Just how bad is John Norman's Gor Series?

Because of this thread I skimmed through part of one of the Gor novels recently. I don't even remember the full name -- Slave something-or-other of Gor. All I have to say is -- OMG. I can't believe that wasn't self-published.
 
Contrarius said:
Because of this thread I skimmed through part of one of the Gor novels recently. I don't even remember the full name -- Slave something-or-other of Gor. All I have to say is -- OMG. I can't believe that wasn't self-published.
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Norman just released Book #30 (Mariners of Gor) of the series. Given the lengths of the most recent books (500+ pages), he is very likely writing without the benefit of an editor. Which is a thought to give anyone pause.
 
world of Gor series-

well, if you can avoid having to read the endless 'brainwashing' on how women are all slaves just some are not in their collars yet theme you might be able to enjoy the story of the world of Gor. It does jump around in a few of the books as not all are about Tarl Cabot, some are apparently from the slaves point of view and one is about another male from earth who finds himself on Gor. I have recently read all 30 novel one after the other and had to skip a lot of paragraphs of repetitions and strangely unrelated inserts, but having said that did enjoy the base story of Gor.
Zsinj said:
Okay, so for quite a while now, I've been interested in the classic sword & sorcery genre. Amog the authors I'm really interseted in are Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Fritz Leiber, Fred Saberhagen, C.L. Moore, Karl Edward Wagner, Leigh Brackett, Talbot Mundy, Michael Moorcock, David Gemmell, Lin Carter, Avram Davidson, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and others.
And one author I've kind have got a curious eye on is John Norman, but I'm weary of reading him, because I've heard that his writings are quite nefarious in their treatment of women. I've heard that he isn't just simply sexist in his writings, but has the women degraded and tortured in bizarre and harrowing sexual ways. Could someone please tell me if all that has been said about his writings are true?

Thanks,
Zsinj :cool:
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Try reading the House Plants of Gor parody then imagine that without the humor or satire...That's how bad it is.It reads like a really bad porno that has been novelized. I give Norman points for creativity but not much else, especially not for literary or philosophical brilliance (seriously, I think anyone, even the most die hard person into BDSM would look at it and say "WTF is this?). I would however like to find a series like that except with women in charge and more of a fantasy edge with decent writing because the whole macho man thing gets on my nerves in general. :p
 
I'll go ahead and echo what some other folks said on here. The first 5 (I think it was 5 been a long time) were actually entertaining. Then it seems like he snapped and went off the deep end. Everything after 5 was just plain bad, unreadable stuff. So if you like Sword and Sorcery get the first 5, then forget the rest. I can't even describe how bad the ones after 5 were, I don't have the words for it.
 
gljones said:
I'll go ahead and echo what some other folks said on here. The first 5 (I think it was 5 been a long time) were actually entertaining. Then it seems like he snapped and went off the deep end. Everything after 5 was just plain bad, unreadable stuff. So if you like Sword and Sorcery get the first 5, then forget the rest. I can't even describe how bad the ones after 5 were, I don't have the words for it.
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I'm not a die-hard fan or anything, but I made it through the first 14. Yes, the first 5 are truly the best of the lot and once you get past that, it's no longer a fun series. It's actually stupid by that point.

That said, the first five are fun, pulpy-style adventure you'd expect from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Buff men saving sexy women from perilous peril. The world is somewhat interesting and you need to disconnect the higher functions of your brain, but they're fun books. As has been said before, don't go in expecting something that will make you think. Just read it for fun and move on to something else.
 
yes it is true that after the first few writer should have stopped!

I agree with all quotes that the writer is way too obsessed with the subjugation of all women! as stated I have plowed my way through all 30, one after the other and whew! had to skim past much of his obsessing :( which really detracted from the story being told. If you break it down to the actual story then you really only have a few chapters and it seems like for lack of words that the author just put in all that stuff about how women are all slaves especially from earth. grrrr! well guess it takes all types. but for a professor of philosophy he should be able to do better than that! I realize that there are some who would follow like a cult just so they can get their jollies bullying and even beating women but am so very happy to say that most that I know would not be interested in such things, so take that, John Norman and co.! well enough of that now, hope everyone finds another author they like, I just read the whole series because of reading a few when much younger. I was able to download through utorrent an incredible array of fantasy stories and this author was only one of hundreds. have happily deleted this series from computer and am off to happily type of fantasy story like magic and mystery. take care and good reading!
JRMurdock said:
I'm not a die-hard fan or anything, but I made it through the first 14. Yes, the first 5 are truly the best of the lot and once you get past that, it's no longer a fun series. It's actually stupid by that point.

That said, the first five are fun, pulpy-style adventure you'd expect from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Buff men saving sexy women from perilous peril. The world is somewhat interesting and you need to disconnect the higher functions of your brain, but they're fun books. As has been said before, don't go in expecting something that will make you think. Just read it for fun and move on to something else.
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after reading this series needed something nicer!

I have read all 30 of the world of Gor series one after the other and found that I needed to skim a lot of material as it is repetitive and boring especially reading all the series one after the other. whew, after all that 'brainwashing' of hearing how all women are slaves especially the ones from 'poor' Earth I found I needed something much nicer to read and and now re reading the Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean M.Auel. While it deals with some heavy things there is none of the attempts at 'brainwashing' by the author. Am now into book 5 of the series and am looking forward to book 6. was fortunate enough to be able to download from utorrent and enormous file of fantasy stories so am happily sorting through now from hundreds of authors and thousands of stories. Thank you Utorrent! Good reading everyone!
 
I read all of these when I was in 7th and 8th grade,and I have to say I really enjoyed them.In fact, I might go back and read them again,seeing as how there are new ones out now, and I need a refresher.I'm not joking either, I really loved this series back then.
 
in reply to "I wouldn't say that around here if I were you"

Why not?:confused: I am very poor and cannot afford to buy the books even second hand that I can read each month as I generally read anywhere from 12-35 book per month, so why not rejoice in finding books to read for the cost of internet usage? I am fully cognizant of copyright laws, etc. but reality is - if I want to read then I have to find ways to do it. Even being able to get books from our local library, while a very good source, they almost always do not have full series or even the books requested.:( We live in a very rural setting as well so costs a fair bit of money just to go into our local town. Well, enough of that for now, as I said before - Happy Reading out there to those who enjoy a good story ( of whatever genre you choose!):D
PeteMC said:
I really wouldn't say that around here if I were you...
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crazy1athome said:
Why not?:confused: I am very poor and cannot afford to buy the books even second hand that I can read each month as I generally read anywhere from 12-35 book per month, so why not rejoice in finding books to read for the cost of internet usage? I am fully cognizant of copyright laws, etc. but reality is - if I want to read then I have to find ways to do it. Even being able to get books from our local library, while a very good source, they almost always do not have full series or even the books requested.:( We live in a very rural setting as well so costs a fair bit of money just to go into our local town. Well, enough of that for now, as I said before - Happy Reading out there to those who enjoy a good story ( of whatever genre you choose!):D
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It never ceases to amaze me when I see a thief try to justify stealing some non-essential luxury by saying they're poor. That doesn't mean you can steal the damn thing! Can't afford something you want? Do what every civilised human does... save up. Christ.

I'm off to steal some lobster because I want it and it's expensive.
 
John_PQ said:
It never ceases to amaze me when I see a thief try to justify stealing some non-essential luxury by saying they're poor. That doesn't mean you can steal the damn thing! Can't afford something you want? Do what every civilised human does... save up. Christ.

I'm off to steal some lobster because I want it and it's expensive.
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I don't understand why people want to eat lobster.They look like giant marine bugs. :p
 
We are not going to have a discussion about illegal downloading in this thread or in any of the forums, for that matter. Nor will we be discussing lobster eating outside of fiction in which lobster eating takes place or in the General Discussion Forum. Please return to the subject of John Norman's Gor series in this thread.
 
KatG said:
We are not going to have a discussion about illegal downloading in this thread or in any of the forums, for that matter. Nor will we be discussing lobster eating outside of fiction in which lobster eating takes place or in the General Discussion Forum. Please return to the subject of John Norman's Gor series in this thread.
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I loved the part in Crustacean of Gor where the giant lobster grabbed the drunk pirates in its pincers and took them down loaded.
 
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I think I read the first three. I don't recall much. I don't know if they deteriorated or if I got bored but I did not regret quitting at the time.

psik
 
Zsinj said:
Okay, so for quite a while now, I've been interested in the classic sword & sorcery genre. Amog the authors I'm really interseted in are Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Fritz Leiber, Fred Saberhagen, C.L. Moore, Karl Edward Wagner, Leigh Brackett, Talbot Mundy, Michael Moorcock, David Gemmell, Lin Carter, Avram Davidson, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and others.
And one author I've kind have got a curious eye on is John Norman, but I'm weary of reading him, because I've heard that his writings are quite nefarious in their treatment of women. I've heard that he isn't just simply sexist in his writings, but has the women degraded and tortured in bizarre and harrowing sexual ways. Could someone please tell me if all that has been said about his writings are true?

Thanks,
Zsinj :cool:
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Well, here's my two cents worth. I have read the first ten or so of Norman's Gor series, and I like his play on the sword and sorcery theme a lot. I don't mind the sexist slave themes evident in his early novels as much, but I do find that the further I get into the series, the less humor and action/swordplay there is. It's seeming as if he doesn't have as much to talk about so the sexist/slavery themes are just gone over and over and over, and I feel like it's just being driven into the ground. Also, early on I found his works to have a good mixture of descriptive passages versus action passages, and again, as I get further into the series the descriptive passages are taking over to the point where each novel is becoming more of a chore to read than I care for. Again, it's as if Norman is running out of real things to say, so we get a 12 page description of a banquet hall, that sort of thing. I will continue to keep reading, probably up until the point where his main character of Tarl Cabot leaves the series, and then quit. His early works, though, are definitely worth a read in my opinion.
 
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