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January 1 1998
Tal, Goreans!
I've kept the quotes sort of sparse this week for two reason; one, because I wanted to share with you a few interesting factoids, as well as some personal reflections of my own, about the Gor books (the collection of useless trivia being a hobby of mine) and two, because I have just recently returned from a holiday jaunt down south and am running low on good quotes. Not a problem, since it seems I can always just open up a Gor book to a random page and find something of interest. Now that I have a complete set of the books once again (my missing copy of Marauders of Gor having been replaced) I hope to have my meager stores of such witticisms and Gorean commentary back up to their former voluminous state by next week.
In the meantime, enjoy what's here and I wish you an excellent Wagon Peoples' New Year, since the rest of Gor doesn't celebrate its new year until late spring or mid summer. That's one of those little factoids I mentioned.
GOR according to Norman
First of all, let me start out by listing some trivia regarding the books:
The Gor books were written by Professor John Lange under the non de plume of John Norman, and were published in the United States between 1967 and 1988. They sold something like a million copies, making him a certified bestseller. They have been printed in at least four countries outside of the US, though not in their entirety (France, for instance, only published the first three, to my knowledge). Mr.Lange is still very much alive as of this writing, and I am told that he is busily working on the 26th book of the series to be published within the next year or so. This is reputedly due in part to a sudden influx of fan interest generated on the internet through our channels and websites.
Professor Lange, I am told, studied both Ancient Earth Cultures and Psychology in college, specifically psychology as it relates to human sexuality. In addition to the Gor books he also wrote some other non-Gorean fiction, the books Time Slave and Ghost Dance, as well as a trilogy known as the Telnarian Histories. He also authored a nonfiction work entitled Imaginative Sex.
There are some interesting rumors floating around out there regarding he and his work; one is that he was a Headmaster or instructor at an all-girl school at one time, another that not all of the Gor books (particularly the Jason Marshall books, books 14-16) were actually authored by him. He denies these rumors and dismisses them as rubbish.
The Gor books, in their entirety, presently consist of 25 novels which are made up of roughly 9,300 single spaced pages of printed text. Averaging approximately 300 words per page, this stacks up to about 2.8 million words. In comparison, the standard King James edition of the Holy Bible contains roughly 1400 pages, and averages 500 words per page for a total of around 700,000 words, making the Gor books roughly four times the length of the Bible. My usage of the Bible as a reference here in relation to the 2.8 million words of the Gor books makes a certain amount of sense, because, GOD HELP ME, I've read'em all. Several times, in point of fact.
When one considers the sheer amount of work published, John Norman is one of the most prolific authors of the decades in which he was published. Not as prolific or as widely read, or accepted, as, say, Stephen King; but right up there with Tom Clancy, Scott Turow, and Terry Brooks, all authors of lengthy fiction series.
A FEW PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE GOR SERIES:
My personal favorite book of the series is book #6, Raiders of Gor, in which Tarl is finally forced to abandon his more romantic notions about life in general and finally grows up a bit. Until that time, Tarl always wins, and as such, he is the eternal optimist. In Raiders we finally see him have to deal with a no-win situation.
In book #8, Hunters of Gor, he sets out, now armed with his new Gorean pragmatism, and attempts to grasp personal power through intrigues and power plays, his ambition now one of economic and political importance. Again, he fails. In this failing, he comes to grips with his fallibility, and endures great cruelty due to this failure. When the wheel of fate again turns in his favor, he seizes the opportunity and begins anew, now well aware of his humanity and the ever looming spectre of fate. He becomes more human, more ruthless, and Gorean.
Each of the books brings Tarl closer to learning what it means to be Gorean, and being Gorean, in these books, is a metaphor which represents being a natural human being, unfettered by counter-instinctual conditioning ( Neat phrase, huh? It's one of Norman's). In several of the books he is captured and is forced to endure, if only temporarily, the life of a slave. Winning his freedom, he again comes closer to understanding and appreciating the simplicity of Gorean life and culture, even the more harsh and brutal aspects of it.
Books #14-16, the Jason Marshall Trilogy, introduce us to a new protagonist. Jason Marshall is a man of Earth, brought to Gor not as a warrior and the son of a former Ubar, as Tarl was, but as a male slave. By telling us his story, Norman offers us a glimpse of another side of Gor; what he so often shows us in regards to captured Earth females, he now shows us with a captured Earth male. Some of the most insistent pillars of the Gorean mindset are made clear to us as Jason refuses to consider them, only to be forced by the reality of his situation and the call of his maleness to finally accept and embrace them. What takes Tarl the better part of twenty books to learn is thrust upon Jason by the reality of his bondage, under the whip. Just as captive females are sent through the emotional grinder which forces them to accept certain underlying truths about their sexuality, so, too, is Jason. In such a way he is forced to become Gorean much faster than Tarl, and by the end of book #16 he is a free Gorean male through and through.
Nothing signifies this better than when, in book #23, Renegades of Gor, Tarl Cabot and Jason Marshall finally meet one another. In this brief episode, just a minor cameo by Jason, really, the two former Earth men come face to face, and neither recognizes the other as a transplanted native of their mutual home planet. Tarl and Jason have both become Gorean men.
We see a similar occurance in book #25, Magicians of Gor, when Tarl happens to encounter the slave girl Tuka (formerly Doreen Williamson of Earth) outside the walls of Ar. Tuka, who was the protagonist of book #22, Dancer of Gor, dances before him and Tarl is utterly unaware that she is a transplanted native of Earth until he spies the "Barbarian Brand" (the Gorean designation for an Earth vaccination mark) upon her arm. Tarl is stunned by the realization that the Earth girl has been so totally assimilated into Gorean society, and we are once again made aware by Norman that Goreans and Earthlings are, on a very basic level, fundamentally identical. Tarl has met the Goreans, and they are us.
If you wish to learn about being a slave, study the "slave" books which detail almost exclusively the training of Earth girls brought to Gor. These are books #7 Captive of Gor, #11 Slave Girl of Gor, #19 Kajira of Gor, and #22 Dancer of Gor.
If you wish to learn more about the varying Gorean cultures, try books #4 Nomads of Gor (Wagon Peoples), #5 Assassin of Gor (High Cities), #6 Raiders of Gor (Rencers), #8 Hunters of Gor (Panther Girls), #9 Marauders of Gor (Torvaldslanders), #10 Tribesmen of Gor (Desert Dwellers), #12 Beasts of Gor (Red Hunters), #13 Explorers of Gor (Jungle Tribesmen), #17 Savages of Gor and #18 Blood Brothers of Gor (Red Savages), and #21 Mercenaries of Gor (Alar Tribesmen).
If you want to know how dreadful and brutal is the practice of war upon Gor, read books #21 Mercenaries of Gor, #23 Renegades of Gor, and #24 Vagabonds of Gor.
If you want see what it is like to live in an occupied Gorean city under enemy rule, read book #25, Magicians of Gor.
And if you want to learn what it is to be Gorean, read them all. Norman is a patient, if repetitive teacher, and he gives us 25 entire books to figure it out for ourselves. And nine thousand words makes for one hell of a textbook. As well as a pretty amazing adventure, for Tarl, for Jason, for Elizabeth and Elinor and Doreen and all the rest... even for a confused and weary humanity trying to heal itself.
MAGICAL CASTLES OF GOR
Not long ago, in one of my essays for the Third Knowledge Web Page, I wrote the following words:
"There are no castles on the planet of Gor. The fortresses and fortified holdings of Gorean Warriors and Ubars might LOOK like castles, but they ain't. Show me a Gorean who lives in a structure called a `castle' in a Gor book and I'll buy you a lifetime supply of paga."
Since then, my good friend Mastiff has been kind enough to share with me the following quote:
Hmmm. In addition, in that same essay, I penned the following words:
"And there certainly isn't any magic on Gor. Believe me, I have culled the books for any reference to wizards and flaming swords in the series, and there aren't any."
However, I have also recently stumbled upon this next quote, again with Mastiff's help:
A conundrum? Perhaps. But before I don a rep cloth tunic and cover myself in ashes as a penitent, first let's look at the context of those two quotes. Both occur during book 25, Magicians of Gor, while Tarl is watching a staged magic show. The "ponderous fellow" mentioned above is his old buddy, that sly rascal and sleight-of-hand practicioner, Boots Tarsk-Bit. During a performance of his magic act, he "magically" sends his slave away (via a magic trunk rigged for the trick) to the mystical castle of his friend, Swaziloo, one of the legendary magicians of Anango. These magicians, we are told in the second quote, are well known throughout Gor... except on Anango. They are therefore legendary in the truest sense of the word.
Therefore, Mastiff, you cannot "show me a Gorean who lives in a structure called a castle in a Gor book" because Swaziloo, there, does not exist. Nor does magic exist, upon Gor, outside of stage shows. (Whew. Barely managed to squirm out of that one.)
This does indicate, however, that Goreans are well versed in the myths which surround magic and magicians, and consider that castles are suitable places in which such mythical magicians might dwell. Also, it seems a safe bet that somewhere on Gor someone lives, or, during some historical Gorean period, lived, in a structure called a castle, otherwise the word itself would mean nothing to Goreans, and, as shown in the above quote, most Goreans do know and understand it.
Tell you what, Mastiff... we'll split that lifetime supply of paga. But knowing you, you would have shared it with me anyhow.
GOREAN JEALOUSY
[To accompany the following quote, Kalun Hail writes: "I have seen a number of arguments in a few of the channels lately about jealousy, both in slaves and in masters. This quote is just to prove that, Yes, Jealousy does exist on Gor."]
SLAVERY, ACCORDING TO GOREAN LAW
A GOREAN DOCTOR'S OFFICE
REQUESTS FOR SEX
THE OTHER KIND OF LARMA
SLAVE-BELLIES OF GOR
[As I have mentioned in past columns, this is one of the two definitions Norman gives us for that term, the other being something close to "the inherent desire or strong emotional need which compels a female to respond to the commands of a strong male." This makes sense, since often in the books slaves are told that they should "find their slave belly." If only the first definition existed, then the appropriate instruction one would give to aid a slave in doing so would be "Look down."]
STILL MORE SLAVE HEAT
[Once again, our loyal readers come to the rescue, providing us with yet another batch of quotes for our perusal. The "slave-heat" mystery unravels...]
[In both of the quotes above, it seems that slave-heat might be either the slave's state of arousal or her physical genitalia.]
[In the quote above, however, the definition seems a more physical one. But which is the slave's "slave heat"... her body, or the passion which is implied to exist within the aforementioned "cradle"? Then again, Norman often tells us that a slave's thighs and pelvis are referred to, particularly by those of the northern cities and territories, as the "love cradle." And what lies at the center of a slave's thighs and pelvis if not her you-know-what?]
[Then again, as Fever pointed out in his e-mail to me, and depicted in the accompanying quote displayed above, Norman seems not to mind using the word vagina when that is what he's talking about. Hmmm.]
And in that last one, it seems that once again the "slave heat" is the particular slave's "passion" or sexual drive. I dunno, folks... what do you think?
I suspect that once again we have encountered a term with more than one meaning. While I would suggest that the official definition of the term "slave heat" would best be translated as "a slave's sexual responsiveness and desire for sexual intercourse," I see no reason why the same term might not be applied to a particular portion of her anatomy wherein that "heat" is most clearly displayed.
As a side note, it appears that book #13, Explorers of Gor, is Norman's "slave heat" book. If one reads carefully throughout the series, one may classify the various novels according to which particular phrases Norman happens to favor during that period of his writing, as they pop up repeatedly in certain books, only to fade out in later ones to be replaced by different terms which Norman enjoys dropping. In such a way, one may determine different phases of Norman's writing. For instance, he goes through his "juicy pudding" phase, his "cuddly slut" phase, his "to be sure" phase, and of course his well-documented "modality and obtaining from" phase. Much of Norman's writing seems to be very "stream of consciousness" in form and style, hence the repetition and repeated occurance of certain words and phrases which were part of his mental vocabulary at the time of the writing. Or so it would seem. To be sure, such a concept obtains muchly from repeated readings.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A: Well, Kuril, while I have often seen quotes from the Gor books which state that slaves may not handle weaponry, I have yet to see a quote which says they are excused from working in the kitchen because of it. In fact, we are told that countless slaves are utilized in the public kitchens of various cities and private houses. So which is correct? I would have to say that they BOTH are correct. And here's why: there are several quotes in the books in which slaves handle objects which might be classifed as weapons:
[In the above quote, not only does the slave Vika handle a knife, but she uses it to shave Tarl while he sleeps, effectively without his express permission. This might be a peculiarity of the conditions in the Priest King's capture room of the Sardar Nest Hive, where the above occurs. Also, at this time Tarl is still, in word and deed, very much a man of Earth. A Gorean man might not take Vika's little unbidden service so casually. Vika was most probably testing Tarl, while simultaneously attempting to prove her trustworthiness to him.]
[In later books, we see slaves entrusted with such "weapons" as a pair of scissors:]
[And a peasant's hoe:]
[And even being allowed to handle, cast and retrieve an actual spear:]
[In addition, Kaledorus, who submitted the shaving quote, comments: "From time to time one hears that slave girls cannot even cut a loaf of bread due to a prohibition on touching knives etc. (but) On page 34 of Priest Kings of Gor we see the slave Vika had used a Gorean Shaving Knife to shave our Tarl. Now, if a slave can touch and wield such a tool, I am sure she can cut the excess fat off some bosk flank for me."]
It is Kaledorus who gives us the answer to Kuril's question. You will note he says "if a slave can touch and wield such a tool." There are millions of objects on the planet of Gor which might be utilized as a weapon; the scissors and hoe mentioned above, Vika's shaving knife, a metal platter or goblet, even a slave's own chains might be used to inflict injury upon a free person. But are these objects "weapons" in the classical sense? No. They are tools and everyday items found in every public establishment and residence on Gor. A slave may therefore handle such items, provided they are being put to good use, and serve an established purpose. After all, a slave who cannot touch anything is a pretty useless slave in my book. As to the use of carving knives, etc., it seems likely that slaves are allowed to utilize such tools in their daily duties, provided they are under the direct supervision of a free person, who can control and monitor their actions. Even male slaves are allowed to carry shovels, picks and other such tools in the mines and fields, or while performing manual labor. Such things are stringently regulated by their Masters, however.
It seems to me that common sense is a factor here. A slave can obviously handle any object a Master commands her to. This even seems to include items of specific weaponry such as the spear which the slave Elinor throws and retrieves above. Therefore, if a Master orders a slave to polish his sword, she would certainly be required to do so. But the unauthorized handling of weapons, and by weapon I mean an object designed specifically to be used to injure another human being or creature, is strictly prohibited among slaves. For a slave to handle such an item without being instructed to do so by a free person is considered to be an indication of insurrection. In Book 11, Slave Girl of Gor, we see the former slave Sandal Thong threaten to release attack sleens (which definitely qualify as a weapon) against free persons to defend her Master Thurnus. He later explains that he has previously freed her, so she might serve this purpose without fear of retribution. In Book 8, Hunters of Gor, we see the slaves Verna and Sheera use a crossbow and a bow, respectively, in the service of their Masters, to protect their Masters from enemies. Afterwards they are immediately disarmed. So it does occasionally happen. Much depends on the situation, and the slaves involved. Both Verna and Sheera are freed shortly thereafter. To willingly lift a weapon is not considered by Goreans to be a slave's act, no matter what the cause. If it is done to defend her Masters, however, it is often looked upon with less severity than if it was done as part of an escape attempt or to inflict harm for personal reasons. Also, it bears mentioning that in both cases mentioned above, the slaves who armed themselves were on the winning side. Had their own Masters been defeated thay could have expected to meet a fairly grisly death at the hands of their Masters' enemies.
Therefore, a Master might arm his slave with a sword or dagger, and she would be forced to wear it or use it as instructed. She would not do this lightly, since Gorean law prescribes her Master's doing so as an illegal act. If she then came into the presence of other free men, she might expect to be disarmed, beaten and perhaps slain for carrying out these instructions. The offending Master could expect similar treatment at the hands of other free persons, and would probably find himself dragged before the local Magistrates to explain where he got off arming a member of the conquered slave social class. To do such, in Gorean eyes, is patent idiocy.
If a slave lifts a weapon with the intent of harming a free person, or of damaging the property of a free person (i.e other slaves) then he or she should expect immediate disarmament and punishment, even unto her death.
QUOTES OF INTEREST
That's pretty much it for this week. I'd like to add that not long ago I received an e-mail from tyki{KTs} in which she mentioned the different manners of serving black wine as prescibed in the books, notably that the use of the term "second slave" was not standard in the regions of the Tahari. In this she was quite correct. Also, it was discussed that the use of the term "first slave" did not appear in the books, and that only the term "second slave" was evident. I have since found a specific reference to the term "first slave" as it relates to black wine and will post it, along with much of that discussion, in a future column.
Until next week... I wish you well!
_Marcus_
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? If you have any of the above, have queries regarding the source books, or have a quote or brief passage from the books which you would share here, feel free to e-mail me through the link below.