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Gor #8
Hunters of Gor
Panther girls take center stage on Counter Earth in the series that “draw[s] on a combination of philosophy, science-fiction, and erotica” (Vice). Former Earthman Tarl Cabot is now a powerful Tarnsman of the brutal and caste-bound planet of Gor, also known as Counter Earth. He embarks on an adventure in the dangerous and mysterious wilderness of Gor, pitting his warrior’s skills against those of treacherous outlaws, bandits, and fighters. Three different women are working to bring change to Tarl’s far-from-peaceful life on Talena, his onetime queen and first love; Elizabeth, his brave fighting partner; and the Amazonian Verna, chief of the fierce and wild panther women. As Tarl journeys through the wilderness, the fates of these three remarkable women will finally be decided. Rediscover this brilliantly imagined world where men are masters and women live to serve their every desire. Hunters of Gor is the 8th book in the Gorean Saga, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1974
58 people are currently reading
776 people want to read
About the author
John Norman
125 books342 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 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 25, 2018
1.5 stars.
Slightly better than the previous (terrible) volume, but only because it almost has a plot. By this point, the Gor novels are starting to read like Norman is writing cheap fan fiction based on his own creation.
Slightly better than the previous (terrible) volume, but only because it almost has a plot. By this point, the Gor novels are starting to read like Norman is writing cheap fan fiction based on his own creation.
November 1, 2008
The worst of the Gor books so far. The story was turgid, the only highlight being that Tarl Cabot is seriously injured at the end of the book. He totally deserved it the arrogant arsehole.
June 15, 2020
DAW Collectors #96
Cover Artist: Gino D'Achille
Name: Lange, John Frederick, Jr., Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA, 3 June 1931.
His best known works, the 'Gor' novels, span 31 books written 1967 to 2012.
Gor, known also as Counter Earth, a planet as strangely populated, as threatening, as beautiful as any in fiction And, snatched from a pampered life on Earth the girl known on Gor as El-in-or, dancing girl and slave, an unwilling puppet in the schemes of the men of Gor.
Bosk. Merchant of Port Kar, who is not what he seems to be has grown rich and respected in that sea-girt city. But the arm of the Priest-Kings is long and there are Others who seek means to destroy him who was once Tarl Cabot of Ko-ro-ba.
Former Earthman Tarl Cabot is now a powerful 'Tarnsman' of the brutal and caste-bound planet of Gor, also known as Counter-Earth. He embarks on an adventure in the dangerous and mysterious wilderness of Gor, pitting his warrior's skills against treacherous outlaws, bandits and fighters. Three different women are working to bring change to Tarl's far-from-peaceful life on Gor: Talena, his onetime queen and first love; Elizabeth, his brave fighting partner; and the Amazonian Verna, chief of the fierce and wild panther women. As Tarl journeys through the wilderness, the fates of these three remarkable women will finally be decided.
Kind of like ERB with more sex, and lots of slave girls, oh, and discipline.
Cover Artist: Gino D'Achille
Name: Lange, John Frederick, Jr., Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA, 3 June 1931.
His best known works, the 'Gor' novels, span 31 books written 1967 to 2012.
Gor, known also as Counter Earth, a planet as strangely populated, as threatening, as beautiful as any in fiction And, snatched from a pampered life on Earth the girl known on Gor as El-in-or, dancing girl and slave, an unwilling puppet in the schemes of the men of Gor.
Bosk. Merchant of Port Kar, who is not what he seems to be has grown rich and respected in that sea-girt city. But the arm of the Priest-Kings is long and there are Others who seek means to destroy him who was once Tarl Cabot of Ko-ro-ba.
Former Earthman Tarl Cabot is now a powerful 'Tarnsman' of the brutal and caste-bound planet of Gor, also known as Counter-Earth. He embarks on an adventure in the dangerous and mysterious wilderness of Gor, pitting his warrior's skills against treacherous outlaws, bandits and fighters. Three different women are working to bring change to Tarl's far-from-peaceful life on Gor: Talena, his onetime queen and first love; Elizabeth, his brave fighting partner; and the Amazonian Verna, chief of the fierce and wild panther women. As Tarl journeys through the wilderness, the fates of these three remarkable women will finally be decided.
Kind of like ERB with more sex, and lots of slave girls, oh, and discipline.
April 28, 2023
I read several of these books years ago and the early ones were very much a take on Burroughs Barsoom novels. Human transported to another primitive planet where he becomes a hero etc etc. That was the first few novels, after than things took a complete nosedive with themes and stories becoming repetitive. The previous book (#7) was really bad, but I thought it was just a bad spot and the next book would get back to the previous adventure style.. no such luck. At 320 pages this could have been cut to 200 if all the crazy repetition was cut out. In many places the same thing was stated more than once in the same paragraph. Got to be the worst written and annoying book I have read in a long time. Enough is enough and I'm done with this series.
I did finish it so it escapes my zero stars did-not-finish rating. Rounding UP to 1 star for Goodreads.
I did finish it so it escapes my zero stars did-not-finish rating. Rounding UP to 1 star for Goodreads.
November 10, 2017
It's surprising how much trouble you can get with fifty cents and the random thought "well, Tarnsman of Gor had a bit of creepy slavery in it...how much worse is it seven books later?"
Answer: much, much worse. This is a topic--a philosophy? Does it deserve to be called that?--that has entirely devoured the story. There is very little that _doesn't_ have something to do with creepy slavery in thought, word, or deed. Tarl Cabot and presumably Norman by extension is _obsessed_ with it and lets that obsession leak all over the rest.
If this fact makes the book a no-fly zone for you, then there you have it. Full stop. But if you're the sort able to say "his ideas are distasteful, but what else does he have on tap?" then let me assure you that the rest is both poorly written and astonishingly dull.
Cabot's narration is both stilted and sparse, and sometimes built up of randomly-constructed phrases showing total abuse of the comma:
And, frequently, the repetition of ideas or actions. Upon Cabot's first meeting with Sheera, her appearance and mannerisms are described identically _twice_. In a better book, it would trigger my "unreliable narrator" alarm and make me wonder if his words are mostly to convince himself. But I can't see that sort of sophistication in this book or the series, which seems so intent on selling the lifestyle and also squanders paragraphs discussing triremes and their sails. Rather than, you know, telling a story which appears to be "I need to find/rescue my love from dangerous people before this other dangerous person finds her first."
Answer: much, much worse. This is a topic--a philosophy? Does it deserve to be called that?--that has entirely devoured the story. There is very little that _doesn't_ have something to do with creepy slavery in thought, word, or deed. Tarl Cabot and presumably Norman by extension is _obsessed_ with it and lets that obsession leak all over the rest.
If this fact makes the book a no-fly zone for you, then there you have it. Full stop. But if you're the sort able to say "his ideas are distasteful, but what else does he have on tap?" then let me assure you that the rest is both poorly written and astonishingly dull.
Cabot's narration is both stilted and sparse, and sometimes built up of randomly-constructed phrases showing total abuse of the comma:
On his large brown leather belt, confining the long shaggy jacket he wore, which would have fallen to his knees, were carved the luck signs of the north.Which tend more often than not to go absolutely nowhere. Cabot himself is a drab personality who projects a flat affect and it is difficult to not as much sympathize--he is appalling--but at least capture a feeling of excitement and adventure out of this entire enterprise. His narration could be sad, excited, sardonic, or done in a Bozo the Clown voice and we would never know.
And, frequently, the repetition of ideas or actions. Upon Cabot's first meeting with Sheera, her appearance and mannerisms are described identically _twice_. In a better book, it would trigger my "unreliable narrator" alarm and make me wonder if his words are mostly to convince himself. But I can't see that sort of sophistication in this book or the series, which seems so intent on selling the lifestyle and also squanders paragraphs discussing triremes and their sails. Rather than, you know, telling a story which appears to be "I need to find/rescue my love from dangerous people before this other dangerous person finds her first."
January 18, 2012
I'd read that the Gor books have a steady decline from fantasy tinged with a bit of kink to full blown misogyny tinged with some fantasy. And here is evidence that this is true. Probably about 100 pages of fantasy adventure with pirates and amazons and the rest repetitive, oft-disturbing slave/rape fantasy. In earlier books you could pretend that women were valued (in a way) on Gor. But no longer. Treated like animals is a fair comment. Approaching vile status. Rated MA for torture, sex scenes, mature themes and violence. 1/5
December 2, 2010
Much better than the last one. However, Tarl is now an asshole. I'm guessing that by stripping him of his pride, he's going to be forced back into the service of the Priest-Kings, realizing the errors of his way.
He should've gone after Talena. You don't love someone and just abandon her to her horrible fate. Oh wait, I guess you do when she's no longer deemed worthy of you, when you're an asshole like this guy. Fuck her needs if yours aren't being met, right?
He should've gone after Talena. You don't love someone and just abandon her to her horrible fate. Oh wait, I guess you do when she's no longer deemed worthy of you, when you're an asshole like this guy. Fuck her needs if yours aren't being met, right?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2016
It took me over a month to get through this book. Why? Because it's boring, boring, boring, boring. Not that the previous book, Captive of Gor, was all that great because Norman tried going outside the box by writing from a female perspective, and utterly failed, but there is absolutely nothing new in Hunters.
The Goodreads description of the book does not do it justice at all, but I don't think I'm going to spoil anything by saying that our "darling hero," Tarl Cabot, now going by "Bosk of Port Kar," hears that his beloved Talena ('Memba her?) has been captured, so he goes on a mission to rescue her. Simple, right? Insert groan here.
What should have been an interesting struggle to rescue Talena from those who held her turns out to be a major disappointment. I'm not going to say why because I hate spoilers (though it's tempting in this case), but our protagonist ends up not going through with his plans about halfway through the book. I personally think the reason is stupid, but you can make up your own mind.
The biggest problem I have is that the majority of the book is taken up with repetitious descriptions of things, especially how Tarl/Bosk binds his female slaves when he captures them. Once, I can understand, but he continues the same long, windy explanations every single time. They get old. Fast. As does the "A woman's natural place is to do whatever a man says," mentality. I let it slide in the first six books, but in this one, he beats you over the head with it. Not cool, Norman.
It's possible Tarl/Bosk actually takes a step back in his character growth. While I think Norman intended him to become more Gorean, he comes across in this particular book as a complete prick. So maybe Norman accomplished his goal. The problem is that, in that case, he didn't take it far enough. Throughout the book, Tarl/Bosk is constantly treating the women he captures like garbage. He threatens to sell them and treat them badly. (They are, after all, just animals. *eyeroll*) But then, in the end, he frees most of the ones he verbally abuses. I, personally, don't see the logic in it.
I'm not against a little bondage fantasy. When done right, it can have the effect it intends. I don't think this was done right, at all. It's methodical, not inventive. It's passe, not active. It's like Norman got in a rut and kept repeating the same things over and over again, hoping that in doing so, it would titillate his readers. I've seen some reviews where it had just that effect. Can't say I was a fan.
Don't let the description of this book fool you. Read the first paragraph and stop because you'll be disappointed that the rest doesn't accurately reflect this book. In fact, I was so put off by what actually happened that I'm not sure I want to read Marauders. Well, if nothing else, I'll take a break, read something else, and maybe come back to it later.
The Goodreads description of the book does not do it justice at all, but I don't think I'm going to spoil anything by saying that our "darling hero," Tarl Cabot, now going by "Bosk of Port Kar," hears that his beloved Talena ('Memba her?) has been captured, so he goes on a mission to rescue her. Simple, right? Insert groan here.
What should have been an interesting struggle to rescue Talena from those who held her turns out to be a major disappointment. I'm not going to say why because I hate spoilers (though it's tempting in this case), but our protagonist ends up not going through with his plans about halfway through the book. I personally think the reason is stupid, but you can make up your own mind.
The biggest problem I have is that the majority of the book is taken up with repetitious descriptions of things, especially how Tarl/Bosk binds his female slaves when he captures them. Once, I can understand, but he continues the same long, windy explanations every single time. They get old. Fast. As does the "A woman's natural place is to do whatever a man says," mentality. I let it slide in the first six books, but in this one, he beats you over the head with it. Not cool, Norman.
It's possible Tarl/Bosk actually takes a step back in his character growth. While I think Norman intended him to become more Gorean, he comes across in this particular book as a complete prick. So maybe Norman accomplished his goal. The problem is that, in that case, he didn't take it far enough. Throughout the book, Tarl/Bosk is constantly treating the women he captures like garbage. He threatens to sell them and treat them badly. (They are, after all, just animals. *eyeroll*) But then, in the end, he frees most of the ones he verbally abuses. I, personally, don't see the logic in it.
I'm not against a little bondage fantasy. When done right, it can have the effect it intends. I don't think this was done right, at all. It's methodical, not inventive. It's passe, not active. It's like Norman got in a rut and kept repeating the same things over and over again, hoping that in doing so, it would titillate his readers. I've seen some reviews where it had just that effect. Can't say I was a fan.
Don't let the description of this book fool you. Read the first paragraph and stop because you'll be disappointed that the rest doesn't accurately reflect this book. In fact, I was so put off by what actually happened that I'm not sure I want to read Marauders. Well, if nothing else, I'll take a break, read something else, and maybe come back to it later.
September 29, 2014
Tarl (or Bosk as he is now known) is back, and he's more of an arse than ever. I don't really understand why Captive of Gor was in the series before this, apart from to ensure that we all knew that every woman really desires to submit to any man. And submit they all do, especially to super warrior turned merchant, Tarl.
These books are getting crappier and crappier. And they are so repetitive. I'm hoping that Tarl turning into a mean spirited man who sees women as mere animals (although I believe he treats the animals better) is only temporary until the Priest Kings get him back, but I doubt it.
Rating: don't bother.
These books are getting crappier and crappier. And they are so repetitive. I'm hoping that Tarl turning into a mean spirited man who sees women as mere animals (although I believe he treats the animals better) is only temporary until the Priest Kings get him back, but I doubt it.
Rating: don't bother.
October 12, 2020
That's it. Starting to feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day - every book is the same.
September 7, 2013
Having read Hunters of Gor the 8th book. It's showing signs of page count boosting, with repeat paragraphs or sentences showing up. One or two paragraphs or sentences later. So it could have been four or six pages smaller. With repeat paragraphs or sentences showing up.
October 13, 2022
Another epic installment of the Gorean Saga that has Bosk of Port Kar (formerly Tarl Cabot) going off in search of his first love Talena who is reportedly being held captive in the Northern Forests.
I'm going to knock this one because Norman repeats phrases constantly and it does have some inconsistencies in tone; but overall, Hunters is a solid entry in the series. It made me want to read #9, so that's a success in my book.
I'm going to knock this one because Norman repeats phrases constantly and it does have some inconsistencies in tone; but overall, Hunters is a solid entry in the series. It made me want to read #9, so that's a success in my book.
January 20, 2025
Extremely poor and repetitive writing. The world building was good and hence the two stars. Very regresive writing and absolutely skippable.
August 24, 2017
Once I had doubts after first reading HUNTERS OF GOR, placing it further down on the short list of really good Gor novels than I now do. A second reading was instructional, a third enlightening. I believe HUNTERS is almost as good as PRIEST KINGS; and it completes the transformation of Tarl of Bristol into Bosk of Port Kar begun in RAIDERS OF GOR.
If you have doubts, start reading HUNTERS again. You'll discover you're 50 pages in before you know it, the story flow is that engrossing. In the northern forests Bosk duplicates the same archery heroics at the end of HUNTERS as he did in the beginning of RAIDERS when slavers attacked the rencers in the marshes. The former New England professor turned red-tunicked warrior takes out dozens of enemies from the brush by sniping at them with a longbow. Both times are convincing.
I'd originally forgotten Cabot's inner dialogues in HUNTERS are funnier than anything that left the mouths of NOMADS' Harold or PLAYERS' Boots Tarsk Bit. There is an underlying comedy of manners going on when Bosk reflects often and at length about the Kajira known as Vella (Elizabeth Cardwell) after bumping into her in a tavern in the Gorean backwater Lydius. Our man from Bristol would've bought and freed her in a heartbeat, but not Port Kar's newest noxious resident. Bosk leaves Vella to stew in her own juice after a visit to one of the tavern's alcoves since the serving wench comes with the price of a cup of paga. Cabot suffers defeats real and imagined at the hands of panther girls and Marlenus; plus mental setbacks aplenty as his delusional ambitions, nonexistent renewal of vows with Talena, and Telima doing a runner on him drive him nuts. So throughout the book he takes petty comfort in his lot being superior to Vella's, who previously disobeyed his wishes in the Sardar and, worse, went bye-bye on his Ubar of the Skies. At least a dozen times in various portions of the novel Bosk's thoughts turn to Miss Cardwell and, as his self-esteem shrinks and his paranoia grows, he reiterates: 'She had gambled, she had lost.' The embittered gag gets funnier and funnier each time he repeats it.
The single most hilarious comment in any Gor book occurs when Bosk becomes thoughtfully concerned that a coffle of slave girls he's secured in the woods might grow hungry or malnourished during his absence. To correct this situation he brains a Gorean rat and feeds it to them raw. I had to stop reading for several minutes after Norman induced a laughing fit via Cabot's matter-of-fact delivery of the line: 'One girl did not care to feed.' Friends who've also read the book told me the same hilarity overtook them.
Before the fat lady sings Tarl/Bosk recollects the honor he lost back in RAIDERS in HUNTERS OF GOR, in retrospect one of the finest hours of the Counter-Earth cycle.
If you have doubts, start reading HUNTERS again. You'll discover you're 50 pages in before you know it, the story flow is that engrossing. In the northern forests Bosk duplicates the same archery heroics at the end of HUNTERS as he did in the beginning of RAIDERS when slavers attacked the rencers in the marshes. The former New England professor turned red-tunicked warrior takes out dozens of enemies from the brush by sniping at them with a longbow. Both times are convincing.
I'd originally forgotten Cabot's inner dialogues in HUNTERS are funnier than anything that left the mouths of NOMADS' Harold or PLAYERS' Boots Tarsk Bit. There is an underlying comedy of manners going on when Bosk reflects often and at length about the Kajira known as Vella (Elizabeth Cardwell) after bumping into her in a tavern in the Gorean backwater Lydius. Our man from Bristol would've bought and freed her in a heartbeat, but not Port Kar's newest noxious resident. Bosk leaves Vella to stew in her own juice after a visit to one of the tavern's alcoves since the serving wench comes with the price of a cup of paga. Cabot suffers defeats real and imagined at the hands of panther girls and Marlenus; plus mental setbacks aplenty as his delusional ambitions, nonexistent renewal of vows with Talena, and Telima doing a runner on him drive him nuts. So throughout the book he takes petty comfort in his lot being superior to Vella's, who previously disobeyed his wishes in the Sardar and, worse, went bye-bye on his Ubar of the Skies. At least a dozen times in various portions of the novel Bosk's thoughts turn to Miss Cardwell and, as his self-esteem shrinks and his paranoia grows, he reiterates: 'She had gambled, she had lost.' The embittered gag gets funnier and funnier each time he repeats it.
The single most hilarious comment in any Gor book occurs when Bosk becomes thoughtfully concerned that a coffle of slave girls he's secured in the woods might grow hungry or malnourished during his absence. To correct this situation he brains a Gorean rat and feeds it to them raw. I had to stop reading for several minutes after Norman induced a laughing fit via Cabot's matter-of-fact delivery of the line: 'One girl did not care to feed.' Friends who've also read the book told me the same hilarity overtook them.
Before the fat lady sings Tarl/Bosk recollects the honor he lost back in RAIDERS in HUNTERS OF GOR, in retrospect one of the finest hours of the Counter-Earth cycle.
August 1, 2015
Ah, so then, #8 - Hunters of Gor. How on earth did I ever get to book number 8 without going entirely nuts? Anyway, this one sees bosk of Port Kar(as Tarl Cabot calls himself these days) going into the Northern forests to hunt for and supposedly rescue Talena who has been taken as a slave by the Panther girls. On the way he encounters one of his seemingly numerous past ladyfriends, now living out her life as a paga slave in a tavern. She turns out to be Elizabeth Caldwell, someone whom he was quite enamoured with relatively recently. She ended up here because of a particularly stupid mistake she'd made when she turned down Tarl Cabot's offer to send her back to Earth. Why on earth she would ever choose to remain on Gor when she could have gone straight back to Earth is a mystery of epic proportions, but leaving that aside, she of course and quite understandably believes Bosk(as he now is) will buy her and help her in any way he could. Of course, why wouldn't he? He was after all in love with her not so many moons ago. So he helps her out of her slavery as any normal sane person would, right?
Nope!
Nope and double nope!
He in fact tells her that she had the opportunity to go back to Earth and that because she didn't choose to do so this means that she has in fact chosen slavery(because she got caught by a slaver and enslaved). Now maybe I'm just a sucker for a pretty face or something but doesn't this strike you as the actions of a complete and utter sadist? I mean, he just throws her away like some sort of... well I don't even know what. No. Bosk can call himself what he likes but he'll always be that sadistic bastard as far as I'm concerned.
I've seen peoples reviews of earlier books where they state that book number so-and-so was just too much for them what with it's enslavement of women or it's treating them as nothing more than sex objects or it's treating them as little more than possessions or animals and about how it turned them off the series from that moment on. Well, if anything I've read in these books so far was going to turn me off reading any more of them, it would be Bosk's treatment of Elizabeth Caldwell here in the tavern slaving away as a paga slave. I mean she literally begs him, BEGS HIM, to buy her and take her away, to help her, but no. 'She is Slave', and off he goes.
What a complete bastard!
I had thought I'd read these on and off until I'd read them all, and I may yet do so, but that moment right there more than any other really sticks in my throat. I think it'll be a while before I pick up book #9 now.
2 stars - partly because it was a little tedious chasing through the forest anyway... but mostly because of the entirely unbelievable way Bosk treated poor Elizabeth Caldwell. I'll never forgive him for this.
Nope!
Nope and double nope!
He in fact tells her that she had the opportunity to go back to Earth and that because she didn't choose to do so this means that she has in fact chosen slavery(because she got caught by a slaver and enslaved). Now maybe I'm just a sucker for a pretty face or something but doesn't this strike you as the actions of a complete and utter sadist? I mean, he just throws her away like some sort of... well I don't even know what. No. Bosk can call himself what he likes but he'll always be that sadistic bastard as far as I'm concerned.
I've seen peoples reviews of earlier books where they state that book number so-and-so was just too much for them what with it's enslavement of women or it's treating them as nothing more than sex objects or it's treating them as little more than possessions or animals and about how it turned them off the series from that moment on. Well, if anything I've read in these books so far was going to turn me off reading any more of them, it would be Bosk's treatment of Elizabeth Caldwell here in the tavern slaving away as a paga slave. I mean she literally begs him, BEGS HIM, to buy her and take her away, to help her, but no. 'She is Slave', and off he goes.
What a complete bastard!
I had thought I'd read these on and off until I'd read them all, and I may yet do so, but that moment right there more than any other really sticks in my throat. I think it'll be a while before I pick up book #9 now.
2 stars - partly because it was a little tedious chasing through the forest anyway... but mostly because of the entirely unbelievable way Bosk treated poor Elizabeth Caldwell. I'll never forgive him for this.
July 13, 2016
Tarl leaves his third wife to go searching for his first wife, and in the process runs into his second wife and meets several potential new wives, but instead decides to enslave them all. Giving up and going home ensues.
Worst. Hunting trip. Ever.
This book has some real howlers. Like how if a woman is enslaved, she's ruined for life and worth only what her sexuality and obedience can earn, even if she is subsequently freed. But if a man is rescued from slavery, it's just a minor blip in his resume. Sweep it under the rug, flex the biceps, and all is forgotten, no worries bro.
Hey, it's a man's world.
This book also represents something of a turning point in the series in terms of its misogyny.
For the first time (I think), it actually mentions the concept of "rape". Previously, it was coy about it, using euphemisms like "taking", "possessing", "enjoying", etc. But in this book, it actually mentions rape, first in the context of male slaves captured by Amazons and second mentioning the "rape" of a slave's mouth with a kiss.
Likewise, this book portrays actual violence against the women being hunted/enslaved, a particular unfortunate being shot through the shoulder and pinned to a tree by an arrow. It also describes in greater detail the physical maiming inflicted upon women who do not adequately adapt themselves to their lives of sexual enslavement.
This is also the most sexually explicit of the books thus far. Previous, the narrative would always "pan to the moon" or fade-to-black whenever sexy time begins. This book gets a little braver before cutting away.
Which is, of course, one of the most baffling things about this series. Yeah, it's all about male dominance and the glorification of rape culture (quite literally "fuck her until she loves you"). But it doesn't bother to realistically portray the psychological/emotional ramifications of this behavior (what fun would that be?), so it is clearly a fantasy for those who enjoy that kink. But it is also so shy about the sexy stuff, so it doesn't serve as good Dom/Sub erotica. WTF was Norman's issue???
Worst. Hunting trip. Ever.
This book has some real howlers. Like how if a woman is enslaved, she's ruined for life and worth only what her sexuality and obedience can earn, even if she is subsequently freed. But if a man is rescued from slavery, it's just a minor blip in his resume. Sweep it under the rug, flex the biceps, and all is forgotten, no worries bro.
Hey, it's a man's world.
This book also represents something of a turning point in the series in terms of its misogyny.
For the first time (I think), it actually mentions the concept of "rape". Previously, it was coy about it, using euphemisms like "taking", "possessing", "enjoying", etc. But in this book, it actually mentions rape, first in the context of male slaves captured by Amazons and second mentioning the "rape" of a slave's mouth with a kiss.
Likewise, this book portrays actual violence against the women being hunted/enslaved, a particular unfortunate being shot through the shoulder and pinned to a tree by an arrow. It also describes in greater detail the physical maiming inflicted upon women who do not adequately adapt themselves to their lives of sexual enslavement.
This is also the most sexually explicit of the books thus far. Previous, the narrative would always "pan to the moon" or fade-to-black whenever sexy time begins. This book gets a little braver before cutting away.
Which is, of course, one of the most baffling things about this series. Yeah, it's all about male dominance and the glorification of rape culture (quite literally "fuck her until she loves you"). But it doesn't bother to realistically portray the psychological/emotional ramifications of this behavior (what fun would that be?), so it is clearly a fantasy for those who enjoy that kink. But it is also so shy about the sexy stuff, so it doesn't serve as good Dom/Sub erotica. WTF was Norman's issue???
March 3, 2016
Ever read the old John Carter of Mars books? Well here is the more adult version of a man transported to a more savage world. Great adventure reads, but not for the faint at heart. Very adult material dealing with sex. Recommended
November 5, 2009
STUpid!!
What a freakin' waste of time.
Grr!
What a freakin' waste of time.
Grr!
January 25, 2026
In this, the 8th of the series, the prolific and obsessive author, John Norman, was still yet to reach whatever level of mastery of this epic series can be ascertained. The transplanted earthman, Carl Cabot (now Bosk the Trader) narrates. The plot is minimal, and is heavily embellished with unending bits about slave-ology. (All the women are young and shapely and nubile. All. There's not a single word about the other inhabitants of Gor other than slavers and slave girls, and, one may wonder what happens when people age on Gor). Bosk also relates details of Gor's primitive weapons, and sailing ships and shipbuilding. That is, aside from constant descriptions of the Gorean master-slave relationship. The narrator, Bosk, originally the earthman, Tarl Cabot, has become thoroughly Gorean. He's morphed from the "warrior" caste to the "trader" caste, and is downright arrogant when describing his success and shrewd slaving-skills. He never tires of describing the young nubiles either on the slave block, or at work, in their menial duties, and their supreme duty to serve their masters. He makes sure that the reader is clear on this point. Repeatedly. There is a fair amount of interior monologue, which is good, and helps keeps the too-numerous characters sorted, although the narrator Bosk's repetitious explanations of slave society, even early on, become hard to digest.
I was looking for echoes of the extremely well-written scifi of Donald Barr, who used very similar material vis a vis slave societies originating from Earth, and humanity's out-migration, but told such a story with much more skill on every level than John Norman. Its doubtful that I'll read another Gor book for some time! Unless I can find one in which the "Priest-Kings" come out of their closeted-space-ships.
I was looking for echoes of the extremely well-written scifi of Donald Barr, who used very similar material vis a vis slave societies originating from Earth, and humanity's out-migration, but told such a story with much more skill on every level than John Norman. Its doubtful that I'll read another Gor book for some time! Unless I can find one in which the "Priest-Kings" come out of their closeted-space-ships.
November 13, 2016
Somehow I persevered and made it through the previous book, Captive of Gor, and this one is much better. For those who question my sanity (or morals) for reading this series, you might be right. I'll let you know when or if I finish all the books. In the meantime, the series thankfully returns to the story of Bosk, formerly Tarl Cabot of Earth, who is off again seeking Talena, daughter of Marlenus, Ubar of Ar, after being side-tracked in his search of the course of the series by countless slave-girls and free women. Bosk encounters the panther girls of the Northern forests as well as much treachery. The story has a minimal amount of the somewhat mind-numbing repetition so evident in some other entries in the series, such as -- Captive of Gor. For me the Gor series is worth reading for its detailed realization of the world of Gor, and to find out what (if anything) eventually happens. The elephant in the series is the glorification of female slavery, an essential part of the economy of Gor, though it seems to be included mostly for its titillating aspects. The books are anti-feminist to the extreme, and reflect an extreme backlash to the feminism of the 60s and 70s when these books were written. Nevertheless the Gorean world is well-realized. It's just not a world most modern readers will want to spend any time in.
December 29, 2019
I think that was probably the worst book I've ever read. The protagonist Tarl Cabot, aka Bosk, has become an arrogant, sadist, and thoroughly unlikable SOB. Most of the book just has him capturing (or occasionally purchasing/renting) slave girls, and then subjecting them to physical and psychological abuse. Once he's finished using them, and they've expressed their undying love for all of the degrading and humiliating treatment they've received, he moves on to the next girl. Rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat.
He's also apparently developed some kind of mental disorder, where he just constantly repeats his thoughts, over and over. He reminded me a bit of Dustin Hoffman's character from Rain Man... I'm an excellent driver... I'm an excellent driver... She was slave... I would sell her in Port Kar... She was slave...
More than anything though, the book was just incredibly boring. What passed for the plot, what little their was of it, was fairly ridiculous. I'd read in some of the reviews of earlier books that the series reaches the point where the books become unreadable. I kind of liked the first several books in the series, but it's been going downhill. I think this book may have killed it for me.
He's also apparently developed some kind of mental disorder, where he just constantly repeats his thoughts, over and over. He reminded me a bit of Dustin Hoffman's character from Rain Man... I'm an excellent driver... I'm an excellent driver... She was slave... I would sell her in Port Kar... She was slave...
More than anything though, the book was just incredibly boring. What passed for the plot, what little their was of it, was fairly ridiculous. I'd read in some of the reviews of earlier books that the series reaches the point where the books become unreadable. I kind of liked the first several books in the series, but it's been going downhill. I think this book may have killed it for me.
November 19, 2023
Better Than 6
Tarl still needs to get over himself. Marlenus should have been grateful. I’m glad Talena wasn’t found, I just hope she disappears from Tarls obsession. I didn’t like her to begin with. I don’t understand Tarls treatment of Elizabeth. The boy really needs to get ahold of himself and get out of his funk and become the Tarl Cabot that was fun. All in all this book was better than number 6, much better. It still lacked the fun adventure of preslavery Cabot. I enjoyed the discourse between Verna and Marlenus. I hope they eventually companion up. The romp through the forest was the best part. Enjoyable and an easier read than 6.
Tarl still needs to get over himself. Marlenus should have been grateful. I’m glad Talena wasn’t found, I just hope she disappears from Tarls obsession. I didn’t like her to begin with. I don’t understand Tarls treatment of Elizabeth. The boy really needs to get ahold of himself and get out of his funk and become the Tarl Cabot that was fun. All in all this book was better than number 6, much better. It still lacked the fun adventure of preslavery Cabot. I enjoyed the discourse between Verna and Marlenus. I hope they eventually companion up. The romp through the forest was the best part. Enjoyable and an easier read than 6.
March 16, 2019
Ya, Norman repeats himself...a lot...sometimes literally like a broken record, but as annoying as it gets sometimes, it often lends a degree of humor to a particular scene, as well as reminding the reader who this particular character is out of the 752 current players. I think this is maybe my favorite so far of the 8 I've read, if not it's right up there. Tons of action, suspense, twists of fate and gobs of slavery. I've no problem admitting that I very much admire Gorean gender roles, and this one lays it on thick. Fun ride...
February 13, 2025
Out of all the Gor novels this one has been my least favorite so far. While I understood the plot, I really didn’t think this novel did a very good job with character development. Norman is not really known for his dialogue nor for his plots, but rather for his planet building ability, I don’t really think this novel added to my fascination with Gor.
May 19, 2017
I can not believe I read so many of the these books, good at first. I think I managed 17 or 18 of them before discovering other more interesting book, certainly fun at the time for a 17 year old.
But for a set of books for long lasting appeal, the world of Gor still pops up from time to time.
But for a set of books for long lasting appeal, the world of Gor still pops up from time to time.
Read
February 28, 2023This one is particularly hateful and gross. For the first time the word "rape" is used frequently, though almost exclusively in reference to treatment of male captives. pretty wretched read, even by the low standards of the series.
May 24, 2017
Could not get into it, feels like a forced story, it's missing all of the originality of the first 5 books.
October 10, 2017
Another Gor novel that I read in the 70s
November 24, 2021
Good Reading
I liked everything about this story,it's twists and turns were never ending,I recommend this book to everyone that loves a good story well written.
I liked everything about this story,it's twists and turns were never ending,I recommend this book to everyone that loves a good story well written.
Read
July 31, 2022This was the last book in the series I can remember reading as a teenager. Can't remember liking the book back in the eighties .
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