Return to Gor

by Steve Lazarowitz

Many long years ago...well they weren't really long years....they were the same length as years today... they just seemed a lot longer back then. I suppose I'm getting older.

Anyway, many long years ago, relatively speaking, I read a series of books called the Gor Books by John Norman. The first of these was Tarnsman of Gor followed by Outlaw of Gor and then Priest Kings of Gor. I only read the first ten, but don't remember the rest of the titles in order.

The Gor books are one of the few science fiction/fantasy books that continue to outrage some people even today. Not that many books aren't controversial, but over time, they tend to be less so. Society changes and the books become more or less acceptable.

Yet the Gor books seem to hit a sore spot with a lot of people, while they seem to offer a way of life to others. The lines are drawn, the battle is set and here I am in the midst of it, as I reread the Gor books once again. I am nearing the end of the second book and am enjoying it immensely.

The Gor books take place on a counter Earth... another planet in Earth's orbit, on the opposite side of the Sun from us, so we have no idea that it's there. The world is ruled by the Priest Kings, a powerful, technologically advanced race that live in the Sardar mountains. The Priest Kings keep the level of technology available to the rest of the world at a level well below theirs. The result of this is a science fiction book, in an almost fantasy setting.

The main character, Tarl Cabot, carries a sword. He rides on the back of a giant war bird called a Tarn. He is of the caste of warriors and is a Tarnsman. What makes the book so controversial, is the psychological aspects that deal with slavery and particularly women slaves. The young, beautiful nubile women of Gor all seem to want to be dominated and owned by men. This disturbs a lot of people.

Back in my teenage years, when I first read them, this was almost pornography for me. It was alluring and sexy and oh so different from life. Living in a house with five sisters, perhaps any fantasy where men dominated woman would be welcome. And yet as time marched on, I found out that Gor is fantasy, not reality. It was still a fun fantasy, but the submissive women were probably all on Gor, because I never seemed to find any in high school.

Much time has passed since then, and I have a whole lot more experience now. I realize there are submissive women (and men), who achieve sexual satisfaction from being dominated. There are just as many people who object to the practice and who bad mouth the Gor books and there are people who read them. At least one of my sisters hates them, so I constantly threaten to pass them down to her son.

In online chat areas, Gor rooms seem popular. There are many on the IRC and in Active Worlds. They are a lifestyle choice, or just fun, for the people that hang out in them. They hurt no one.

And yet, there are people who look down on and insult people who visit the Gor worlds. And it is to those people I have this to say.

Gor is a book. Fiction. A story. And yet, if it didn't have some basis in human psychology, why are so many people, both men and women, attracted to that lifestyle? Why are there over 30 Gor worlds on Active Worlds? What difference should it make to you, how other people entertain themselves?

Don't we have enough intolerance without even more? Can't people allow people to play as they like, as long as they hurt no one?

Apparently not. It seems there are just some people that insist on trying to force their view onto others, because how could anything as revolting as Gor possibly be any good. Most of these people are women. Most can't imagine being submissive at all. Most could probably use an injection of tolerance.

Gor is not great literature, but it's fun to read. It's not great fantasy or science fiction, but it is great adventure. There is love, war, quests, mystery...everything I could want from a piece of fiction. So I will continue to reread Gor, and if that bothers any of you, I have only one thing to say...

If you have enough time and energy to be outraged over a set of thirty year old science fiction books, get a life. If you had one of your own, you probably wouldn't need to tell everyone else how to live theirs.

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