Tarnsman of Gor [Paperback]

John Norman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 2006

Tarl Cabot has always believed himself to be a citizen of earth. He has no inkling that his destiny is far greater than the small planet he has inhabited for the first twenty-odd years of his life. One frosty winter night in the New England woods, he finds himself transported to the planet of Gor, also known as counter-earth, where everything is dramatically different from anything he has ever experienced. It emerges that Tarl is to be trained as a Tarnsman, one of the most honored positions in the rigid, caste-bound Gorian society. He is disciplined by the best teachers and warriors that Gor has to offer. . . but to what end?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Norman is creator of the Gorean Saga, a series of novels spanning dozens of titles that began in 1967 with TARNSMAN OF GOR and that are considered to be cult classics. He has also produced a three-installment fictional series, Telnarian Histories, plus two other fiction works and a nonfiction paperback entitled IMAGINATIVE SEX. He continues to write new novels in the Gorean saga, notably WITNESS OF GOR (2002) and PRIZE OF GOR (2008), both published by E-Reads. At Gor Chronicles, a web site specially created for his tremendous fan following, one may read everything there is to know about this unique fictional culture. Mr. Norman was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1931. He is married and has three children. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Wildside Press (May 16, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809556154
• ISBN-13: 978-0809556151
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,282,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

180 of 185 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Early books are the best in Gor Series, July 17, 2003

By 

silliman89 "silliman89" (Burke, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tarnsman of Gor (Paperback)

I read the Gor series as a boy in the 70's and early 80's. IMHO the series is most appealing to teenage boys. I recently pulled "Assassins of Gor" off the shelf one night while bored, and re-read it. I was shocked that there was no real sex, and only a handful of pages of philosophy and psychology that I had to skip over. The book was really excellent, although in a straight forward, uncomplicated sort of way. These are escapist novels, richly detailed, which immerse you in an exotic world, not real thinkers. My enduring memories were of the later books in the series, which were almost unreadable because whole chapters were devoted to philosophy and psychology.

I am not offended by the idea that it is natural and enjoyable for women to be submissive to men. Although I recognize it as wish fulfillment fantasy, still I consider it harmless, especially in such an obviously fictitious setting. I even found it mildly interesting the first time it was mentioned. It is the umpteenth repetition that I find boring. I just turn those pages, skipping ahead to the next action sequence. Speaking of wish fulfillment, I wish someone would edit the series, and re-publish it without these parts. Maybe Eric Flint could do it? He likes to edit, according to his afterword to "1633" and he's good at it. Of course, if you take the sex out of Gor you get Barsoom, and that story has already been written.

I looked on Amazon to see if there was anything new going on with the series, and there was. It is being reprinted, starting at the beginning, and at least 2 new books seem to be published, or at least in the works. I was disappointed though that Amazon didn't have the whole series listed under one easy to find heading. I guess there are, after all, millions of books and only so many Amazon employees. So I'm listing the series, in order, along with some brief info. Some of these books I haven't read, as noted.

1.) Tarnsman of Gor - 1966. Earthman, Tarl Cabot, goes to another planet, hidden on the opposite side of our sun, and becomes a master swordsman and Warrior. This is the book that is most like "Princess of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughs, which I highly recommend. Note - in my copy, a 1975 reprint, the 1966 copyright is held by John Lange. Makes me wonder if Norman isn't a pen name.

2.) Outlaw... - 1967. Tarl Cabot returns to Gor, to find he's been outlawed.

3.) Priest-Kings... - 1968. Tarl Cabot goes to lair of Priest-Kings to clear his name.

4.) Nomads... - 1969. Tarl Cabot goes to Southern Plains, and meets Mongol type nomads.

5.) Assassin... - 1970. Tarl Cabot returns to Ar, greatest city-state on Gor. Note - this is the first copy I have by Del Rey books, and it has cover art by Boris. I may not like reading about the Gorean philosophy on sexual roles for men and women, but I can't get enough of Boris' artwork depicting it.

6.) Raiders... - 1971. Tarl Cabot goes to Port Kar, pirate capitol of scum and villainy, and learns the meaning of shame. More Boris art on the cover of the Del Rey edition.

7.) Captive... - 1972. A new character, Elinor Brinton, is captured on Earth and becomes a slave girl on Gor. The first time this is done, it may be slightly creative and a little interesting, but it is a radical departure from the earlier books and I consider it to be the beginning of the end. At least Tarl Cabot has a few pages at the end, which sort of tie this book into the rest of the series. This is also the last book published by Ballantine books, which I think is significant in the content and direction of the rest of the series.

8.) Hunters... - 1974. Tarl Cabot goes to the Northern Forest and meets amazon type women. This seems to be the first time there was a break in John Norman's writing, undoubtedly related to his switch to Daw books as a publisher.

9.) Marauders... - 1975. Tarl Cabot goes to the land of the Norsemen and meets Viking type Marauders.

10.) Tribesmen... - 1976. Tarl Cabot goes to the Tahari desert.

11.) Slave Girl... - 1977. Earth girl Judy Thornton enslaved on Gor. Again. No Tarl Cabot at all.

12.) Beasts... - 1978. Tarl Cabot goes to the Arctic ice pack and meets Eskimo type people.

13.) Explorers... - 1979. Tarl Cabot goes to the equatorial rain forests.

14.) Fighting Slave... - 1980. Earthman John Marshall is enslaved and forced to fight in a pit on Gor.

15.) Rogue... - 1981. John Marshall wanders free on Gor.

16.) Guardsman... - 1981. John Marshall earns a homeland.

17.) Savages... - 1982. Tarl Cabot goes to the great plains and meets American Indian type savages. Note - If you like this, John Norman also wrote "Ghost Dance" in 1970, a similar type story about real American Indians. I'm impressed that he kept the writing schedule he did on the Gor novels, and still wrote other books on the side. He also wrote "Time Slave" in 1975.

18.) Blood Brothers... - unread. Savages and Blood Brothers are a two-part set. I read Savages and was bored when it just petered out at the end with no dramatic climax. So I didn't buy Blood Brothers. Now I hear that this book has all that and more, oh well.

19.) Kajira... - unread. Another Slave girl story.

20.) Players... - 1984. Tarl Cabot joins the Carnival.

21.) Mercenaries... - 1985. Tarl Cabot returns to Ar again.

22.) Dancer... - unread. Another Slave Girl novel? This is where I stopped even looking in the bookstore.

23.) Vagabonds... - unread.

24.) Magicians... - 1988, unread.

25.) Witness... - 2002, unread. I read on amazon that this is a story about Marlenus (or possibly Tarl?) with amnesia, told by a slave girl.

26.) Prize... - unread. It seems that this is not yet published, but forthcoming.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting start to a controversial series, June 14, 2001

By 

C. Espinoza "charlesx" (Derwood, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tarnsman of Gor (Paperback)

The Tarl Cabot novels may not be your cup of tea, but anyone should be impressed with John Norman's ability to define, construct, and populate his own fictional world - in this case Gor, the Counter-Earth. His stories read very much like pulp fiction and thus must be taken with a grain of salt. Though by no means is "Tarnsman" high literature, this in no way detracts from the reader's enjoyment. Like Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard before him, Norman manages to picque your interest and lead you into a serialized telling of his characters' adventures on the planet Gor. If you're willing to set aside preconceived notions regarding Norman's work, this should be a fun and thrilling ride.

I own the whole Gor series, and so far have only read to Book 10. I believe that anyone who tries to read all 25 novels in a row may experience burnout. "Tarnsman," though, keeps you asking for more. You'll find that the first 4 novels are actually parts of a fascinating story arc that introduces Tarl Cabot to this violent yet fascinating world. Through Cabot's eyes we get to observe the different societies on Gor, their customs and rituals, and also we meet the mysterious Priest-Kings who hold sway over it all. The consistency in the writing is truly remarkable and satisfying.

Caveat: The reader will find, as stated in other reviews, that John Norman has very exact ideas regarding gender roles. He repeats himself quite a bit about how women are only fulfilled and content when they submit to male domination and thus allow themselves to be "truly female." In my experience I have found that both women and men are equally fans of John Norman's novels. If anything, the "slave/master" scenario tends to lend itself to sexual fantasies (or BDSM, as some have pointed out.) Therefore, I can't say that these ideas ruin the series for the reader. As long as you know what you're getting into and get past these "rough spots", you should be able to truly appreciate the Gor series.

I would recommend "Tarnsman of Gor", as well as the rest of the novels in the series, to anyone who likes well-crafted adventure tales. They're great fun to read - my current favorite is #4, "Nomads of Gor." (Trying to collect the whole series may take more than just a little cash, as the novels are largely out of print. I hope all 25 get reprinted this time around.)

33 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Passable fantasy novel akin to Burroughs, January 19, 2002

By 

mrliteral - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tarnsman of Gor (Paperback)

Although it uses the trappings of science fiction, Tarnsman of Gor (the first volume of the Chronicles of Counter-Earth) is strictly fantasy adventure. The obvious ancestor of this book is Edgar Rice Burroughs's Mars books, which are likeways fantasy that use science as a mere device to get the story going.

Like Burroughs's John Carter, Tarl Cabot is a man who is mysteriously transported to another world (this one a planet on the opposite side of the sun). On this new world, Cabot becomes a warrior and gets involved with the intrigues of this feudalistic planet.

In one sense, this is a fun novel, pure adventure with no greater purpose than to amuse and in this sense, it largely succeeds. On the other hand, there are times when the last-minute rescues get a little out of control.

Similar to Burroughs, Norman often shows a perception of the world that is less than modern. While Burroughs had 19th century values that bordered on racism in his books, Norman's book shows the seeds of the misogyny and sadomasochism which I understand gets completely out of hand in his later books. At least Burroughs is the product of his time; Norman seems to be around a millenium out of his. Nonetheless, for an adult who can see past these things, which are not so overt as to be truly bad, there is a good tale to be enjoyed.