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March 15 1998Tal, Goreans!
This is to be my last column discussing the contents of the Gor books, for a number of reasons. Firstly, my current schedule no longer allows me the spare time to do the necessary research to keep this column full of quotations; secondly, I feel that the "Ask the Slaves" column featured in the Gorean Times meets the need for a "book quotes page" on this site, and that more than one is a bit redundant; and thirdly, because I have reached the point where there is little left to say here other than "aren't these books great? Isn't Gorean society, ecology and sociology cool?" Norman has compiled a massive body of information in the twenty-five (soon to be twenty-six) Gor books, and since he is once again writing Gorean material I see little point in my adding further to that body of knowledge by re-wording what he has already said. I shall therefore await the next Gor book, eager to see what new wonders will unfold on that alternate world so near and dear to my heart, sit back, and leave the driving, as they say, to him.
It is my sincere hope that this column has done a bit to inspire online Goreans out there to actually locate and read the Gor books, and to pay close attention to what they find there... or even to re-read the ones they had previously viewed. If I have generated a renewed interest in the works of John Norman through my writings here, and have imparted a bit more knowledge of the world of Gor as depicted in the original source works, then this column has served its purpose. Gor has always been for me a fascinating fictional world, teeming with intricate details regarding the lives of its inhabitants. Norman put an awful lot of work into his fictional creation, and it is my desire that we, those who have taken so much of his writing into our hearts, appreciate and understand the amount of time and effort which he expended in bringing us his masterwork, the magnificent Counter-Earth.
GOR according to Norman
The quotes presented below are displayed in no particular grouping or order. Some discuss the psychology of slavery, rules for slave behavior, songs and practices of Gorean culture, and even one in which the usage of "Thee" and "Thou" are examined. Read on, friends, take comfort and gather knowledge from what is presented hereupon.
AND THE EYES HAVE IT...
[The following was sent to me by Kalun Hail, and is, in effect, a short essay wherein he discusses a particular passage from the books. I have included it here since it has much merit, as have all of the quotations and comments which Kalun has sent me.]
Tal Marcus,
I have found this section of "Savages of Gor" from page 257 to page 259 to be of extreme interest to me. As I have read, and reread it I have realized the truth of it. To me, the eye have always been one of the most profound parts of a slave. To paraphrase an old adage, they are the windows to the soul.
`Stand straight,' called Grunt to the coffle, which, now, in our pause, had put down its burdens. `Keep your heads up, but do not meet his eyes. It is you who are the merchandise, the beauties, the slaves, not he. It is not yours to examine, but to be examined, not yours to consider, but to be considered.'"
In an average "vanilla" relationship the eyes are often guarded, or generally ignored because of what can be transmitted through them.
"I thought Grunt was wise not to have the girls look into the eyes of the Fleer warrior. Such an exchange of glances or looks, can be like an electric shock, an encounter almost fearfully significant. Who knows what each might recognize in the eyes of the other? Does she see in his eyes that he is one such as might be her master? Does he see in her eyes that she is one who could not help but acknowledge herself and soon, despite what she might now take to be her desires, his helpless and natural slave? Sometimes, at as little as a meeting of eyes, masters and slaves know one another. `I must have her. She is mine,' he tells himself. `I belong to him. I am his slave,' her hearts whispers to her."
Whereas, in the relationship between Master and slave there is a much deeper truism, realism, belief in the natural order.
"This matter of eye contact is interesting and has many facets. One of the most initially frightening and disturbing things to Earth women brought to Gor as slaves is the way Gorean men look at them. They are not used to being looked at as women, truly, with appraisal, desire and ownership. This tends, in the beginning, when they are still new to their collars, to confuse and frighten them, but also, of course, as it will continue to do, and even more powerfully, to stimulate them. It is the first time that they have found themselves in the order of nature, and as what they are, and it is the first time that they have found themselves being looked at, frankly, and honestly, within the order of nature, and as what they are, females, appropriate objects of male predation and desire. This recognition of her femaleness, and this joy in release and self-discovery, often comes as a stunning revelation to the Earth female. Never again, once having discovered this, does she retreat to the conditioned ideals of neuterism and pseudomasculinity, nor, indeed, even if she desired to do so, would her masters permit it. Sometimes in training, incidentally, or as a discipline or punishment, the slave is not permitted to look into the eyes of the master. Indeed, sometimes, in training, she is not permitted to raise her eyes above the belt of the trainer. Also, it must be recognized that many slaves often, and perhaps all slaves sometimes, find it difficult to look into the eyes of the master. He, after all, holds total power over them and they fear to displease him. What if he should interpret her gaze as suggesting the least insubordination or insolence? Are they truly prepared to have the soles of their feet lashed or to live on bread crusts for the next five days? But, on the other hand, there is, on Gor, in circles of the mastery, no discouragement, commonly, of eye contact between masters and slaves."
Go back and read that last line carefully. What is it saying to you? Simply, eye contact. Something that slaves fear because of what can be read in them. This does not me that a slave should look into the eyes of any Master at any time, but only when the Master has given the slave the right to do so.
"Indeed, in the deep and profound relationships of love and bondage, such eye contact is usually welcomed and encouraged. What can be understood of the glances of masters and slaves by those who have been united only in lesser relationships? Too, to be sure, from the practical point of view, it is useful for the girl to be able to look into the eyes of the master. In this way she may be able to better read his moods, and desires, and, accordingly, be able the better to serve him, in the process perhaps saving herself a few cuffings and beatings, such as might be garnered by a less alert, more slothful, laxer girl. To be sure, all girls, upon occasion, are cuffed or beaten. This is good for them, and helps to remind them that they are slaves.Beauty in a slave girl, incidentally, and most slaves are beautiful, for this is the sort of woman that tends to be enslaved, does not excuse poor service. The most beautiful girl must serve with the same perfection as the lesser girl. Gorean masters are uncompromising on this point."
Just as this passage has stated, there is good reason for a slave to look into her Master's eyes. Mainly so that she can better serve him, better understand his mood, and be proactive in serving him by seeing in his eyes what he wants, and by doing so, avoid punishment, unless of course, he so chooses to punish her anyway.
"From the point of view of the master, too, not only is it pleasant to look into the eyes of a slave, but there are certain practical advantages attached to doing so. For example, one might, in her eyes, read desire, and thus order her to perform an act which she, even though a slave, might not have dared to beg to perform, or, say, by looking into her eyes, one might determine if she has been up to something or has neglected something to which she should have attended. Has she been into the sweets? Has she, perhaps gossiping and dawdling with the other girls, been amiss in the discharge of her duties? Perhaps the shopping has not yet been done? Perhaps the laundry has not yet been finished? Such infractions call for discipline. But perhaps, in lieu of discipline, the master will accept the performance of desperate placatory services on the part of the offending slave. The decision is his. I would, incidentally, advise the slave to be superb."
Personal experience has shown that it is both easy to read a slave and pleasurable to look into the eyes of a slave.
As I go out and about my business I tend to look at the women somewhat differently than others do, Yes, Like any human male I will absorb the curves of a sultry wench first, Then I will turn my attention to the eyes, finding what I can see within them. It tends to disconcert them rather quickly which I must say I tend to chuckle in response.
I believe that the eyes are a much ignored feature in a slave, both by the Master and the slave herself. Just something I have noticed in my travels about IRC Gor. A feature that should be better explored by all concerned.
I wish you well,
Kalun
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A: Well, first of all, remember the most common location for brands on a Gorean slave's body: high on the outside of the thigh (the hip), the foot and the belly. If one assumes that these girls are common thigh-branded girls, then the mark would hardly be noticeable (unless one was looking for it). Gorean slave garments commonly possess no "nether-closure" or crotch, allowing them to be lifted at will for a brand check. Also most camisks are cut high to expose the brand.
On Earth, wearing Earth clothing, the brand would be concealed even by a pair of panties, assuming it was placed on the outer thigh where the sides of the panties would cover it, like Earth girls who get tattoos on the hip, which they must be entirely naked (or pantiless) to display. Add such items of clothing as bluejeans or dresses to the mix, and you can see how such a brand would be easily overlooked by unknowledgeable Earth men and women. Also, Earth custom does not commonly allow for such things as brand-checks and forced strippings. So there you go.
As far as the brand being in place for the Priest Kings to locate their servants, that seems to have little to do with it. The reason that slaves belonging to Priest Kings (or to Kurii) are branded while in service on Earth is undoubtedly to make their identification easier for other Gorean human agents also on Earth, and to facilitate their recognition as what they are: slaves in the service of alien Masters.
A: According to the books, the nearest settlements to the Sardar Mountains which are specifically mentioned are Harfax and Esalinius, which are both located within 100 pasangs of the edge of the woods of Clearchus. That puts them both about 80 or 90 pasangs West of the Sardar.
There are few settlements located near the Sardar Mountains., since according to Gorean custom and mythology the Sardar are a holy place, reserved for the Priest Kings alone. Since anyone who climbs the Sardar Mountains vanishes, usually to turn up dead at the foot of the mountains or in a nearby gorge or crevice in a couple of weeks, that kind of makes sense.
The only real activity around the Sardar seems to be the Sardar Fairs which take place at the foot of the mountains four times a year. These are large semi-temporary encampments made up mostly of tents and temporary structures, with a few permanent structures scattered here and there, among them the huge wooden "Sardar Gate" which admits brave pilgrims into the environs of the Priest Kings themselves, from which few if any ever return. Leading up to this gate and surrounding it for perhaps ten square pasangs are the platforms, rough structures and outbuildings about which are erected the temporary tents and such, sort of like a modern Olympic village.
QUOTES OF INTEREST
That's pretty much it. I managed to squeeze in the majority of my catalogued quotations this week, not wanting them to go to waste. I hope those who have read this column have found it enlightening and entertaining, since it was great fun for me to write it. To those of you who have enjoyed the quotes and opinions I have presented here, I urge you to keep fighting the good fight in an effort to keep online Gor as Gorean as possible. And for the record, I never did find an actual book quote which mentions either a "taba," or the significance of "black slave silks." Or a definitive quotation which speaks specifically of "white Ka-la-na." (I did find one which mentions "light Ka-la-na," though I would hardly classify that as definitive). Nor have I ever managed to track down any reference to the slave positions Karta or Sula-Ki. And not for lack of trying, either.
Nevertheless, human nature being what it is, I suppose we can expect people to customize their versions of Gor to suit their own tastes. As for me, I'll just stick with what the books do say. God knows, the information contained therein should be enough for anyone. Whenever I pick up one of those books, even after re-reading them countless times, I still learn something new about Gor, every time. So in that respect, just reading the Gor books is its own reward. Entertaining, informative, and always a breath of fresh air from another world, one which anyone can visit just by opening the cover of Tarnsman of Gor and reading those five classic words which begin the entire saga: "My name is Tarl Cabot..."