Mercenaries of Gor: Gor: Book Twenty One

Gor #21

by John Norman

Cities, even private individuals, may from time to time hire soldiers. either to supplement their indigenous forces, or to conduct particular ventures, perhaps of reprisal, perhaps even of acquisition. On Gor there are numerous mercenary companies, some larger, some smaller, whose services may be purchased, or bid upon, for given periods of time. The allegiance of these companies is to their pay, and their captains. The forces of Cos and Tyros, powerful maritime ubarates, and their allies, have now beached upon the mainland, and are utilizing the city of Torcodino as a repository for supplies, preparatory to marching on a nigh-undefended and unprepared Ar. Should Ar fall the disinterested tolerances and neutralities, and even the balance of power long sustained between Ar and the great maritime ubarates, things which made possible the existence of the independent companies, will vanish, a development threatening the very existence of the independent companies. In a surprise attack a mercenary captain, Dietrich of Tarnburg, seizes Torcodino, intending to forestall the imminent march against Ar until she has time to arm and defend herself. Cabot, en route to Ar, has inadvertently been trapped in Torcodino when it was seized by Dietrich. He agrees to carry secret and urgent letters for Dietrich, now besieged in Torcodino, to the administration of Ar. Ar must act. But when Cabot arrives in Ar it is a city riven by doubt and dissension, and treason. To whom shall the letters be delivered, and whom can he trust?

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

366 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1985

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

[AmbushPredator · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've reached Norman's 'war is hell' period, with some really quite harrowing descriptions of the devastation wrought by armies, as Tarl journies to Ar to deliver papers that may well get him killed. We learn a great deal about life for the average citizen too, with some almost Dickensian scenes of the life of the lowest of the low.

And at the end of the book, Tarl is marched off to a rendezvous with the administrator of Ar. And there we leave him, since the next book is yet another hiatus story!

[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.

[Charles · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title drew me back for this one and I was hoping for a return to glory for the series. Alas, I was disappointed.

[Chris Lang · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why I keep reading these. Norman is a little obsessed with women in bondage...... I bet his wife really keeps him in check.

[Harald Gill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really?

Way too many pages/chapters wanted on one or another woman who has been reduced to slavery. Do we really need to read the same crap over and over again? I must have skipped over half the book in order to get back to the actual plot.

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#21 in the Gor fantasy series. Excellent world-building despite the BDSM nonsense. Unusual in that it ends on a cliffhanger.

[David Mann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last part of the book is so incredibly slow that time stands still.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bit disappointed

This is my favorite series in the Sci/Fantasy genre, but this one didn't have enough action, more about the women of Gor truely belong submissive, it is well written but I need adventure. This is book 21 of 34 the next book 22 Dancer of Gor will of course be about a Slave Girl, hopefully book 23 will give me what I need. p.s. One section of the story near the end is repeated, only about 10 pages maybe a little more.

[Richp · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is as politically incorrect as one can get away with, but hey, it's male fantasy.

[John Somers · Rating 2 out of 5]

8/20.