Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site usceast.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!mcnc!ncsu!ncrcae!usceast!ted From: ted@usceast.UUCP (Ted Nolan) Newsgroups: net.books Subject: Re: "Gor" by John Norman Message-ID: <2164@usceast.UUCP> Date: Wed, 30-Jan-85 23:27:33 EST Article-I.D.: usceast.2164 Posted: Wed Jan 30 23:27:33 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 2-Feb-85 13:30:07 EST References: <543@ukma.UUCP> Reply-To: ted@usceast.UUCP (System Programmer) Organization: Csci Dept, U of S. Carolina, Columbia Lines: 48 Summary: In article <543@ukma.UUCP> red@ukma.UUCP writes: >Well, I'll probably get flamed six ways to Sunday for this, but I >think Norman has a good idea in these books. I think he carries it >a little bit to extremes. > >I'm currently about 2/3 of the way through the fifth book of the series. >I don't like his writing style at all (too flat). But he still manages to >spin a good yarn. He's got some real good ideas -- Counter-Earth, Priest-Kings, >Castes, etc. His attitudes towards women are a small, though integral, part >of the society he's set up. The same society COULD be set up without this, but >I think the books would lose by it. > >Now, I'm NOT advocating female slavery here. I'm simply stating an opinion. >I do think that most women have FANTASIES about being slaves of strong good- >looking men. Please note: FANTASIES. I do NOT think that women would enjoy >actually BEING slaves. > >I think I'll stop while I'm ahead (sort of) > > Red You haven't really hit it yet. The Gor books were ok at first, fairly competent ERB style adventures. There were some unpleasant undertones (small but integral as you say), but not enough to spoil the adventure. However, starting when Tarl Cabbot seduced the girl at the end of the Wagon Tribes book (can't remember the name) things started to go down hill. When he was made a woman's slave in some marshes some books later, he turned mean and the whole thing just fell apart. By the time Daw picked up the series, you were lucky to get any plot or action inbetween the bizarre philosophic lectures and sex scenes. There is something in me that generally wants to know how a series will come out, no batter how bad it gets, but I just couldn't make myself finish a gor book anymore. If you want good swords & planets adventure, try the Dray Prescott series. (In an early book, Prescott mentions a continent on Kregan called 'gar' that was a home to slavers. I'm still waiting for him to clean it up!) Ted Nolan ..usceast!ted -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ted Nolan ...decvax!mcnc!ncsu!ncrcae!usceast!ted (UUCP) 6536 Brookside Circle ...akgua!usceast!ted Columbia, SC 29206 allegra!usceast!ted@seismo (ARPA, maybe) ("Deep space is my dwelling place, the stars my destination") -------------------------------------------------------------------------------