Beasts of Gor

Gorean Saga, Book 12

De: John Norman

Narrado por: Ralph Lister

In this, the 12th book in the famous Gor series, the fight for survival on the primitive, Earthlike world, Gor, continues with a ferocity that matches the rest of the series.

On Gor, there are three different kinds of beings that are labeled beasts: There are the Kurii, a monster alien race that is preparing to invade Gor from space; the Gorean warriors, who fight with viciousness almost primitive in its blood lust' and then there are the slave girls of Gor, lowly beasts for men to do with as they see fit, be it as objects of labor or desire. Now all three come together as the Kurii fight to take over Gor with its first beachhead on the planet's polar ice cap.

As all three kinds of beasts struggle together, an incredible adventure is told, one that begins in lands of burning heat and ends up in the bitter cold of the polar north among the savage red hunters of the polar ice pack.

©1978 John Norman (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

once again

loved it! can't wait to get started on the next one. I'm downloading it now.

Great next chapter, excellent world building, but

Loved it. Enjoying hearing about the nuances of Gorean life, like the deeper dive into the "others". I feel the story of Earth girls brought to Gor has become repetitive. I could do one per book, even the deeper dives and more rounded out stories like Captive and Slavegirl were great from the female perspective. But (minor spoiler) when it becomes 4 girls in one book, it's excessive and ceases to be of interest. Still, great saga, great narration, looking forward to diving into the next one.

Finally! An Enjoyable Gor Book!

On a quest to read them all, I've slogged through the super long discussions of slave chains, enough details of Gorean ships to build one in my backyard, and the most b-o-r-i-n-g explanations of women + slavery = better women you'll ever encounter. Then after the worst book so far - the vomitously repetitive "Slave Girl of Gor" (I'm the prettiest girl from my women's college on earth and now I'm a slave!") - I finally found it - a Gor book I enjoy.

Beasts features one of my least favorite plot lines - the ridiculous Kurii vs Priest Kings (who know everything and do nothing) and it still managed to captivate my attention. Instead of a viking drinking tale, Tarl goes North not full of warrior bravado but as a student to the "Red Hunters" (ripped straight the Inuit of Alaska). A Tarl who is inquisitive not just "know-it-all" Tarl is rather delightful. Instead of 30 minute side quests to make a slave, Tarl gets caught up in the dating ritual of shy Imnak and the mouthy Paolu. It's hysterically funny (one of the only humorous sides in the whole saga), and endearing.

By the end of these books I usually don't care about the women (who are all the same) and think Tarl's a pig but I'm glad he saved the day. In Beasts, I cared about Imnak and the women he captured. I wanted to know what happened to villian "Half Ear" and I was completely enthralled with "the people" of the North. Even the snow sleen were more interesting.

GOR SAGA TIP: If a chapter title is just a woman's name - you can skip it. It's just a long "what does it mean to be a slave belonging to a "Strong Gorean Man" (registered trademark). Neither chapter in this with women's names advance the story.

So, the Kurii beast saga is still silly and the men are still manly but if you only read one of the mid-range books -- choose Beasts of Gor. The conversations between Imnak and "Tarl Who Hunts With Me" are worth everything.

One of his best

Imagination of the author is only matched by his keen sense of of adventure in the ongoing war between priest-kings and kuri.

Learn of the relationship of slave and master!

Do you think it is easier being a slave or a master? This book in the series gives you a clue.