Tarnsman of Gor

Gorean Saga, Book 1

By: John Norman

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Tarl Cabot has always believed himself to be a citizen of Earth. He has no inkling that his destiny is far greater than the small planet he has inhabited for the first 20-odd years of his life. One frosty winter night in the New England woods, he finds himself transported to the planet of Gor, also known as Counter-Earth, where everything is dramatically different from anything he has ever experienced. It emerges that Tarl is to be trained as a Tarnsman, one of the most honored positions in the rigid, caste-bound Gorean society. He is disciplined by the best teachers and warriors that Gor has to offer...but to what end?

This is the first book of John Norman's popular and controversial Gorean Saga, a series of novels the author began in 1967 with Tarnsman of Gor and are now considered cult classics. This audiobook is based on the definitive edition recently published by E-Books.

©2007 John Norman (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

A ripping yarn

What made the experience of listening to Tarnsman of Gor the most enjoyable?

An excellent performance by Ralf Lister brings the book alive and makes it a good introduction to the Gor Saga compensating largely for the weaknesses in characterisation and the extra-ordinary co-incidences in the plot.The Target audience (presumably adolescent boys) will really enjoy this as well as those of us who can still suspend disbelief and are schoolboys at heart or who wish to learn about Gor.LIght fantasy adventure literature at its best. with an element of déjà vu.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending held no particular surprise remaining classic for the genre

Have you listened to any of Ralph Lister’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The pace was good and made the book hard to turn off

Incredible performance

If you think you might be interested in this series you probably will enjoy it. It lives up to its reputation. The performance is absolutely incredible and makes the story much more exciting than I think it would have been reading it. The world of Gor reminds me of the classic movie Deathstalker, and the story was a fun swashbuckling adventure.

Over hyped

Was told that it was an excellent series. Basically John Carter of Mars with more slavery. Slow starter with non consistent personality

Great Narration

A classic of the “sword and sorcery” adventure genre, plus a strong dose of bdsm.
And, one of the rare narrators who actually enhances the experience

A GREAT ADVENTURE ON ANOTHER WORLD

I first started reading this novel when I was 14, I'm 64 now. I have almost every single book in the series. For me it was a great adventure to another world that was like earth but so much different. I've read the book several times over the years. I've never tired of it. I never thought I'd get the audio version when it was released, however, I changed my mind since my Gor novels are in storage as I am moving and had a hunger to read the saga again, and, honestly, I read the synopsis of the latest released book and HAD to begin the series again.

Ralph Lister was wonderful as I heard him read the words I read so many times. Hearing the story, having it read, brought it even more to life to me. I could smell the air, hear it rustling the Ka-la-na trees, and hear the scream of his war tarn. It excited me even more as I listened to him tell of Tarl's reaction to that magnificent creature and he took his first flight on that fantastic bird! I especially like the interaction with Nar the Spider and the meeting with Talena. These names have been in my mind for all these years. So has his father, the older Tarl and Torm.

John Norman, in my eyes, is better than Burroughs, I've read his Barsoom series but it didn't take me "away" like the Gor novels; nor did his Tarzan series. I recommend this first book to anyone who likes a good science fiction novel.

A Sci-Fi Lover's Wet Dream

Tarnsman of Gor by John Norman is an adult science-fiction/fantasy novel and the first book in the Gorean Saga. The book begins with the story’s protagonist, Tarl Cabot, discovering a mysterious letter from his father while on a camping trip in the mountains of New Hampshire. The letter is dated three hundred years prior and contains a ring made of some kind of red metal bearing his family crest. Soon after, Cabot leaves Earth in a spaceship and wakes up on the planet of Gor.

Gor, or Counter-Earth, is an Earthlike planet with less gravity, which allows for the existence of large flying animals called tarns. These animals are used by the warrior caste of Gor for transportation and battle. Gor’s human inhabitants reside in city-states, each with its own “home stone”. The home stone, often just a decorated rock, is considered the heart of the city and fiercely protected by its warriors. Gor’s society is male dominated, with women tending to be submissive, roles both sexes perpetuate and generally enjoy. Gor’s High Caste is made up of the Initiates, Scribes, Builders, Physicians, and Warriors. The Low Caste is made up of everyone else, i.e., peasants, slaves, outlaws, etc. Non-human sentient species also exist on Gor. In this novel, we’re introduced to the Spider People, a species of large, intelligent spiders that communicate using a type of universal translator.

When Tarl awakes on Gor, he meets his father, who had disappeared without explanation when Tarl was a young boy. He’s educated about Gor and his caste (the Warrior Caste), and subsequently tasked with capturing the home stone of his father’s rival city-state, Ar. The story details his heroic adventure, and what an adventure it is! From flying beasts and talking spiders to sexy slave girls and intercity warfare resembling that of ancient Greece, you’re sure to be on the edge of your seat throughout the story.

I was introduced to the Gorean Saga through an online roleplaying chat service. It was supposed to be this perverse novel with lots of BDSM sex scenes, but it really wasn’t. It’s remarkably clean and contains very little detail in relation to overt sexual themes. I think the hype really revolves around the gender roles the book ascribes to the denizens of Gor. God forbid men behave like men and women like women! If you get a chance, I’d recommend purchasing the audiobook narrated by Ralph Lister. He does an excellent job narrating the various characters and really makes the story come alive.

Excellent

Narrator was good. Science was outdated but believeable. Great storyline and well written with some profound thoughts.

this book made me love reading as a young man.

To say I love this book is an understatement.. I have worn. out three copys over the years and am in possession of a fourth. The performance over all was excellent. I do have a bone to pick over some of his interpretations of the story. Such as the scene when Tarl And telena are reveling in there escape from the swamp. In my humble opinion Telena was embracing the situation. the chains of bondage freed her from the stifling life of an Ubars daughter.
The horrid voice and manner of speaking he gave Marlenus was ridiculous. Marlenus is a warrior, an Ubar, and a true lion of a man. He is not some poncy aristocrat. He is not arrogant. He is a man who strikes fear into his enemies and inspires loyalty and love from his allies.
Unfortunately, John Norman to my knowledge, never produced a dictionary for Gor as Tolkien did for middle earth. I disagree with some of the pronunciations but have nothing as a reference.
Still I do not regret purchasing this audiobook and intend to buy them all. Hopefully you will include the books only available through the internet.

N/A

The first 4 books in the series are pretty good but then the dynamic changes and a lot of time is spent on the degradation and exploitation of women. It’s excessive and takes away from the story. I find myself skipping whole chapters out of annoyance, that said once you filter out the garbage then the actual story is decent

The BDSM adventures of Tarl Cabot of Mars -uh, Gor.

While hiking in New Hampshire, a British college teacher is transported to a barbaric world and must learn it’s ways to survive and will ultimately become a hero. Strange new deadly flora and fauna, magic mixed with technology, a harsh social order, clashing armies, and a beautiful princess! John Carter must quickly adapt or…uh, I mean Tarl Cabot must quickly adapt or perish. This first book really takes a lot from Burroughs’ Mars series, though the hero is a little more human and it has more sex.

The first of what would quickly become an infamous Sword & Planet series, mostly for it’s BDSM element and sexism. Slavery, always female and usually sexual, is often referenced and though the hero is repelled by it, it feels like Norman just placating his critics.

The first quarter of the book is slow and clunky, heavy on exposition, but picks up and becomes more entertaining though never really very good.