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Gor #21
Mercenaries of Gor
Tarl Cabot is caught up in intrigues and rivalries on the planet of Gor in this science fantasy adventure.
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, in preparation to march 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 that made the existence of the independent companies possible—will vanish, a development threatening the very existence of the independent companies. But when Cabot arrives in Ar, it is a city rife with doubt, dissension, and treason. To whom shall the letters be delivered, and whom can he trust?
Rediscover this brilliantly imagined world where men are masters and women live to serve their every desire.
Mercenaries of Gor is the 21st book in the Gorean Saga, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
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, in preparation to march 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 that made the existence of the independent companies possible—will vanish, a development threatening the very existence of the independent companies. But when Cabot arrives in Ar, it is a city rife with doubt, dissension, and treason. To whom shall the letters be delivered, and whom can he trust?
Rediscover this brilliantly imagined world where men are masters and women live to serve their every desire.
Mercenaries of Gor is the 21st book in the Gorean Saga, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
488 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
About the author
John Norman
124 books346 followersLibrarian 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 24, 2014
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!
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!
September 3, 2011
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.
May 8, 2009
The title drew me back for this one and I was hoping for a return to glory for the series. Alas, I was disappointed.
January 23, 2016
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.
June 3, 2026
2.5 stars
As I sensed with Gor#20, a change has come over the saga of Tarl Cabot.
Cabot has survived the political intrigues or Brundisium; but as he leaves, he witnesses the combined forces of Cos and Tyros landing in Brundisium in preparation for a ground invasion of Ar. Now he must navigate a landscape that is increasingly sympathetic to Cos in his attempt to reach Ar.
As the epic storyline gets ready for war, the narrative has become more violent, sobering and exciting. But also, the master/slave backdrop is again brought to the forefront in graphic detail. Long chapters of dalliance become taxing and attempts at the humor of Players of Gor fall flat. But the overall story is still very good.
This story ends on a cliffhanger; but another slave-narrated book stands in the way of the storyline, so I'm going to leave Gor for a while.
As I sensed with Gor#20, a change has come over the saga of Tarl Cabot.
Cabot has survived the political intrigues or Brundisium; but as he leaves, he witnesses the combined forces of Cos and Tyros landing in Brundisium in preparation for a ground invasion of Ar. Now he must navigate a landscape that is increasingly sympathetic to Cos in his attempt to reach Ar.
As the epic storyline gets ready for war, the narrative has become more violent, sobering and exciting. But also, the master/slave backdrop is again brought to the forefront in graphic detail. Long chapters of dalliance become taxing and attempts at the humor of Players of Gor fall flat. But the overall story is still very good.
This story ends on a cliffhanger; but another slave-narrated book stands in the way of the storyline, so I'm going to leave Gor for a while.
December 17, 2022
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.
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.
October 28, 2025
#21 in the Gor fantasy series. Excellent world-building despite the BDSM nonsense. Unusual in that it ends on a cliffhanger.
April 5, 2025
The last part of the book is so incredibly slow that time stands still.
October 23, 2016
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.
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.
July 18, 2016
This is as politically incorrect as one can get away with, but hey, it's male fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews