans have advanced architectural and medical skills (including life extension), but remain primitive in the fields of transportation and weaponry (at approximately the level of Classical Mediterranean civilization) due to restrictions on technology imposed by a shadowy insectoid ruling species, the "Priest-Kings", who brutally suppress technology beyond a certain point.

The planet Gor has lower gravity than earth's (which allows for the existence of large flying creatures, and tall towers connected by aerial bridges in the cities), and would have an even lower gravity if not for the technology of the Priest-Kings. The known geography of Gor consists mainly of the western seabord of a continent which runs from the arctic in the north to south of the equator, with the Thassa Ocean to the west, and the Voltai mountain range forming an eastern boundary at many latitudes. There are also offshore islands in the ocean, and some relatively sparsely-settled plains to the east of the Voltai. The word "Gor" itself means home stone in the Gorean language (the native language of the city-states in the northern temperate region, and a widely-spoken lingua franca in many other areas).

Most of the novels in the series are action adventures, with many of the military engagements borrowing liberally from historic ones, such as the trireme battles of ancient Greece and the castle sieges of medieval Europe. Ar, a Rome-like city in which several of the novels are set, maintains a "margin of desolation" similar to that of Mesopotamia's Gu-Edin.

The series is a planetary romance and the first book, "Tarnsman of Gor," opens with some scenes very reminiscent of the first book of the Barsoom series by Edgar Rice Burroughs, who helped create the genre; both feature the protagonist narrating his adventures after being magically transported to another world. These parallels end after the first few books, when the stories of the books begin to be structured along a loose plot arc involving the struggles of the city-state of Ar and the island of Cos to control the Vosk river area, as well as the struggles at a higher level between non-human Priest-Kings and Kurii (see below) to control the whole planet.

On Gor, men are the rulers and women are sometimes chattel; their interactions often feature what some consider the machismic stereotypes of Gorean society. This has led many to regard the works, rightly or wrongly, as blatantly misogynistic. (For further elaboration on the psychosexual content of Norman's writings, see John Norman.)

Criticism has also been levelled at Norman's prose, which is often fraught with unnecessary diction and stilted dialogue, and a fondness for certain dubious forms such as "muchly". Passages — especially in books later in the series, when the protagonist begins to assimilate into Gorean society — occasionally veer off into philosophical tangents lampooning feminism and liberalism at length.

Books

The Gorean Kajira "kef" symbol.
  1. Tarnsman of Gor (1967)
  2. Outlaw of Gor (1967)
  3. Priest-Kings of Gor (1968)
  4. Nomads of Gor (1969)
  5. Assassin of Gor (1970)
  6. Raiders of Gor (1971)
  7. Captive of Gor (1972)
  8. Hunters of Gor (1974)
  9. Marauders of Gor (1975)
  10. Tribesmen of Gor (1976)
  11. Slave Girl of Gor (1977)
  12. Beasts of Gor (1978)
  13. Explorers of Gor (1979)
  14. Fighting Slave of Gor (1981)
  15. Rogue of Gor (1981)
  16. Guardsman of Gor (1981)
  17. Savages of Gor (1982)
  18. Blood Brothers of Gor (1982)
  19. Kajira of Gor (1983)
  20. Players of Gor (1984)
  21. Mercenaries of Gor (1985)
  22. Dancer of Gor (1986)
  23. Renegades of Gor (1986)
  24. Vagabonds of Gor (1987)
  25. Magicians of Gor (1988)
  26. Witness of Gor (2001)

Norman has allegedly completed another a 27th book, Prize of Gor, which has yet to be printed.

General notes

Most of the books are narrated by transplanted New England professor Tarl Cabot, master swordsman and possibly Norman's alter-ego, as he engages in adventures involving Priest-Kings, Kurii, and humans alike. Books 7, 11, 19, and 26 are narrated by abducted earth women who are made slaves. Books 14 to 16 are narrated by abductee and initially male slave Jason Marshal.

The series features several sentient alien races. The most important to the books are the insectoid Priest-Kings and the ogre-esque Kurii, both space-farers from foreign star systems. The Priest-Kings rule Gor as somewhat disinterested custodians, leaving humans to their own affairs as long as they abide by certain restrictions on technology. The Kurii are an aggressive, invasive race with advanced technology (but less so than that of the Priest-Kings) who wish to colonize Gor and Earth. The power of the Priest-Kings is diminished after the "Nest War" described in the third book, and for the most part, Priest-Kings and Kurii struggle against each other only by proxy, through their respective human agents and spies. Some critics have commented that these antipoles — the dispassionate, ultra-rationalist Priest-Kings who find little joy in existence and the Kurii who simply follow their savage instincts and kill in their lack of reflection — are an allegorical appeal to moderate human behavior.

Norman reputedly began the series after wagering that he could write a sword-and-sorcery novel that would sell successfully. Early entries in the series were simple plot-driven space opera adventures, with later entries growing more heavily philosophical and sexual.

Influences

Many historical cultures of Earth are reflected in the novels of Gor. Although the Greco-Roman is the most often noted of these, this is not the only society tweaked and presented on Gor by John Norman. If you are familar with Earth's history, you will notice many similarities to some historical civilizations in various regions of Gor (explained in the books by early "voyages of acquisition" which the Priest-Kings undertook in order to populate Gor with humans taken from different parts of earth).

The majority of "known Gor", as the Vosk river region in the temperate north of the continent is often referred to, is reminiscent of ancient Greco-Roman city-states in many respects (aside from the delta city of Port Kar which has more in common with Caribbean Pirates). The most common dating system is Contasta Ar, or years since the founding of Ar (similar to ab urbe condita). In Gor's Torvaldsland, you might think you'd encountered Earth's Vikings. The "Red Savage" peoples of the Barrens are populated with a culture perhaps based upon the Great Plains of North America. The "Wagon Peoples" seem similar to the Mongols, the Alars to Eastern Europe's gypsies. The peoples of the Tahari desert correlate to the nomads of Arabia, the Gorean regions around Schendi to Amazon or Congo River valley populations. The peoples of far north Gor, or the "Red Hunters" as Norman sometimes referred to them, are clearly Inuit — in this case to the point of referring to them as such.

See also

Official publisher site

General information

Forums

Goreans

Parody/humor

Movies

  • Two films have been made (often considered generic grade-B sci-fi flicks only very loosely based on Norman's books): Gor and Outlaw of Gor
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