Players of Gor

Gor #20

by John Norman

The games of Gor are diverse, as are their players. There are the games of planetary politics, in which worlds are contested. And those of cities and ubarates, of ponderous cavalries and fleets of lateen-rigged ships. And smaller games, bloody games, played on a square of sand, in which the counters and pieces are edged weapons. And, too, there is Kaissa, common on Gor, played with pieces of wood, on a board of a hundred squares. One might think little would depend on the outcomes of such a benign recreation, but one could be wrong. The major land power in the northern latitudes of known Gor has long been the imperium of mighty Ar. Against her hegemonies on the continent, plans by her major enemies, the maritime ubarates of Cos and Tyros, have been carefully drawn, projectively to involve attack from without and subversion from within. Cabot, once of Earth, is drawn into these intrigues. A foiled plot laid against his life leads him to the port city of Brundisium, where he obtains not only satisfaction, but keys to enciphered documents germane to the machinations of Cos and Tyros. These should be delivered to Ar. But the armada of the maritime ubarates is already entering the collaborating port of Brundisium. Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the first book of the Gorean Saga, TARNSMAN OF GOR, E-Reads is proud to release the very first complete publication of all Gor books by John Norman, in both print and ebook editions, including the long-awaited 26th novel in the saga, WITNESS OF GOR. Many of the original Gor books have been out of print for years, but their popularity has endured. Each book of this release has been specially edited by the author and is a definitive text.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Ebooks, Norman, Erotica, Adult

396 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

John Norman, real name John Lange, was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1931. His best known works, the Gor series, currently span 36 books written 1966 (Tarnsman of Gor) to 2021 (Avengers of Gor). Three installments of the Telnarian Histories, plus three other fiction works and a non-fiction paperback. Mr. Norman is married and has three children.

Reviews

[Choko · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was not a regular book 4 star, but it was a Gor book 4 star. Those who read the series would understand:)

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually the best of the rest, those books after the first 10. I liked the focus on the Gorean chess and found it interesting from a cultural perspective.

[Darryl Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since PLAYERS OF GOR and MAGICIANS OF GOR share some of the same characters I consider MAGICIANS the sequel; if not that then a solid companion volume. Conditions differ in each book, in PLAYERS Ar had yet to be defeated and sacked. When Tarl Cabot returns to Port Kar he learns the Priest-Kings crave his head on a stick. Why? He'd just busted his hump for them in the Barrens, collared as well. And before that little escapade, in the course of running other dangerous errands for them, he'd sweated in jungles and almost frozen on polar ice caps. His failure to take out the Kur war general Zarendargar on more than one occasion might ultimately be the reason the Priest-Kings are a little hot under the carapace. Cabot blows town and hits the road with the humorous Boots Tarsk-Bit (one of John Norman's very best characters) and his traveling troupe of actors and magicians.

Highlights in PLAYERS include a grand carnival scene early on and, later, the distinguished protagonist donning leather gloves for purposes unknown. Levity is provided in the book by that disreputable free spirit Boots Tarsk-Bit, thespian, illusionist and fringe-element criminal with only the best interests in mind, his own. This outing also marks the last time a Kur figures into a story arc for many a year and many another book. It is, however, not the last time a slave girl does.

[David Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has something most Gor books lack—humor. If you are capable of reading these books at all, you will enjoy this one.

[Almustafa Couch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a normal day on Gor with there attitudes toward the division of the sexes and classes playing a major part in this book. The writing was rather predictable ( for those of us who have read so many of those Counter-earth novels ) the plot takes an interesting twist or two near the end. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in life as it it could be but isn't.

[Alan Standsalone Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK read but great when you actually get to the story line. The constant slave portion gets old as it is the same through each and every book written in the series.

[Jeff J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

#20 in the Gor fantasy series. I admire the world-building but the incessant subjugation of women is tiresome.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I tried reading this out of order because the synopsis said it could be read out of sequence, don't believe it some of the stories are in 2 or 3 parts, or end in a cliffhanger, this is one of those. This one didn't drag on too much about the women longing to be mastered by a man, though it did explain a little too much about the game of Kaiassa (similar to chess). Bosk or Tarl becomes a member of a troupe of actors (Players) so he can enter the city of Brundisium on Priest Kings business and get some codes that will help him decipher Kaiassa plays that might be strategic plans to invade the city of Ar, I really enjoyed this story, it had some intense moments and some that were exciting, I hope you enjoy.

[AmbushPredator · Rating 4 out of 5]

So we embark on another long story arc, and Tarl takes up with a band of travelling performers as part of a ruse to get into Brundisium unnoticed. It's because he believes dark deeds are afoot between Kurii & Priest Kings, leading to Priest Kings declaring him persona non grata & launching (or so he at first thinks) attempts on his life.

In the course of gaining entrance to the city, naturally, a few women become enslaved. Funny how that always happens, isn't it?

By the end, a massive full-scale assault on Ar is launched by the forces of Cos & Tyros. And Tarl learns that none other than Talena is at the heart of the conspiracy!

[Christopher Walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this whole series in a marathon session, while stationed in England. The depth and volume of the stories is humbling for any writer and I consider this series very influential in my own approach to writing and world building in general; generic post for all the books in this series as I am finally getting around to recording my reading list in Goodreads.

[Chris Lang · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dude rambles on about his sex dreams, but once you get past all that, he write a preety good story.