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Gor #3
Los Reyes Sacerdotes de Gor
primera edicion noviembre 1988, 282 paginas, tapa bland, en estdo aceptable
282 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2014
163 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
John Norman
99 books337 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
John Norman, real name John Lange, was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1931. His best known works, the Gor series, currently span 36 books written 1966 (Tarnsman of Gor) to 2021 (Avengers of Gor). Three installments of the Telnarian Histories, plus three other fiction works and a non-fiction paperback. Mr. Norman is married and has three children.
John Norman, real name John Lange, was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1931. His best known works, the Gor series, currently span 36 books written 1966 (Tarnsman of Gor) to 2021 (Avengers of Gor). Three installments of the Telnarian Histories, plus three other fiction works and a non-fiction paperback. Mr. Norman is married and has three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
December 18, 2010
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.
I’m not sure why I’m still reading the Gor books. I guess it’s partly because Brilliance Audio has kindly sent them to me (they are nice productions), but it’s also largely because these books have been maligned for years as poorly written sexist-BDSM-erotica, so I can’t help but want to see for myself before dismissing them as such. After finishing book 3, Priest-Kings of Gor, here’s my take so far:
They are not poorly written. The quality of the writing is quite good except for the overuse of phrases such as “to my amazement,” “to my surprise,” “I found it strange that,” “I marveled,” “I was astonished,” “I looked at him dumb-founded,” “I was thunder-struck,” etc. This may be more noticeable with the audio version, because the narrator, Ralph Lister, reads vivaciously, so these expressions of enthusiasm seem a little overdone. (But generally I appreciate Lister’s spirit and recommend the audio version if you want to read the Gor books.)
The best aspect of the books, “to my surprise,” is the world building. John Norman has created a fully detailed alternate world which is fun to explore. In Priest-Kings of Gor, we finally meet the Priest-Kings who rule the planet, and they are not at all what we were expecting. In fact, they’re a different species altogether and Norman gives a lot of attention to their language, culture, sensory systems, and lifestyle. Personally, I found the Priest-Kings to be somewhat disturbing (I won’t go into details so as not to spoil things), so I didn’t enjoy spending so much time with them, but other readers are likely to feel differently.
The Gor books are not, so far, erotic. Yeah, there are beautiful scantily-clad pouty women in chains who are kneeling at Tarl Cabot’s feet and claiming to be his pleasure slaves, but so far that’s all they do. It’s pretty silly, really. Which leads me to my next point:
Sexist? Yes — but trying so hard not to be. And, unfortunately, this is where Gor goes wrong. It’s too hard to take it seriously because mostly it just feels like a teenage boy’s wet dream. That’s because Tarl Cabot keeps talking like he’s a feminist and denying that any woman is his slave, yet he keeps getting himself in these situations where he accidentally procures a female slave. These ladies are invariably beautiful and proud and are at first contemptuous, insolent, arrogant, and headstrong. Cabot admires their spirit and refuses to consider these wonderful humans to be slaves, but then two things happen:
1. He suspects them of treachery (while I’m wondering how they can be faithless if they’re not his slaves) and uses this as an excuse to degrade them (“Be silent, slave!”, “Wake up, wench!”), grab them by their hair and throw them around.
2. His refusal to use them as pleasure slaves insults them and makes them pout and demand to know if they’re not pretty enough for him (my goodness, aren’t they silly?).
The end result is that each slave girl becomes submissive and is soon begging to please him (“please, master!”) and insisting that she loves him and wanted to wear his collar all along. Tarl, meanwhile, innocently insists that he doesn’t understand.
After thinking about it for a while Tarl realizes that “every woman in her heart wants to wear the chains of a man” and that Gor is a man’s world and that women rejoice in this. In Priest-Kings of Gor, he uses natural selection to explain that men have evolved to be courageous and aggressive and that women have evolved to be submissive because they need food and shelter and to be forced to reproduce. If they’re too independent, they’ll die before breeding. Thus, natural selection favors submissive women who want to belong to a man.
Those ideas are intriguing and I won’t completely dismiss them out of hand, but then Cabot goes on to suggest that if a woman is grabbed by her hair, thrown down, and raped, she considers this “proof of her mate’s regard” and the “expected culmination of her innate desire to be dominated.” Cabot’s evidence for this is our practice of giving a bride a wedding ring and carrying her over the threshold, which he suggests are analogous to bondage and rape, respectively.
I don’t know a lot of women who are going to find these ideas acceptable or stimulating, but some do, and that’s fine with me. The problem with the Gor books, though, is that they try to propound this idea while trying to make Tarl Cabot out to be a humanist (and specifically a feminist) at the same time, and that doesn’t work. It just makes him sound like an idiot.
In one scene, a slave girl assigned to take care of him while he’s in a particular room says she’s hungry and Tarl (who has just met her and didn’t know she hadn’t eaten) curses himself for not thinking about the feelings “of a girl who must be protected and cared for.” One minute later, she says something slightly snippy and he disciplines her by not letting her eat dinner. In fact, he’s constantly flipping between spouting humanistic sentiments and announcing that a slave girl (who he says isn’t his slave girl) needs discipline so she’ll learn her place. Um… what place? It’s no wonder he doesn’t understand these women — he can’t even keep his own philosophies straight in his own head.
The whole thing would work better if Tarl Cabot found himself on this misogynist planet and, while being shocked at first, admitted and embraced the fact that all his puerile fantasies had come true and just went with it. Stop making excuses, Tarl. Stop accusing women of secretly wanting to be yelled at, bullied, thrown around, and raped. Gor is a man’s world, so just shut up, get out your collars and chains, and have some fun, okay?
I’m not sure why I’m still reading the Gor books. I guess it’s partly because Brilliance Audio has kindly sent them to me (they are nice productions), but it’s also largely because these books have been maligned for years as poorly written sexist-BDSM-erotica, so I can’t help but want to see for myself before dismissing them as such. After finishing book 3, Priest-Kings of Gor, here’s my take so far:
They are not poorly written. The quality of the writing is quite good except for the overuse of phrases such as “to my amazement,” “to my surprise,” “I found it strange that,” “I marveled,” “I was astonished,” “I looked at him dumb-founded,” “I was thunder-struck,” etc. This may be more noticeable with the audio version, because the narrator, Ralph Lister, reads vivaciously, so these expressions of enthusiasm seem a little overdone. (But generally I appreciate Lister’s spirit and recommend the audio version if you want to read the Gor books.)
The best aspect of the books, “to my surprise,” is the world building. John Norman has created a fully detailed alternate world which is fun to explore. In Priest-Kings of Gor, we finally meet the Priest-Kings who rule the planet, and they are not at all what we were expecting. In fact, they’re a different species altogether and Norman gives a lot of attention to their language, culture, sensory systems, and lifestyle. Personally, I found the Priest-Kings to be somewhat disturbing (I won’t go into details so as not to spoil things), so I didn’t enjoy spending so much time with them, but other readers are likely to feel differently.
The Gor books are not, so far, erotic. Yeah, there are beautiful scantily-clad pouty women in chains who are kneeling at Tarl Cabot’s feet and claiming to be his pleasure slaves, but so far that’s all they do. It’s pretty silly, really. Which leads me to my next point:
Sexist? Yes — but trying so hard not to be. And, unfortunately, this is where Gor goes wrong. It’s too hard to take it seriously because mostly it just feels like a teenage boy’s wet dream. That’s because Tarl Cabot keeps talking like he’s a feminist and denying that any woman is his slave, yet he keeps getting himself in these situations where he accidentally procures a female slave. These ladies are invariably beautiful and proud and are at first contemptuous, insolent, arrogant, and headstrong. Cabot admires their spirit and refuses to consider these wonderful humans to be slaves, but then two things happen:
1. He suspects them of treachery (while I’m wondering how they can be faithless if they’re not his slaves) and uses this as an excuse to degrade them (“Be silent, slave!”, “Wake up, wench!”), grab them by their hair and throw them around.
2. His refusal to use them as pleasure slaves insults them and makes them pout and demand to know if they’re not pretty enough for him (my goodness, aren’t they silly?).
The end result is that each slave girl becomes submissive and is soon begging to please him (“please, master!”) and insisting that she loves him and wanted to wear his collar all along. Tarl, meanwhile, innocently insists that he doesn’t understand.
After thinking about it for a while Tarl realizes that “every woman in her heart wants to wear the chains of a man” and that Gor is a man’s world and that women rejoice in this. In Priest-Kings of Gor, he uses natural selection to explain that men have evolved to be courageous and aggressive and that women have evolved to be submissive because they need food and shelter and to be forced to reproduce. If they’re too independent, they’ll die before breeding. Thus, natural selection favors submissive women who want to belong to a man.
Those ideas are intriguing and I won’t completely dismiss them out of hand, but then Cabot goes on to suggest that if a woman is grabbed by her hair, thrown down, and raped, she considers this “proof of her mate’s regard” and the “expected culmination of her innate desire to be dominated.” Cabot’s evidence for this is our practice of giving a bride a wedding ring and carrying her over the threshold, which he suggests are analogous to bondage and rape, respectively.
I don’t know a lot of women who are going to find these ideas acceptable or stimulating, but some do, and that’s fine with me. The problem with the Gor books, though, is that they try to propound this idea while trying to make Tarl Cabot out to be a humanist (and specifically a feminist) at the same time, and that doesn’t work. It just makes him sound like an idiot.
In one scene, a slave girl assigned to take care of him while he’s in a particular room says she’s hungry and Tarl (who has just met her and didn’t know she hadn’t eaten) curses himself for not thinking about the feelings “of a girl who must be protected and cared for.” One minute later, she says something slightly snippy and he disciplines her by not letting her eat dinner. In fact, he’s constantly flipping between spouting humanistic sentiments and announcing that a slave girl (who he says isn’t his slave girl) needs discipline so she’ll learn her place. Um… what place? It’s no wonder he doesn’t understand these women — he can’t even keep his own philosophies straight in his own head.
The whole thing would work better if Tarl Cabot found himself on this misogynist planet and, while being shocked at first, admitted and embraced the fact that all his puerile fantasies had come true and just went with it. Stop making excuses, Tarl. Stop accusing women of secretly wanting to be yelled at, bullied, thrown around, and raped. Gor is a man’s world, so just shut up, get out your collars and chains, and have some fun, okay?
July 9, 2022
Para muchos el mejor libro de la saga Gor, para mí el segundo mejor después de "Asesino de Gor", aunque de él hablaré a futuro en otra reseña.
Aquí, en "Reyes sacerdotes", su autor se vuelve bastante más ambicioso qué en sus anteriores novelas y nos entrega una aventura muy original con conceptos e ideas que no había leído en ningún otro libro de fantasía previamente. La peculiar forma de comunicarse de Los Reyes sacerdotes o el asunto del escarabajo de oro, por ejemplo, son conceptos que lograron sorprenderme y mantenerme interesado a lo largo de toda la trama, la que cubrirá su llegada a los montes Sardos y su posterior participación en las guerras internas de los mal llamados dioses.
Por otra parte, la historia se centra casi exclusivamente en la aventura del personaje y los descubrimientos que él va realizando en este lugar al que llaman "el nido", por lo que no tendremos que lidiar con aquella repetitiva y cancina filosofía -algo misogina- por la qué se ha hecho tan famoso este autor, pues la aparición de ésta es mínima.
Aún así, no todo es bueno en ésta novela, pues a pesar de las ideas tan originales que el autor nos entrega, el libro está narrado en gran parte de manera muy descuidada, dejándote la sensación de que es un primer borrador a medio revisar... y digo esto porque el primer tercio de la novela está muy bien contado con mucho detalle y pausas adecuadas. Cómo si el autor se hubiera tomado el tiempo suficiente para corregir y pulir con calma estos capítulos. Para luego dejar todo tal cuál lo concibió a la primera, hay extensivos saltos temporales, batallas resumidas en dos líneas, giros de tuerca sin justificación previa, entre otros. Cómo si se le hubiera venido el plazo de entrega encima o le hubiera dado flojera continuar escribiendo por lo que el autor aceleró indiscriminadamente el desarrollo del libro para terminar rapido, dejando la sensación de rompecabeza mal hecho. Los acelerados hechos de los últimos dos tercios de la novela no encajan con el pausado y detallado primer tercio.
En fin, para mí está novela es una oportunidad perdida. Una novela que pudo haber rozado el virtuosismo, pero que se ve enlodada por su desprolija narrativa. Aunque bueno, John Norman tampoco es que sea un gran escritor... solo es lo suficientemente eficiente para mantenerte interesado, sin llegar a destacar, sin llegar a aburrir... y eso a mi opinión está bien.
Recomiendo esta novela! No es necesario haber leído las anteriores para disfrutarla! Norman aquí demuestra una gran imaginación!
Aquí, en "Reyes sacerdotes", su autor se vuelve bastante más ambicioso qué en sus anteriores novelas y nos entrega una aventura muy original con conceptos e ideas que no había leído en ningún otro libro de fantasía previamente. La peculiar forma de comunicarse de Los Reyes sacerdotes o el asunto del escarabajo de oro, por ejemplo, son conceptos que lograron sorprenderme y mantenerme interesado a lo largo de toda la trama, la que cubrirá su llegada a los montes Sardos y su posterior participación en las guerras internas de los mal llamados dioses.
Por otra parte, la historia se centra casi exclusivamente en la aventura del personaje y los descubrimientos que él va realizando en este lugar al que llaman "el nido", por lo que no tendremos que lidiar con aquella repetitiva y cancina filosofía -algo misogina- por la qué se ha hecho tan famoso este autor, pues la aparición de ésta es mínima.
Aún así, no todo es bueno en ésta novela, pues a pesar de las ideas tan originales que el autor nos entrega, el libro está narrado en gran parte de manera muy descuidada, dejándote la sensación de que es un primer borrador a medio revisar... y digo esto porque el primer tercio de la novela está muy bien contado con mucho detalle y pausas adecuadas. Cómo si el autor se hubiera tomado el tiempo suficiente para corregir y pulir con calma estos capítulos. Para luego dejar todo tal cuál lo concibió a la primera, hay extensivos saltos temporales, batallas resumidas en dos líneas, giros de tuerca sin justificación previa, entre otros. Cómo si se le hubiera venido el plazo de entrega encima o le hubiera dado flojera continuar escribiendo por lo que el autor aceleró indiscriminadamente el desarrollo del libro para terminar rapido, dejando la sensación de rompecabeza mal hecho. Los acelerados hechos de los últimos dos tercios de la novela no encajan con el pausado y detallado primer tercio.
En fin, para mí está novela es una oportunidad perdida. Una novela que pudo haber rozado el virtuosismo, pero que se ve enlodada por su desprolija narrativa. Aunque bueno, John Norman tampoco es que sea un gran escritor... solo es lo suficientemente eficiente para mantenerte interesado, sin llegar a destacar, sin llegar a aburrir... y eso a mi opinión está bien.
Recomiendo esta novela! No es necesario haber leído las anteriores para disfrutarla! Norman aquí demuestra una gran imaginación!
November 16, 2016
I'm in the middle of reading as many of the "Gor" S&M erotic fantasy novels as I can stand, as a sort of guilty holiday gift to myself; see my review of the first book, Tarnsman of Gor, for more on why these books came to my attention in the first place. This is the third book of the series and is an odd one, sort of the Gorean equivalent of Beneath the Planet of the Apes; for after two books that were naked ripoffs of Edgar Rice Burroughs' action-adventure "Barsoom" series, this third book takes place almost entirely within the labyrinthine mountain dwelling of the all-powerful gods who supposedly created this "counter-earth" where our hero Tarl Cabot finds himself, a weird and trippy story reflective of its 1968 publishing date. (The term "counter-earth," by the way, comes from the fact that the planet is supposed to be on the exact opposite side of the sun as Earth, orbiting at the same exact speed, so that none of us Earthlings ever know of its existence.)
And what does Cabot discover from his forbidden adventures inside these endless caves, from which no Gorean has ever returned? Well, basically, that the "priest-kings" of Gor are in actuality insectoid space aliens, ones way more intelligent than us, who have been kidnapping tribes of humans from Earth every so often over the last several thousand years, mostly so they can study them in case Earth ever gets technologically advanced enough to attack Gor, and also to preserve the species since these aliens have become convinced that humans will blow themselves up long before they ever have a chance to attack Gor itself. But since the captured humans on Gor could easily overpower the priest-kings if they were to possess modern technology, the aliens have made it impossible for that technology to exist, essentially freezing the human race in the "Conan the Barbarian" times we've become familiar with in the first two books; and lacking the technology that would let them "progress" into a modern "enlightened" society, they have instead worked out and perfected humanity's actual system of existence that they were supposed to have lived all along (according to author John Norman, that is), where men are the undisputed leaders and rulers of society, women their natural slaves who are only good for sexual release and doing the laundry, and intellectuals like scholars and priests are cowardly faggot scum who are at the heart of every bit of villainy found on the planet.
And it's in this, really, where we first start getting an understanding of why so many millions of people have been such passionate haters of this series over the decades, an understanding that I'm told gets just more and more obvious as the books continue; for in Norman's world, it's not that women are treated as slaves against their wishes, but that everyone understands and agrees that this is the natural way of things, a sort of foregone conclusion that of course those with vaginas are nothing more than fuckable cattle, and that it's so preposterous to suggest otherwise that no one ever does. But this isn't sexist, though, argues Norman, because on the other side of the gender equation, the only warrior-men who are allowed to own a slave are those who are noble of heart, who truly love their slave, and who are prepared to do whatever it takes to treat her right. If you don't have a noble heart, Norman argues, then by definition you're an inferior warrior; and that means a superior warrior can come along at any time, kill you and take your slave, thus providing her with the caring and loving home she deserved all along. So, see? It all works out!
Even this early in the series, I'm coming to realize that this is why critics of the "Gor" novels find them so creepy and weird, not simply bad but literally a Freudian portrait of a diseased mind; it's not necessarily from what Norman posits in these books (plenty of fantasy novels over the years have featured "love-slaves"), but rather that Norman is so obsessively fetishistic about the subjects he chooses to write about, thorough to the point of OCD mental illness and who talks about these subjects in a way that will remind you of some homeless pervert sitting across from you on the bus, sniffing a stained panty while staring deep into your eyes and grunting, "You're fuckable. Yes you are. Oh God you're so fuckable. Yes you are."
The sexual side of this obsessive fetishizing is still not on full display in this third book of the series (although it does contain the largest look yet at the sexual-humiliation rituals that are a regular part of male-female Gorean relationships); but certainly though you can see Norman the panty-sniffer lurking behind, for example, the ridiculously unending descriptions he gives in this book of how the space-alien priest-kings supposedly have a thousand-percent better sense of smell than humans, and thus have built their entire social structure around this, including permanent language based not on writing but on smelling, and how there are 72 specific scents in their "alphabet," and how instead of books they have ropes that they have "deposited" specific scents on in a specific order, so that one of the other praying-mantis-looking aliens read it by sniffing the rope from beginning to end in the same order. Ugh, Norman, stop staring into my eyes and whispering how fuckable I am!
I'm looking forward to finally getting to the point where all this fetishizing finally spills out into the open, which I've been told happens around book 6 or 7; for while these first books are kind of interesting, they're really not much more than so-so traditional swords-and-sandals fantasy novels, a genre I'm not particularly into. As always, more updates as they're available; and don't forget that when this is all done, I'll be erasing all these individual reviews and replacing them with one big essay that looks at the series as a whole.
And what does Cabot discover from his forbidden adventures inside these endless caves, from which no Gorean has ever returned? Well, basically, that the "priest-kings" of Gor are in actuality insectoid space aliens, ones way more intelligent than us, who have been kidnapping tribes of humans from Earth every so often over the last several thousand years, mostly so they can study them in case Earth ever gets technologically advanced enough to attack Gor, and also to preserve the species since these aliens have become convinced that humans will blow themselves up long before they ever have a chance to attack Gor itself. But since the captured humans on Gor could easily overpower the priest-kings if they were to possess modern technology, the aliens have made it impossible for that technology to exist, essentially freezing the human race in the "Conan the Barbarian" times we've become familiar with in the first two books; and lacking the technology that would let them "progress" into a modern "enlightened" society, they have instead worked out and perfected humanity's actual system of existence that they were supposed to have lived all along (according to author John Norman, that is), where men are the undisputed leaders and rulers of society, women their natural slaves who are only good for sexual release and doing the laundry, and intellectuals like scholars and priests are cowardly faggot scum who are at the heart of every bit of villainy found on the planet.
And it's in this, really, where we first start getting an understanding of why so many millions of people have been such passionate haters of this series over the decades, an understanding that I'm told gets just more and more obvious as the books continue; for in Norman's world, it's not that women are treated as slaves against their wishes, but that everyone understands and agrees that this is the natural way of things, a sort of foregone conclusion that of course those with vaginas are nothing more than fuckable cattle, and that it's so preposterous to suggest otherwise that no one ever does. But this isn't sexist, though, argues Norman, because on the other side of the gender equation, the only warrior-men who are allowed to own a slave are those who are noble of heart, who truly love their slave, and who are prepared to do whatever it takes to treat her right. If you don't have a noble heart, Norman argues, then by definition you're an inferior warrior; and that means a superior warrior can come along at any time, kill you and take your slave, thus providing her with the caring and loving home she deserved all along. So, see? It all works out!
Even this early in the series, I'm coming to realize that this is why critics of the "Gor" novels find them so creepy and weird, not simply bad but literally a Freudian portrait of a diseased mind; it's not necessarily from what Norman posits in these books (plenty of fantasy novels over the years have featured "love-slaves"), but rather that Norman is so obsessively fetishistic about the subjects he chooses to write about, thorough to the point of OCD mental illness and who talks about these subjects in a way that will remind you of some homeless pervert sitting across from you on the bus, sniffing a stained panty while staring deep into your eyes and grunting, "You're fuckable. Yes you are. Oh God you're so fuckable. Yes you are."
The sexual side of this obsessive fetishizing is still not on full display in this third book of the series (although it does contain the largest look yet at the sexual-humiliation rituals that are a regular part of male-female Gorean relationships); but certainly though you can see Norman the panty-sniffer lurking behind, for example, the ridiculously unending descriptions he gives in this book of how the space-alien priest-kings supposedly have a thousand-percent better sense of smell than humans, and thus have built their entire social structure around this, including permanent language based not on writing but on smelling, and how there are 72 specific scents in their "alphabet," and how instead of books they have ropes that they have "deposited" specific scents on in a specific order, so that one of the other praying-mantis-looking aliens read it by sniffing the rope from beginning to end in the same order. Ugh, Norman, stop staring into my eyes and whispering how fuckable I am!
I'm looking forward to finally getting to the point where all this fetishizing finally spills out into the open, which I've been told happens around book 6 or 7; for while these first books are kind of interesting, they're really not much more than so-so traditional swords-and-sandals fantasy novels, a genre I'm not particularly into. As always, more updates as they're available; and don't forget that when this is all done, I'll be erasing all these individual reviews and replacing them with one big essay that looks at the series as a whole.
August 18, 2010
All I can say right now is that in my head the Priest-Kings look like giant golden praying mantises... and its kind of awesome.
As to the rest, if you choose to see mysoginy (which I care so little for that I can't even spell it right, heh) in it feel free but I disagree. In the reality of the world that the books are set in, its simply the natural way of things. Just like in Planet of the Apes
Certain stories require not only a suspension of disbelief but a suspension of self, setting aside pre-concieved notions and judgments that will prevent you from enjoying the tale that contains elements that some may find distasteful.
I don't feel that it oppresses me as a woman in any way, in fact I find it kinda sexy.
To each their own.
As to the rest, if you choose to see mysoginy (which I care so little for that I can't even spell it right, heh) in it feel free but I disagree. In the reality of the world that the books are set in, its simply the natural way of things. Just like in Planet of the Apes
Certain stories require not only a suspension of disbelief but a suspension of self, setting aside pre-concieved notions and judgments that will prevent you from enjoying the tale that contains elements that some may find distasteful.
I don't feel that it oppresses me as a woman in any way, in fact I find it kinda sexy.
To each their own.
November 29, 2014
John Norman's Priest-Kings of Gor is about a Hero whose city has been destroyed, whose friends and family have been scattered and isolated one from another, and who knows exactly who to blame for it. The responsible parties are the planet's alien overlords, the Priest-Kings, whom the Hero, Tarl Cabot, has hated since first learning of their existence. So it follows that Tarl will travel to their mountain domain and kick the crap out of them. That's the way these stories go.
But it isn't quite the way this one goes. Part of the reason for this is that the Priest-Kings don't act without reason, and if they allow Tarl to enter their domain, which they do, it is because they have a plan for him. Another part is Tarl himself, who never kills anyone if he doesn't have to. He talks a good game, and he's certainly got the skills and the strength to back it up in most cases, but when push comes to shove, he's more likely to bloody a nose than pull an Ender Wiggin and utterly destroy his opponent. He's reasonable that way.
Priest-Kings is the most overtly science fictional of the first three Gor books and it is because of the Priest-Kings themselves. They are aliens possessing a high technology and an insectile physique. They are the gods of Gor, and how humbling for mankind that their gods live in a nest. And that they enslave humans to work it. Where the previous books were all about swordplay and archery, this one substitutes blast rays and flying disks.
And it works. While these books are classified as science fiction, I think it's fair to say that they are sufficiently hybridized with fantasy to cause a certain confusion on the part of prospective readers (and a number of reader-critics). What makes them science fiction, though, isn't the space-age trappings, it is the point of view. Norman has more on his mind than heroism and high drama: Gorean philosophy -- and that includes that of the Priest-Kings -- is what interests him. How else to explain a scene in which we find our muscle-bound hero enjoying grooming an insect?
That's another thing: the Gor books are funnier than I've seen anyone give them credit for, and a whole lot smarter. Norman, of course, is partly to blame for this, with his abiding fascination with gender roles, and particularly the subservience of women. But even here, from what I've read so far, he hasn't said much beyond what I see on the covers on hundreds of romance novels. Women prefer dominant men. Stop the presses. Or, rather, don't, for that would eradicate an entire literary genre.
Three Gor novels so far, and each one has been better than the last. It's a progression Norman can't possibly maintain, but I will say this to anyone on the fence about reading these books. These first three form what is almost a trilogy, and their reputation has yet to catch up with them. If the adventures are of interest, treat yourself and give these a read.
Then tell me if you agree that Orson Scott Card must have done so.
Good fun - 3
Sexist sadomasochism - 0
But it isn't quite the way this one goes. Part of the reason for this is that the Priest-Kings don't act without reason, and if they allow Tarl to enter their domain, which they do, it is because they have a plan for him. Another part is Tarl himself, who never kills anyone if he doesn't have to. He talks a good game, and he's certainly got the skills and the strength to back it up in most cases, but when push comes to shove, he's more likely to bloody a nose than pull an Ender Wiggin and utterly destroy his opponent. He's reasonable that way.
Priest-Kings is the most overtly science fictional of the first three Gor books and it is because of the Priest-Kings themselves. They are aliens possessing a high technology and an insectile physique. They are the gods of Gor, and how humbling for mankind that their gods live in a nest. And that they enslave humans to work it. Where the previous books were all about swordplay and archery, this one substitutes blast rays and flying disks.
And it works. While these books are classified as science fiction, I think it's fair to say that they are sufficiently hybridized with fantasy to cause a certain confusion on the part of prospective readers (and a number of reader-critics). What makes them science fiction, though, isn't the space-age trappings, it is the point of view. Norman has more on his mind than heroism and high drama: Gorean philosophy -- and that includes that of the Priest-Kings -- is what interests him. How else to explain a scene in which we find our muscle-bound hero enjoying grooming an insect?
That's another thing: the Gor books are funnier than I've seen anyone give them credit for, and a whole lot smarter. Norman, of course, is partly to blame for this, with his abiding fascination with gender roles, and particularly the subservience of women. But even here, from what I've read so far, he hasn't said much beyond what I see on the covers on hundreds of romance novels. Women prefer dominant men. Stop the presses. Or, rather, don't, for that would eradicate an entire literary genre.
Three Gor novels so far, and each one has been better than the last. It's a progression Norman can't possibly maintain, but I will say this to anyone on the fence about reading these books. These first three form what is almost a trilogy, and their reputation has yet to catch up with them. If the adventures are of interest, treat yourself and give these a read.
Then tell me if you agree that Orson Scott Card must have done so.
Good fun - 3
Sexist sadomasochism - 0
March 19, 2017
I like some old timey pulp fiction every once in awhile, but not this one. DNF, less than a Star.
June 16, 2016
Spoilers Ahead!!
Things I liked about Priest-Kings of Gor:
The action, the meeting with the Priest-Kings and the war, the mul's learning what it means to be human and of course, Tarl's reunion with his father.
Things I hated about Priest-Kings of Gor:
The constant attempts to defend slavery for women and the author's obvious chivalry fetish. I mean, Tarl Cabot begins by being shocked at the slavery on Gor and his taking of Telana as a slave seems initially reluctant. He hasn't really spent that much time on Gor, as he is returned to earth for seven years. and yet spends a large part of the book defending, explaining and blaming genetic predisposition for the slave culture. I had rather hoped he would eventually change this practice on Gor, but no!! Add to that the fact that most women, and Vika is a prime example of this, are faithless and treacherous until such time as Tarl makes them slaves. At which point they become happy and claim they love Tarl. As a modern woman I have some strong opinions about what might happen if someone tried to make me a slave just because they saved my life. Some very strong opinions indeed!!
Things I liked about Priest-Kings of Gor:
The action, the meeting with the Priest-Kings and the war, the mul's learning what it means to be human and of course, Tarl's reunion with his father.
Things I hated about Priest-Kings of Gor:
The constant attempts to defend slavery for women and the author's obvious chivalry fetish. I mean, Tarl Cabot begins by being shocked at the slavery on Gor and his taking of Telana as a slave seems initially reluctant. He hasn't really spent that much time on Gor, as he is returned to earth for seven years. and yet spends a large part of the book defending, explaining and blaming genetic predisposition for the slave culture. I had rather hoped he would eventually change this practice on Gor, but no!! Add to that the fact that most women, and Vika is a prime example of this, are faithless and treacherous until such time as Tarl makes them slaves. At which point they become happy and claim they love Tarl. As a modern woman I have some strong opinions about what might happen if someone tried to make me a slave just because they saved my life. Some very strong opinions indeed!!
March 19, 2012
Great book! I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire book. The battles are crazy good. Sometimes the history of things and explanations seem to drone on, so I skimmed in those parts. This book was really funny as well, especially two male characters that are twins. Hilarious. Can't wait to see what Tarl Cabot does next!
Contains adult sexual themes not for children, such as nudity and S&M. Based on the entertainment value of the rest of the book, I felt it could be looked past. In my personal opinion it is more humorous than anything else, because it is so ridiculous a concept. It is definitely a barbaric depiction of an alien world, but sometimes it seems as though these may be Norman's personal opinions of how society should behave in real life on Earth, which is somewhat disturbing. Even So I would read it again. The book itself was great despite some of the weird sexual themes.
Contains adult sexual themes not for children, such as nudity and S&M. Based on the entertainment value of the rest of the book, I felt it could be looked past. In my personal opinion it is more humorous than anything else, because it is so ridiculous a concept. It is definitely a barbaric depiction of an alien world, but sometimes it seems as though these may be Norman's personal opinions of how society should behave in real life on Earth, which is somewhat disturbing. Even So I would read it again. The book itself was great despite some of the weird sexual themes.
October 8, 2014
Cabot of earth seeks redress from the so-called "all powerful" Priest-Kings of Gor for the destruction of his beloved city, Ko-Ra-somethingorother. Oral servicing of the hive queen ensues (as well as lots of sweaty slave sex). (OK, actually, not so much of that.)
This book had promise. The Priest-Kings were compelling antagonists, and the descriptions of their culture and physiognomy were interesting. Alas, about 60% of the way through the book, Norman once again descends into his strange misogynist rants, going so far as to even suggest that women were compelled, evolutionarily to submit to men. (But, really, isn't that why people read his stuff?) I chose to interpret this as written with tongue firmly in cheek, but who knows. Once that section of the book was passed, the plot became interesting again. The best of the series so far.
This book had promise. The Priest-Kings were compelling antagonists, and the descriptions of their culture and physiognomy were interesting. Alas, about 60% of the way through the book, Norman once again descends into his strange misogynist rants, going so far as to even suggest that women were compelled, evolutionarily to submit to men. (But, really, isn't that why people read his stuff?) I chose to interpret this as written with tongue firmly in cheek, but who knows. Once that section of the book was passed, the plot became interesting again. The best of the series so far.
August 9, 2011
This is my favorite of the first three. I love the world that is being built here, I love the idea of the Priest-Kings and what is revealed about the nature of Gor in these novels.
I do wish that the author (and thus the narrator) would either accept the culture of Gor, slaves and all, or decide to reject it. The pages full of internal monologue about the true nature of women, slaves, natural selection, etc get a bit tiresome.
(But, I will guiltily admit to continuing to the next story.)
I do wish that the author (and thus the narrator) would either accept the culture of Gor, slaves and all, or decide to reject it. The pages full of internal monologue about the true nature of women, slaves, natural selection, etc get a bit tiresome.
(But, I will guiltily admit to continuing to the next story.)
November 13, 2009
Hate to admitt how many of these I read "back then". If you look up "objectfies women" in the dictionary I'm pretty sure you'll find a picture of some of these books...soft core porn. Read some when i was young.
November 1, 2017
I started and stopped this third entry in the infamous Gor series back in 2012. I pretty much only tolerated the first book, and I absolutely hated the 2nd book, but there was a kind of progression introduced in those, so I went to see what would come in book 3.
Like a lot of 60s/70s sword-and-planet series, John Norman's Gor books borrow from Burroughs's Barsoom series. If I'm a broken record about the Barsoom series, it's because I'm more than a little obsessed with it. Based on that, I was excited to see Tarl Cabot enter the forbidden realm of the Priest-Kings. I dearly hoped that John Norman would aim for the lofty heights of Burroughs' “Gods of Mars” and finally deliver a coherent and driving narrative and maybe restore that city or something.
I've already mentioned that I didn't finish this book, I think I quit halfway through, so you know that it did not go well for me.
John Norman's own warped “philosophical” obsession pretty much undoes any change of suspense or high drama or great villainy. Tarl Cabot simply walks into the Priest-Kings sealed kingdom and then just sorta gets a tour, meet a lady slave, and deals with low level sleep-inducing scheming between the insectoid Priest-Kings.
There's nothing actually cool going on, nothing to get a guy's blood going. I wanted to read about a muscly dude with a sword chopping his way around a mega-fortress, sometimes falling down trap-doors or off draw-bridges, getting captured, gaining allies, debunking talking idols, saving girlfriends, etc. Tarl Cabot hangs out in dull control rooms and exchanges wooden dialogue with giant bugs. It became pretty clear that Norman wanted to set up something to last several books and that restoring the city wasn't really gonna happen... my life is too short to read all 30 of these damn things.
Anyhow, couldn't finish it. I've finished some of the worst books ever, and I couldn't finish “Priest-Kings of Gor”.
Like a lot of 60s/70s sword-and-planet series, John Norman's Gor books borrow from Burroughs's Barsoom series. If I'm a broken record about the Barsoom series, it's because I'm more than a little obsessed with it. Based on that, I was excited to see Tarl Cabot enter the forbidden realm of the Priest-Kings. I dearly hoped that John Norman would aim for the lofty heights of Burroughs' “Gods of Mars” and finally deliver a coherent and driving narrative and maybe restore that city or something.
I've already mentioned that I didn't finish this book, I think I quit halfway through, so you know that it did not go well for me.
John Norman's own warped “philosophical” obsession pretty much undoes any change of suspense or high drama or great villainy. Tarl Cabot simply walks into the Priest-Kings sealed kingdom and then just sorta gets a tour, meet a lady slave, and deals with low level sleep-inducing scheming between the insectoid Priest-Kings.
There's nothing actually cool going on, nothing to get a guy's blood going. I wanted to read about a muscly dude with a sword chopping his way around a mega-fortress, sometimes falling down trap-doors or off draw-bridges, getting captured, gaining allies, debunking talking idols, saving girlfriends, etc. Tarl Cabot hangs out in dull control rooms and exchanges wooden dialogue with giant bugs. It became pretty clear that Norman wanted to set up something to last several books and that restoring the city wasn't really gonna happen... my life is too short to read all 30 of these damn things.
Anyhow, couldn't finish it. I've finished some of the worst books ever, and I couldn't finish “Priest-Kings of Gor”.
September 29, 2017
I DID IT!! I finished another book! That seems to be a constant refrain of mine this year. Anyway took me two weeks, but I read this book. It is not a bad book at all. It just my brain is funny these days, and I have no idea what is wrong with my attention span. Maybe I use it all up doing freelance client work then by the time I am done with that for the day my brain don't wanna focus anymore. Who Knows?
A word of caution: If you are in in way a feminist then you would want to avoid the Goran Saga. I am a Bad Feminist so even though it offends me I just let it slide.
Even though there is a LOT of info dumping here and world building if you haven't read the first two books in the series, then you will be lost with this one. So I highly recommend you start with the first book Transman of Gor and then proceed from there.
So for this book, our man Tarl is going to the Sardar to face off the Priest-Kings and to find out why they have destroyed his family and city Ko-Ro-Ba. I am not sure what I had in mind when I envisioned a Preist-King, but it sure wasn't a giant wasp. After reading the description that John Newman provides for some reason a Giant Wasp came into my head and refused to leave. I honestly thought they would be fearsome humans but nope.
Now I can't unthink the Giant Wasps. How Tarl keep from shitting his pants the first time he saw one I have no idea. I mean if I came face to face with a giant wasp then I probably die of a heart attack right then and there.
The book sloooowly takes us through the process of getting to know thePriest-kings and their ways. It felt slow but probably wasn't the book is not long at all, but all that info dumping was not done seamlessly. It seemed that info dumping would take pages before anything would happen. I was like come on you are face to face with a giant wasp then u info dump for five pages... Just TELLL me what happens next damnit.
The world building as always in the Goran Saga in fantastic. John Newman was brilliant when he created Gor. I have yet to come across an author who has built such worlds as the early sci-fi people. I mean sure you can world build in 300 pages but to keep it up for 20 somethings novels. THAT takes skill. I sometimes wonder at the people behind the early Sci-Fi and how they came up with the ideas in their heads.
Yes, there are slaves in this book. Human slaves. Women mostly. So like I said if you are in any way offended by a woman being pleasure slaves then stay far far far away from this series. I found it quite fascinating how Newman was able to keep it all consistent across all of his novels. I have found with a series sometimes the author will slip and you will find inconsistencies in the story. Not so with this one.
Overall I enjoyed this book despite taking so damn long to read it.
This review was originally posted on Adventures in Never Never Land
April 28, 2024
Although the Gor novels are properly categorized as Sword & Planet fantasy, most of the series falls on the extreme "sword" end of the genre. Conan-esque Sword & Sorcery that simply happens to be set on an alien world, with a fully alien ecology but only the occasional hint at science fiction elements. In any case, the illusion of a high fantasy setting is suddenly broken with Priest-Kings of Gor, wherein John Norman suddenly expands his universe to include loads of scientific-based technology. It's an unexpected infusion of exotic elements that makes the series stand out for something other than its scandalous gender dynamics. Luckily, it also makes for a significantly more compelling narrative. Easily the strongest of the first three Gor novels, even if it's unlikely to impress anyone who isn't already a fan of its predecessors.
Priest-Kings of Gor is presented as a direct continuation of Outlaw of Gor, eschewing the episodic nature of most Sword & Planet series. Science fiction elements aside, the novel also has the same overall feel of the first two Gor novels. Fast-paced adventure storytelling with occasional reflections upon Norman's Nietzschean philosophy. The added sci fi elements are also short on technical details, with the most speculative bits landing far closer to epic Space Opera than to classic, 60's/70's-style science fiction. The end result is a strangely natural extension of the universe that Norman created across his first two novels, and is unlikely to cause "genre shock" among readers who weren't expecting exegeses on a bizarre alien society. In my opinion, the added plot elements also play directly to Norman's biggest strength: namely, his intricate world-building. A pleasant surprise for a reader who was disappointed by the slight drop-off in creativity between Tarnsman and Outlaw.
Before closing, I feel obliged to comment upon the regressive depiction of women that engulfs much discussion of Norman's work. Not much has changed in this regard since Outlaw of Gor, even if gender dynamics play a far more supplementary role this time around. In particular, the novel's primary power dynamic isn't between Tarl Cabot and his various female hangers-on, it's between Cabot and the (utterly asexual) aliens who are holding him captive. I still suspect that those who found reason to deride Tarnsman and Outlaw will find plenty of ammunition with which to destroy Priest-Kings. Haters needn't look any further than the character of Vika of Treve, an absolutely insufferable woman whose inclusion provides my only major gripe about the overall narrative. The fact that Norman devotes an entire chapter to Vika's duplicitous ranting hints at a personal philosophy that is rooted in mean-spiritedness.
Vika of Treve aside, I'm still happy to recommend Priest-Kings of Gor to anybody who enjoyed either of its predecessors. In fact, if you were even remotely intrigued by Tarnsman, I'd strongly suggest plowing through to this installment. This is where the Gor series really starts to pick up steam.
Priest-Kings of Gor is presented as a direct continuation of Outlaw of Gor, eschewing the episodic nature of most Sword & Planet series. Science fiction elements aside, the novel also has the same overall feel of the first two Gor novels. Fast-paced adventure storytelling with occasional reflections upon Norman's Nietzschean philosophy. The added sci fi elements are also short on technical details, with the most speculative bits landing far closer to epic Space Opera than to classic, 60's/70's-style science fiction. The end result is a strangely natural extension of the universe that Norman created across his first two novels, and is unlikely to cause "genre shock" among readers who weren't expecting exegeses on a bizarre alien society. In my opinion, the added plot elements also play directly to Norman's biggest strength: namely, his intricate world-building. A pleasant surprise for a reader who was disappointed by the slight drop-off in creativity between Tarnsman and Outlaw.
Before closing, I feel obliged to comment upon the regressive depiction of women that engulfs much discussion of Norman's work. Not much has changed in this regard since Outlaw of Gor, even if gender dynamics play a far more supplementary role this time around. In particular, the novel's primary power dynamic isn't between Tarl Cabot and his various female hangers-on, it's between Cabot and the (utterly asexual) aliens who are holding him captive. I still suspect that those who found reason to deride Tarnsman and Outlaw will find plenty of ammunition with which to destroy Priest-Kings. Haters needn't look any further than the character of Vika of Treve, an absolutely insufferable woman whose inclusion provides my only major gripe about the overall narrative. The fact that Norman devotes an entire chapter to Vika's duplicitous ranting hints at a personal philosophy that is rooted in mean-spiritedness.
Vika of Treve aside, I'm still happy to recommend Priest-Kings of Gor to anybody who enjoyed either of its predecessors. In fact, if you were even remotely intrigued by Tarnsman, I'd strongly suggest plowing through to this installment. This is where the Gor series really starts to pick up steam.
September 3, 2015
http://furiouslyeclectic.com/priestki...
This volume is thicker than the previous two. It starts off right where the last ended.
Where the first volume is a fast moving fun house and the second volume a similar adventure as an excuse to get to the third volume. This third volume is about the truth behind the myths of Gor.
It starts well and moves into deeper description and explanation. Tarl, our protagonist becomes more distant from the hero I could associate with or wish to be. As a child the Tarl shown in the first two books was in many ways everything I wanted to be. In this book his actions make less sense and he seems to start losing himself. It may be the character is passing his good qualities onto others which drains himself of those very qualities.
While much of what is written is fascinating, my problem is that I don't care. I don't care about the Priest Kings. I am caring less and less about Tarl and his mission. It would be preferred for the Priest Kings to be a mystery solved only through subtle clues rather than described in detail.
While the descriptions aren't overly verbose and the explanations are concise, there are just so many of them. The protagonist becomes more or less a lense into which we see the inner workings of Gor.
What keeps the novel from failing is the prose of Norman which is truly beautiful and invigorating. His play with words stimulates my mind and in fact nourishes the thinking and creative parts of me.
Twenty-seven chapters into the book a story emerges and some great fun occurs. The last seven chapters are alone worth the book however they could also easily exist independent of the previous pages. During this time we see many things set right and characters start acting within the verisimilitude of the universe.
For the most part, you could read each of these three books independently of the others. Tarnsman is fully complete. Outlaw starts the path to Priest-Kings but is it's own adventure. Priest-Kings is then really it's own adventure as well. With but a simply one sentence explanation, you could dive in here and enjoy the inner workings of Gor.
Tarnsman 5/5
Outlaw 4/5
Priest-Kings 3/5
This volume is thicker than the previous two. It starts off right where the last ended.
Where the first volume is a fast moving fun house and the second volume a similar adventure as an excuse to get to the third volume. This third volume is about the truth behind the myths of Gor.
It starts well and moves into deeper description and explanation. Tarl, our protagonist becomes more distant from the hero I could associate with or wish to be. As a child the Tarl shown in the first two books was in many ways everything I wanted to be. In this book his actions make less sense and he seems to start losing himself. It may be the character is passing his good qualities onto others which drains himself of those very qualities.
While much of what is written is fascinating, my problem is that I don't care. I don't care about the Priest Kings. I am caring less and less about Tarl and his mission. It would be preferred for the Priest Kings to be a mystery solved only through subtle clues rather than described in detail.
While the descriptions aren't overly verbose and the explanations are concise, there are just so many of them. The protagonist becomes more or less a lense into which we see the inner workings of Gor.
What keeps the novel from failing is the prose of Norman which is truly beautiful and invigorating. His play with words stimulates my mind and in fact nourishes the thinking and creative parts of me.
Twenty-seven chapters into the book a story emerges and some great fun occurs. The last seven chapters are alone worth the book however they could also easily exist independent of the previous pages. During this time we see many things set right and characters start acting within the verisimilitude of the universe.
For the most part, you could read each of these three books independently of the others. Tarnsman is fully complete. Outlaw starts the path to Priest-Kings but is it's own adventure. Priest-Kings is then really it's own adventure as well. With but a simply one sentence explanation, you could dive in here and enjoy the inner workings of Gor.
Tarnsman 5/5
Outlaw 4/5
Priest-Kings 3/5
January 6, 2022
Wel, dát was onverwacht. Op het einde van het vorige boek was Tarl Cabot vast van plan om de confrontatie aan te gaan met de Priester-Koningen van Gor, om zijn stad en zijn familie terug te eisen — of minstens om voldoening te krijgen slash wraak te nemen op de Prieter-Koningen van Gor, die de Gor ad perpetuum in een hyper-patriarchale middeleeuwse standenmaatschappij blijven houden, en bijvoorbeeld elke persoon die dreigt een technologisch té ver gevorderd iets te gebruiken, ter plaatse neerbliksemen.
Tarl reist naar de heilige berg waar de Priester-Koningen wonen, en waar nog nooit iemand van terugkeerde.
Hij wordt er meteen gevangen genomen, en krijgt een (uiteraard) knappe vrouw toegewezen. Hij vermoedt meteen dat zij hem zal proberen verleiden, en lang verhaal kort: hij trapt er niet in.
Waarna hij tot bij de Priester-Koningen zal worden geleid. ’t Is te zeggen, tot bij de échte Priester-Koningen, want hij was al een oude man tegengekomen die zei dat hij de enige overgebleven Priester-Koning was.
Tot een paar hoofdstukken ver was dit andermaal een iets meer misogyne kloon van de Barsoom-boeken van Burroughs, maar dan neemt het plots een (vond ik) totaal onverwachte draai. Blijkt dat de Priester-Koningen eigenlijk een soort insectachtige aliens zijn, die communiceren via geur. Die technologisch vér voor zijn op ons maar tegelijkertijd ook enorm behoudsgezind, en onder de grond leven in een enorm soort nest, met een koningin.
Het wordt snel duidelijk dat er een conflict is tussen twee hooggeplaatste Priester-Koningen: Sarm, de Eerstgeborene van het nest, en Misk, de Vijfdegeborene van het nest. De eerste vijf die de koningin op de wereld zet, vormen de Hoge Raad van het nest; dit nest is al zó oud dat er van de vijf alleen nog Sarm en Misk over zijn. Ze zijn allemaal, koningin incluis, stokoud: ze hebben het nog meegemaakt dat de planeet Gor in ons zonnestelsel gebracht werd, en dat is meer dan twee miljoen jaar geleden.
Normaal gezien zou er al lang een nieuwe koningin moeten geweest zijn, een nieuwe bruidsvlucht, en een nieuw of minstens vernieuwd nest, maar daar is Sarm tegen. Sarm wil niet dat de zaken veranderen. Misk wil dat wel, en heeft daar de hulp van Tarl voor nodig.
Dat is dan ook meteen de reden van al wat er gebeurde in de vorige boeken: de reden dat de vader van Tarl naar Gor gebracht werd, dat Tarl zelf terug naar de Aarde ging en uiteindelijk teruggebracht werd naar Gor, de reden dat ze de stad van Tarl hebben vernietigd en zijn inwoners over Gor verspreid — allemaal om Tarl de juiste skills te geven, en hem zo ver te krijgen dat hij naar de Priester-Koningen op zoek zou gaan.
Het is, ik moet dat toegeven, een véél beter boek dan het tweede boek. En dat was eigenlijk ook al beter dan het eerste. John Norman blijft natuurlijk John Norman: enorm veel worldbuilding, enorm veel totaal nodeloze excursussen. Eén voorbeeld: Tarl zit in het nest en leert er onder meer twee mannen kennen die al heel hun leven in het nest zitten en geen flauw idee hebben van hoe de wereld bovengronds er uitziet of hoe sociale interactie met mensen eigenlijk werkt. Ergens pal in het midden van het boek beslist Tarl om de vrouw die hem had proberen verleiden in het begin te redden. Die vrouw, Vika van Treve, is totaal onbetrouwbaar gebleken: ze heeft Tarl al een paar keer verraden.
Wat hier boven staat, is wat er had kunnen staan: Tarl gaat, als een echte man, een vrouw redden, zelfs als het een vrouw is die hij haat, omdat hij een echte man is.
Maar dat is niét genoeg voor Norman. Nee, die maakt er dit van:
Ach ach ach. :)
Ik kan me niet meteen inbeelden wat er nog méér wereldschokkend kan gebeuren dan in dit boek, in de reeks, maar hey, ik blijf dapper verder lezen.
Tarl reist naar de heilige berg waar de Priester-Koningen wonen, en waar nog nooit iemand van terugkeerde.
Hij wordt er meteen gevangen genomen, en krijgt een (uiteraard) knappe vrouw toegewezen. Hij vermoedt meteen dat zij hem zal proberen verleiden, en lang verhaal kort: hij trapt er niet in.
Waarna hij tot bij de Priester-Koningen zal worden geleid. ’t Is te zeggen, tot bij de échte Priester-Koningen, want hij was al een oude man tegengekomen die zei dat hij de enige overgebleven Priester-Koning was.
Tot een paar hoofdstukken ver was dit andermaal een iets meer misogyne kloon van de Barsoom-boeken van Burroughs, maar dan neemt het plots een (vond ik) totaal onverwachte draai. Blijkt dat de Priester-Koningen eigenlijk een soort insectachtige aliens zijn, die communiceren via geur. Die technologisch vér voor zijn op ons maar tegelijkertijd ook enorm behoudsgezind, en onder de grond leven in een enorm soort nest, met een koningin.
Het wordt snel duidelijk dat er een conflict is tussen twee hooggeplaatste Priester-Koningen: Sarm, de Eerstgeborene van het nest, en Misk, de Vijfdegeborene van het nest. De eerste vijf die de koningin op de wereld zet, vormen de Hoge Raad van het nest; dit nest is al zó oud dat er van de vijf alleen nog Sarm en Misk over zijn. Ze zijn allemaal, koningin incluis, stokoud: ze hebben het nog meegemaakt dat de planeet Gor in ons zonnestelsel gebracht werd, en dat is meer dan twee miljoen jaar geleden.
Normaal gezien zou er al lang een nieuwe koningin moeten geweest zijn, een nieuwe bruidsvlucht, en een nieuw of minstens vernieuwd nest, maar daar is Sarm tegen. Sarm wil niet dat de zaken veranderen. Misk wil dat wel, en heeft daar de hulp van Tarl voor nodig.
Dat is dan ook meteen de reden van al wat er gebeurde in de vorige boeken: de reden dat de vader van Tarl naar Gor gebracht werd, dat Tarl zelf terug naar de Aarde ging en uiteindelijk teruggebracht werd naar Gor, de reden dat ze de stad van Tarl hebben vernietigd en zijn inwoners over Gor verspreid — allemaal om Tarl de juiste skills te geven, en hem zo ver te krijgen dat hij naar de Priester-Koningen op zoek zou gaan.
Het is, ik moet dat toegeven, een véél beter boek dan het tweede boek. En dat was eigenlijk ook al beter dan het eerste. John Norman blijft natuurlijk John Norman: enorm veel worldbuilding, enorm veel totaal nodeloze excursussen. Eén voorbeeld: Tarl zit in het nest en leert er onder meer twee mannen kennen die al heel hun leven in het nest zitten en geen flauw idee hebben van hoe de wereld bovengronds er uitziet of hoe sociale interactie met mensen eigenlijk werkt. Ergens pal in het midden van het boek beslist Tarl om de vrouw die hem had proberen verleiden in het begin te redden. Die vrouw, Vika van Treve, is totaal onbetrouwbaar gebleken: ze heeft Tarl al een paar keer verraden.
I smiled to myself for I thought how incredible that I should find myself naturally and without a second thought considering going to the rescue of the worthless, vicious wench, Vika of Treve.
“I thought you hated her,” said Mul-Al-Ka.
“I do,” I said.
“Is it human to act as you do?” inquired Mul-Ba-Ta.
“Yes,” I said, “it is the part of a man to protect a female of the human kind, regardless of who she may be.”
Wat hier boven staat, is wat er had kunnen staan: Tarl gaat, als een echte man, een vrouw redden, zelfs als het een vrouw is die hij haat, omdat hij een echte man is.
Maar dat is niét genoeg voor Norman. Nee, die maakt er dit van:
I smiled to myself for I thought how incredible that I should find myself naturally and without a second thought considering going to the rescue of the worthless, vicious wench, Vika of Treve.
And yet it was not a strange thing, particularly not on Gor, where bravery is highly esteemed and to save a female’s life is in effect to win title to it, for it is the option of a Gorean male to enslave any woman whose life he has saved, a right which is seldom denied even by the citizens of the girl’s city or her family. Indeed, there have been cases in which a girl’s brothers have had her clad as a slave, bound in slave bracelets, and handed over to her rescuer, in order that the honour of the family and her city not be besmirched.
There is, of course, a natural tendency in the rescued female to feel and demonstrate great gratitude to the man who has saved her life, and the Gorean custom is perhaps no more than an institutionalisation of this customary response. There are cases where a free woman in the vicinity of a man she desired has deliberately placed herself in jeopardy. The man then, after having been forced to risk his life, is seldom in a mood to use the girl other than as his slave. I have wondered upon occasion about this practice so different on Gor than on Earth. On my old world when a woman is saved by a man she may, I understand, with propriety bestow upon him a grateful kiss and perhaps, if we may believe the tales in these matters, consider him more seriously because of his action as a possible, eventual companion in wedlock. One of these girls, if rescued on Gor, would probably be dumbfounded at what would happen to her. After her kiss of gratitude which might last a good deal longer than she had anticipated she would find herself forced to kneel and be collared and then, stripped, her wrists confined behind her back in slave bracelets, she would find herself led stumbling away on a slave leash from the field of her champion’s valour. Yes, undoubtedly our Earth girls would find this most surprising. On the other hand the Gorean attitude is that she would be dead were it not for his brave action and thus it is his right, now that he has won her life, to make her live it for him precisely as she pleases, which is usually, it must unfortunately be noted, as his slave girl, for the privileges of a Free Companionship are never bestowed lightly. Also of course a Free Companionship might be refused, in all Gorean right, by the girl, and thus a warrior can hardly be blamed, after risking his life, for not wanting to risk losing the precious prize which he has just, at great peril to himself, succeeded in winning. The Gorean man, as a man, cheerfully and dutifully attends to the rescuing of his female in distress, but as a Gorean, as a true Gorean, he feels, perhaps justifiably and being somewhat less or more romantic than ourselves, that he should have something more for his pains than her kiss of gratitude and so, in typical Gorean fashion, puts his chain on the wench, claiming both her and her body as his payment.
“I thought you hated her,” said Mul-Al-Ka.
“I do,” I said.
“Is it human to act as you do?” inquired Mul-Ba-Ta.
“Yes,” I said, “it is the part of a man to protect a female of the human kind, regardless of who she may be.”
Ach ach ach. :)
Ik kan me niet meteen inbeelden wat er nog méér wereldschokkend kan gebeuren dan in dit boek, in de reeks, maar hey, ik blijf dapper verder lezen.
April 12, 2015
I have read the entire series, there simply isn't anything else like it; they are decadent and addictive, completely and wholly something everyone should have on their MUST READ list.
Edgar Rice Burroughs BARSOOM series would be a faint comparison, I suppose; but Norman carries his characters to a depth of depravity that is reminiscent of a D/s or BDSM fetish fanatics dream. At the same time, they are not written in a way as to be entirely sexual, he merely casts about components and subtle subtext that one familiar with the lifestyle would of course pick up on, while a "vanilla" person could read right over without ever noticing or being offended.
The worst part of this series is it's highly addictive quality. Not long after I read my first book, I found myself at a Second Hand BookStore in Dallas purchasing a paperbag FULL of the entire series. 20 years later and I still have them! And, I always WILL!
Edgar Rice Burroughs BARSOOM series would be a faint comparison, I suppose; but Norman carries his characters to a depth of depravity that is reminiscent of a D/s or BDSM fetish fanatics dream. At the same time, they are not written in a way as to be entirely sexual, he merely casts about components and subtle subtext that one familiar with the lifestyle would of course pick up on, while a "vanilla" person could read right over without ever noticing or being offended.
The worst part of this series is it's highly addictive quality. Not long after I read my first book, I found myself at a Second Hand BookStore in Dallas purchasing a paperbag FULL of the entire series. 20 years later and I still have them! And, I always WILL!
January 31, 2008
Top of the list of books no one should admit to reading this is a sample from what has to be some of the most mysoganistic fiction ever to make it into mainstream publishing. My excuse was that I was a teenager stuck in a caravan in a rural area with my parents on a 3 week holiday one summer and the Gor books was the only thing in the caravan shop that looked readable. I also read Battlefield Earth.
Something brought them back to mind last year and I did some googling to find out more - the context really doesn't help.
Something brought them back to mind last year and I did some googling to find out more - the context really doesn't help.
October 25, 2023
Great Read!
Tarl Cabot finally finds a Priest King. This book was incredibly enjoyable. It reminded me of the old Star Trek episodes where Captain Kirk leads an away party that has women in neon plastic mini dresses and men in neon plastic tunics serving odd creatures of an inner planet atmosphere. There’s civil war that nearly destroys a planet but of course Cabot saves the day and learns why he was brought to Gor in the first place. His quest isn’t over and I hope we see Misk again. I loved this book. Certainly the best so far.
Tarl Cabot finally finds a Priest King. This book was incredibly enjoyable. It reminded me of the old Star Trek episodes where Captain Kirk leads an away party that has women in neon plastic mini dresses and men in neon plastic tunics serving odd creatures of an inner planet atmosphere. There’s civil war that nearly destroys a planet but of course Cabot saves the day and learns why he was brought to Gor in the first place. His quest isn’t over and I hope we see Misk again. I loved this book. Certainly the best so far.
December 4, 2016
I understand that the later books in the series got kind of weird, but I remember thinking this one was pretty good when I read it in High School.
Funnily although I can remember nothing of the first book in the series, I have always remembered, well not a scene but more of a concept from this book; that the insectoid like Priest Kings could communicate by smell, and could leave messages in place for each other. I don't know why but I still remember that.
Funnily although I can remember nothing of the first book in the series, I have always remembered, well not a scene but more of a concept from this book; that the insectoid like Priest Kings could communicate by smell, and could leave messages in place for each other. I don't know why but I still remember that.
September 21, 2012
I have come to expect a certain flow to these books and this one doesn't disappoint. While the world gets expanded, especially down the path of a larger scifi element, with the Priest-Kings and their technology representing the worst of technological excesses, there still exists the fundamental story of stereotypical masculine bravado with a dedication to strength, loyalty and an abiding desire for love.
February 14, 2013
It's just awful. I can see why it's popular though. It's on the same level as 'Fifty Shades of Grey' in that it allows people to read some tame (if slightly twisted) porn without it being labelled as such.
Pretty much bottom of the barrel, but for those who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they will like.
Pretty much bottom of the barrel, but for those who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they will like.
April 9, 2015
I have to say that I think much less of myself for actually wanting to continue with this series. This book was misogynistic and "women should be subjugated" like, but did it in such an unapologetic and natural manner that I almost did not mind... Otherwise, the author can tell an imaginative story, so I will keep on reading...
December 15, 2013
One of my favourites, this one, introducing the truly alien race of Priest-Kings, the rulers of Gor, though not quite what you might have been expecting. And this is a proper sci-fi tale, of a hidden city, a struggle for power and the fate of a species.
November 8, 2024
Always good
I think I've read this like 20 times now. I always enjoy the story. He goes into a lot of world building details that really detract from the story and yet its still a good book.
I think I've read this like 20 times now. I always enjoy the story. He goes into a lot of world building details that really detract from the story and yet its still a good book.
July 16, 2008
it was alright.
don't get caught up in the detail if you don't have the time.
Norman can be very tedious.
don't get caught up in the detail if you don't have the time.
Norman can be very tedious.
January 4, 2014
Great readiings
very fast read. Norman an excellent author. plan on reading all the gor books. good details and fantastic story as usuall
very fast read. Norman an excellent author. plan on reading all the gor books. good details and fantastic story as usuall
September 12, 2017
MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!
I am reading all of the Gor stories in order and, so far, I am a big fan. Priest-Kings of Gor, however, is my least favorite so far for many reasons:
1. I think Norman pulled the trigger on the Priest-Kings way too early in the Gor series. The Priest-Kings were a mysterious presence that always lingered in the background of the Gor stories. Their motivations were unknown and they could help as well as hinder. They also helped explain away some of the huge coincidences that happen in Gor stories (one could always imagine that the Priest-Kings were in the background, pulling the strings and making these thing happen for their own ends). Losing this dark, looming presence--only three books into a 30+ book series--really took away from some of the mystery of the world of Gor.
2. The Priest-Kings themselves were a pretty big disappointment. We waited to see what these mysterious god-like beings were and they turned out to be germaphobic bugs that had just as many problems and hang-ups as anyone else.
3. The story is sloooow. Cabot easily finds the Priest-Kings at the beginning of the novel and, once that is done, he spends the vast majority of it just walking around, talking to people and Priest-Kings, eating fungus, etc. There is very little action in this one. Also, once the action does start happening, you will likely be ready for it to just be over with as it drags on and on, and the main villain keeps escaping and re-appearing until is just becomes tedious.
4. I know that the Gor stories are "sword and planet" stories, but they have always leaned more toward the "sword" piece of that pie. In this volume, not only is there very little swordplay but, when all hell does break loose, we are treated to fights with spaceships and laser beams. I felt that this was very different from the usual kind of sword-swinging action that has been a staple of the series thus far.
There are a few things that I didn't like that are more neutral, however, and other people may like or dislike these aspects:
1. Cabot is a fine protagonist, but I just can't help comparing him to characters such as Conan and wishing he were more like Howard's barbarian. Cabot seems to detest violence and many of the problems that he gets into stems from his inability to simply kill his enemy or mistrust a pretty face. I can't mark this as a negative, however, because Cabot is not Conan. He is his own character with his own way of doing things and I can respect that--no matter how much I want to yell at the book "Just kill the bad guy already!".
As a side note, I do have mention that Cabot seems to be growing and evolving through these novels, becoming more and more Gorean and less "Earthman". I was pleased to see in this one, for example, he has stopped blindly trusting slave girls. This "always trust a pretty face" mentality has led him into deadly traps in the past two books but he was having none of it in this one.
2. The continuing narrative seems to be holding on to the plotline about helping the Priest-Kings. I didn't like the Priest-Kings and so I wish Cabot would move on to other things (like finding Talena and rebuilding Ko-Ro-Ba). I haven't read the fourth book yet so we'll see what happens.
Finally, there were a few things I really liked in this one:
1. As I said earlier, Cabot isn't a static, 2-dimensional character. He seems to be growing and adapting to life on Gor, and it is fun to watch.
2. The reunion with his friends and father at the end was touching.
3. There were some genuinely cool moments in this one, mainly near the beginning before you or Cabot knows what a Priest-King is. One such example is when the mysterious Priest-Kings begin to stalk the halls and Vika of Treve starts freaking out.
4. This is a Gor novel, and there are some things that you just have to expect with Gor novels. Some people don't seem to understand this and complain about the same issues in every book. In Conan stories, there are going to be people cut in half. In Longarm novels, there is going to be casual sex. In Mack Bolan novels, someone is probably going to be disintegrated with a bazooka. In Gor novels, there is going to be misogyny and slavery. That is what happens in this particular world and will continue to happen. It is not real, no one is going to read a Gor novel and go out and enslave someone in real life, and no one is really getting hurt. It is a fantasy story (and, thus far, one of the tamest fantasy series that I have read when it comes to sex and violence). Just take a few deep breaths and, if this kind of story isn't for you, simply move on. If you are able to separate fantasy and reality, however, then enjoy this series for what it is: fictional stories in which things happen that you may or may not agree with to people who are not real.
It has never ceased to amaze me how people separate the bad things they find in fiction, whether it be movies, TV, or fiction. Violence seems to be OK, for example--even in the extreme--but "you had better treat men and women equally or else you are just sick!".
So, anyway, I went back and forth between giving this novel two stars and giving it three. I suppose it would rest somewhere in the 2.5 range so I gave it the benefit of the doubt and bumped it up to three. The other stories in the series have been amazing, however, and I hope book four gets it back on track for me.
I am reading all of the Gor stories in order and, so far, I am a big fan. Priest-Kings of Gor, however, is my least favorite so far for many reasons:
1. I think Norman pulled the trigger on the Priest-Kings way too early in the Gor series. The Priest-Kings were a mysterious presence that always lingered in the background of the Gor stories. Their motivations were unknown and they could help as well as hinder. They also helped explain away some of the huge coincidences that happen in Gor stories (one could always imagine that the Priest-Kings were in the background, pulling the strings and making these thing happen for their own ends). Losing this dark, looming presence--only three books into a 30+ book series--really took away from some of the mystery of the world of Gor.
2. The Priest-Kings themselves were a pretty big disappointment. We waited to see what these mysterious god-like beings were and they turned out to be germaphobic bugs that had just as many problems and hang-ups as anyone else.
3. The story is sloooow. Cabot easily finds the Priest-Kings at the beginning of the novel and, once that is done, he spends the vast majority of it just walking around, talking to people and Priest-Kings, eating fungus, etc. There is very little action in this one. Also, once the action does start happening, you will likely be ready for it to just be over with as it drags on and on, and the main villain keeps escaping and re-appearing until is just becomes tedious.
4. I know that the Gor stories are "sword and planet" stories, but they have always leaned more toward the "sword" piece of that pie. In this volume, not only is there very little swordplay but, when all hell does break loose, we are treated to fights with spaceships and laser beams. I felt that this was very different from the usual kind of sword-swinging action that has been a staple of the series thus far.
There are a few things that I didn't like that are more neutral, however, and other people may like or dislike these aspects:
1. Cabot is a fine protagonist, but I just can't help comparing him to characters such as Conan and wishing he were more like Howard's barbarian. Cabot seems to detest violence and many of the problems that he gets into stems from his inability to simply kill his enemy or mistrust a pretty face. I can't mark this as a negative, however, because Cabot is not Conan. He is his own character with his own way of doing things and I can respect that--no matter how much I want to yell at the book "Just kill the bad guy already!".
As a side note, I do have mention that Cabot seems to be growing and evolving through these novels, becoming more and more Gorean and less "Earthman". I was pleased to see in this one, for example, he has stopped blindly trusting slave girls. This "always trust a pretty face" mentality has led him into deadly traps in the past two books but he was having none of it in this one.
2. The continuing narrative seems to be holding on to the plotline about helping the Priest-Kings. I didn't like the Priest-Kings and so I wish Cabot would move on to other things (like finding Talena and rebuilding Ko-Ro-Ba). I haven't read the fourth book yet so we'll see what happens.
Finally, there were a few things I really liked in this one:
1. As I said earlier, Cabot isn't a static, 2-dimensional character. He seems to be growing and adapting to life on Gor, and it is fun to watch.
2. The reunion with his friends and father at the end was touching.
3. There were some genuinely cool moments in this one, mainly near the beginning before you or Cabot knows what a Priest-King is. One such example is when the mysterious Priest-Kings begin to stalk the halls and Vika of Treve starts freaking out.
4. This is a Gor novel, and there are some things that you just have to expect with Gor novels. Some people don't seem to understand this and complain about the same issues in every book. In Conan stories, there are going to be people cut in half. In Longarm novels, there is going to be casual sex. In Mack Bolan novels, someone is probably going to be disintegrated with a bazooka. In Gor novels, there is going to be misogyny and slavery. That is what happens in this particular world and will continue to happen. It is not real, no one is going to read a Gor novel and go out and enslave someone in real life, and no one is really getting hurt. It is a fantasy story (and, thus far, one of the tamest fantasy series that I have read when it comes to sex and violence). Just take a few deep breaths and, if this kind of story isn't for you, simply move on. If you are able to separate fantasy and reality, however, then enjoy this series for what it is: fictional stories in which things happen that you may or may not agree with to people who are not real.
It has never ceased to amaze me how people separate the bad things they find in fiction, whether it be movies, TV, or fiction. Violence seems to be OK, for example--even in the extreme--but "you had better treat men and women equally or else you are just sick!".
So, anyway, I went back and forth between giving this novel two stars and giving it three. I suppose it would rest somewhere in the 2.5 range so I gave it the benefit of the doubt and bumped it up to three. The other stories in the series have been amazing, however, and I hope book four gets it back on track for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2018
The Priest Kings of Gor is the third book in John Norman’s long running series, and it shows all the creativity of the first two books, if not more so, but and it is a big BUT, there are signs of some of the issues that would blight the later books starting to appear.
So, the good. Our hero, Tarl Cabot has decided to make his way to the Sardar mountains, home of the gods of Gor, The Priest Kings. The reason for his visit? To challenge the supposed deities over their destruction of his home city, Ko-Ra-Ba, and the scattering of its people to all corners of the globe, unable to come together again. This includes his father Matthew (like Cabot, originally from Earth), and his wife/free companion Talena.
The big problem he faces is that anyone who dares to enter the mountains never comes out again.
The Priest-Kings as a species are a marvellous creation. Norman has obviously put a lot of thought and effort into their genesis, and although they do have qualities that must be considered human, they are one of the more ‘alien’ alien races around.
Highly advanced with science so far beyond our own that it appears impossible, they have improved their genetics to make themselves impossibly long lived; they have a society that is different to our own, governed by their background, appearing as something akin to giant insects, they are strong, huge and powerful; communicate by scent, are almost fussy to the point of paranoia when it comes to cleanliness and keep an army of lesser beings (humans) to look after their needs.
Norman does not stint in his creativity, the Priest-Kings can communicate with the humans, but there are certain concepts that they cannot grasp, and the same is true in the opposite direction. It is like there is a common ground between the species, but there are always going to be areas that do not make sense.
There is also clever tricks employed, the author giving us discourses on the way some things work, a lovely passage on how humans do not understand gravity is brilliant, but in other areas Norman is just vague, which works well, especially as the reader does not particularly want to read about power plants and how they work when there is action going on. Having the centre tear itself apart is a lot more dramatic without stopping to read how it was put together and works while it is doing so.
He also uses a third technique, which is to hint at things, which serves to add to the advancement of the Priest-Kings without confirming anything, most notably that the planet may well have been transferred to the solar system.
However well thought out their society, it has been around too long and has started to stagnate. Different factions believe that they know what is best for the Nest and trouble is on the horizon.
Then we come to the negative issue. The Gor series is known for it’s blatant sexism, a society built on human (particularly female) slavery. For all that Norman is obviously influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs, he is writing in a different time from his muse, and although the seventies are a long time ago, and society has changed a lot there is still a feeling of discomfort to come in the Gor novels.
The first two books in the series touched upon slavery, but it was played down, just a part of a more brutal and primitive society, that Cabot, as an outsider could frown upon. Although there is more to come, this is the first time that we begin so see the issue becoming more uncomfortable.
As a teenager reading the novels in the early 80’s the issues raised here probably went over my head, here though some of the reading, as lowkey as it is compared to later books, is undoubtedly uncomfortable.
There is no doubt that the women are seen as a weaker sex; that their enslavement is for their better, and it is asserted a couple of times it does not matter how powerful or free a woman might be, it is Cabot’s belief that they secretly desire to be enslaved.
That men are powerful strong and dominating, and that women are to be dominated. It seems wrong and is uncomfortable to read, especially when we are offered a strong willed, and manipulative woman, who takes delight in breaking men to her will, Vika, who ends up infatuated and completely devoted to Cabot.
I am sure there I much that could be argued about modern day values being different to what they were forty years ago, and there is a real argument that could be made that just because a society is totally different to our own does not make it wrong.
But because it is different is precisely why it is uncomfortable.
So, the good. Our hero, Tarl Cabot has decided to make his way to the Sardar mountains, home of the gods of Gor, The Priest Kings. The reason for his visit? To challenge the supposed deities over their destruction of his home city, Ko-Ra-Ba, and the scattering of its people to all corners of the globe, unable to come together again. This includes his father Matthew (like Cabot, originally from Earth), and his wife/free companion Talena.
The big problem he faces is that anyone who dares to enter the mountains never comes out again.
The Priest-Kings as a species are a marvellous creation. Norman has obviously put a lot of thought and effort into their genesis, and although they do have qualities that must be considered human, they are one of the more ‘alien’ alien races around.
Highly advanced with science so far beyond our own that it appears impossible, they have improved their genetics to make themselves impossibly long lived; they have a society that is different to our own, governed by their background, appearing as something akin to giant insects, they are strong, huge and powerful; communicate by scent, are almost fussy to the point of paranoia when it comes to cleanliness and keep an army of lesser beings (humans) to look after their needs.
Norman does not stint in his creativity, the Priest-Kings can communicate with the humans, but there are certain concepts that they cannot grasp, and the same is true in the opposite direction. It is like there is a common ground between the species, but there are always going to be areas that do not make sense.
There is also clever tricks employed, the author giving us discourses on the way some things work, a lovely passage on how humans do not understand gravity is brilliant, but in other areas Norman is just vague, which works well, especially as the reader does not particularly want to read about power plants and how they work when there is action going on. Having the centre tear itself apart is a lot more dramatic without stopping to read how it was put together and works while it is doing so.
He also uses a third technique, which is to hint at things, which serves to add to the advancement of the Priest-Kings without confirming anything, most notably that the planet may well have been transferred to the solar system.
However well thought out their society, it has been around too long and has started to stagnate. Different factions believe that they know what is best for the Nest and trouble is on the horizon.
Then we come to the negative issue. The Gor series is known for it’s blatant sexism, a society built on human (particularly female) slavery. For all that Norman is obviously influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs, he is writing in a different time from his muse, and although the seventies are a long time ago, and society has changed a lot there is still a feeling of discomfort to come in the Gor novels.
The first two books in the series touched upon slavery, but it was played down, just a part of a more brutal and primitive society, that Cabot, as an outsider could frown upon. Although there is more to come, this is the first time that we begin so see the issue becoming more uncomfortable.
As a teenager reading the novels in the early 80’s the issues raised here probably went over my head, here though some of the reading, as lowkey as it is compared to later books, is undoubtedly uncomfortable.
There is no doubt that the women are seen as a weaker sex; that their enslavement is for their better, and it is asserted a couple of times it does not matter how powerful or free a woman might be, it is Cabot’s belief that they secretly desire to be enslaved.
That men are powerful strong and dominating, and that women are to be dominated. It seems wrong and is uncomfortable to read, especially when we are offered a strong willed, and manipulative woman, who takes delight in breaking men to her will, Vika, who ends up infatuated and completely devoted to Cabot.
I am sure there I much that could be argued about modern day values being different to what they were forty years ago, and there is a real argument that could be made that just because a society is totally different to our own does not make it wrong.
But because it is different is precisely why it is uncomfortable.
August 4, 2021
This one was interesting and while integral to the plot (priest-kings run the place) mostly felt like filler. The plot meanders and just happens, encompassing a kind of kidnapping of Tarl, a woman falling in love with him (again), figuring out an entire species of intelligent life, a worker's revolt, a civil war, and a setup for the next moves of Tarl. All in 300 pages. To be honest, this wasn't a well-earned ending to this plot point in my opinion, and still very low on the smut all things considered.
It's interesting to me that the priest-kings ended up being giant mantids, it was a very Kafka Metamorphosis in discomfort levels. It's kind of cool how they do civilization and have scent-based communication but other than the world building it just falls flat for me. This has been built up for two books and is integral to how Gor is set up, I was much more hyped for these mysterious beings than what we are given. It was like reading the second book, but with giant insects with their own society. There's definitely a formula emerging in these books and I'm curious how it continues.
If we wanted to get big-brained, I think that there is some emerging allegory to how society views men as disposable, overly sexual, and dominant by nature. I'm not sure if this commentary is to point out that gender roles are bad for men or to encourage a return to them. Tarl certainly views himself as disposable given how often he willingly puts himself in risky situations, his inner monologue on his warrior caste, and how he talks about himself. Sure, there could be some honor in his head, but why is that honorable? Why are these conditions of what a man "is" supposed? And why is he so hell bent on making every man come to terms with their supposed "natural" condition? This seems very much a response to second wave feminism, and seeing as Norman, who uses a penname, was a philosophy professor, I don't think this can be discounted. I'm curious if this is expanded on or if I'm just trying to apply literary analysis to a guy's fun side project and it isn't that deep. Remains to be seen I guess.
It's interesting to me that the priest-kings ended up being giant mantids, it was a very Kafka Metamorphosis in discomfort levels. It's kind of cool how they do civilization and have scent-based communication but other than the world building it just falls flat for me. This has been built up for two books and is integral to how Gor is set up, I was much more hyped for these mysterious beings than what we are given. It was like reading the second book, but with giant insects with their own society. There's definitely a formula emerging in these books and I'm curious how it continues.
If we wanted to get big-brained, I think that there is some emerging allegory to how society views men as disposable, overly sexual, and dominant by nature. I'm not sure if this commentary is to point out that gender roles are bad for men or to encourage a return to them. Tarl certainly views himself as disposable given how often he willingly puts himself in risky situations, his inner monologue on his warrior caste, and how he talks about himself. Sure, there could be some honor in his head, but why is that honorable? Why are these conditions of what a man "is" supposed? And why is he so hell bent on making every man come to terms with their supposed "natural" condition? This seems very much a response to second wave feminism, and seeing as Norman, who uses a penname, was a philosophy professor, I don't think this can be discounted. I'm curious if this is expanded on or if I'm just trying to apply literary analysis to a guy's fun side project and it isn't that deep. Remains to be seen I guess.
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