Tarnsman of Gor by John Norman - My Review🦅🗡| GarbAugust 2022

This is my review of Tarnsman of Gor by John Norman, which is the first novel in the series. I won this in a giveaway from CriminOlly, while he introduced his new event GarbAugust. Even though I didn't take part, I wanted to read this during August. Enjoy! ‪@CriminOllyBlog‬
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[@stevenlennaman2073]

I found book 14 at a yard sale and read it. When looking for book one, I found book 2 and read that. Then I found book 1 and read one, reread two, and went from there. I found after book 9 that much sex and bondage were slowing down the story. NOTE: when my wife found out I was reading Gor books, she said she would never have dated me because of the bondage part of the books.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

It's great that you have read so many of these books. Not sure if you were serious but sorry that your wife said that. These are only books, that are set in a fantasy world.

[@ulfberht4431]

The way the caste system works in the Gor series sounds like the origin of how RPGs use the class system of characters. Maybe this is where the trend came from originally.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

Maybe. It's been awhile since I read this book but it seems to be very popular. I will have to reread this at one point next year. Thanks for watching!

[@richardwickens2923]

Well I went and looked up when DnD was first published, which was in 1974 - the first Gor book was published in 1966, so we can safely assume Gor did not borrow from DnD. Keep in mind that we still have a caste system today (to a large degree) for example "What do you do for a living?" "I'm a doctor/accountant/mechanic etc" and it was even more prevalent a couple hundred years ago. Children often used to follow the same career path as their parents, expanding that into a fantasy setting and having fantasy "jobs" would not be that unusual.

[@powerfrenzy]

I read the first one and quite liked it, actually. Something about the way the world was introduced was interesting. While the plot was nothing amazing, I nonetheless found it a refreshing read compared to more current stuff I've been reading. I think I will read at least the next 2 books and see if I can find a good end point. I understand it turns more into an anthology series, and I have too much other pulp fiction to get into to really commit 😅 I am glad I didn't listed to all the nay-sayers. At least as far as the first book is concerned, I had a good time reading.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

I have the same thoughts about it, it was easy and refreshing. If I find the next book, I will definitely check it out but in no mad rush. As I to have many other things to read. Thanks for watching my video!

[@richardwickens2923]

I read the series haphazardly years and years ago, whenever I could get my hands on a copy. ChatGPT says it's a Science Fantasy series, there are aliens in there apparently, although I do not remember any aliens. The series is considered "trashy" because of it's controversial themes (even in 1966) and depictions of acts of an intimate nature. If you look at the quality of the book you will see it's printed on cheap paper, with the nastiest of bindings. The books I managed to find were almost always falling apart. Literally pulp fiction. Which also explains the price. I am busy acquiring the entire series so I can read it properly in order.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

I have never understood the idea of a book being trashy, it's just a confusing concept for me. I know that ideas and writing styles may change through the years. I seem to get loads of feedback on this book and series. I'm not sure if I will continue with it. I will have to reread the first and see what I think. It's cool that your reading the whole series. Thanks for watching!

[@artofawr]

Nice. I'm currently finishing an old pulp book from Edgar Rice Burroughs and idea of "trash novels" certainly came to mind after picking it up. I've heard the term and wondered as well what it might mean. A book that has no value? Then is totally subjective in that sense, I'd suppose. Anyway the trash book reflection got me thinking. Good stuff.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

Thanks Adam! I guess that art is subjective, and novels are a form of art. People are going to like different things. Even though this wasn't the best, it still was very entertaining and fun to make my way through.

[@MarissaVlogsLife]

I love older fantasy books like this but I just don't read them as much as I'd like to. This one sounds really interesting. I enjoyed hearing your review and that's awesome you won it in a giveaway!

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

Thanks Marissa! This was a very entertaining story and I'm happy that I read it. I might continue with the series too.

[@edlewisnoctreviews]

Interesting. I've never heard of these books.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

I saw them in a bookshop but didn't think much about them and were overlooked. I don't think I would have read this if I didn't win it.

[@patrickpalmer2203]

Read them when I was younger and yeah was turned on but realized it was a different world than I lived in Books are just different worlds we wish we could go to 😎🍻🤗

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

I think I wouldn't mind carrying on with the series but not in a massive rush to do so. I think we're all looking at escapism, that's why books are so much fun.

[@LiveLongandGarden]

I have like almost the whole series And i'm looking to sell them almost thirty books.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

That's cool that you liked nearly the whole series. Thirty books! Wow, that's alot, I can't imagine myself reading them all.

[@fightingfortruth9806]

I just finished book 3. So far, I have loved all of them. I personally think the criticism of misogyny is overblown. It may get worse further in, but up until now, it hasn't ever felt too crass or over-the-top. Tarl always treats women decently, unless they double-cross him, then he dishes it back at them.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

Thanks for the feedback. I wouldn't mind continuing with this series but in no rush too. If I find the books I will read them.

[@gaiaathena-books]

Nice to hear you talk about this book! I don't think I'd get on well with how women are represented in this book, but other than that it sounds like a nice read.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

Thanks Gaia! Yeah, most of the women in this book have a negative look, but there is one female character which is strong and independent, although she does need rescuing a bunch of times.

[@glennwatson3313]

The books started out really good but over time they got worse and worse.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

I guess that can be expected when the series is to long, as the author may run out of ideas, unless they have planned the whole series first.

[@danielchu1539]

There is no straight up erotica in these novels, it will usually fade to black or end abruptly and skip to the next morning.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

I guess it was how men and women were written in novels at that time.

[@e_eulogy942]

Tarnsman was very badly written. Outlaw is better, certainly has more world building. But there's still a complete lack of character development. Tarl Cabot is the text book definition of a mary-sue. He always wins every fight, every woman wants him as their master of course, he's never in any real danger. You always know he's gonna get out of whatever bad situation he's in. There is no suspense or cleverness to John Norman's writing style, every single thing that plays out is predictable af. I could go on and on. He steals the Home Stone of Ar likenits nothing before getting flung from his tarn,only to land safely on a large spiderweb spun by a giant and conveniently none threatening spider. Norman also doesn't know that spiders are arachnids, not insects. The spider also happens to have a translated and is more than happy to help. He gets tied to a raft and left for dead only to be swept up by a wild Tarn. That gets killed by his Tarn that just happens to remember him and hasn't turned completely wild. Every single occurrence plays out in his favor. Je runs into are minor inconveniences at best.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

I know what you mean, a hero has to overcome trials and tests along their journey, not everything is going to be easy. It sort of reminded me of that Flash Gordon movie while reading this book. I think it was a interesting story but I understand your points of views. Thanks for watching my video.

[@sirellyn]

This is not uncommon for books of this era. Honestly it doesn't compare to the current levels of Mary Sue described today. I still go back and forth and wow, even the most "lucky" of characters of the 60s, 70s and even 80s seem to be pale shadows of the over the top feminist Mary Sue characterizations in just the past 5 years alone.

[@dragonmyke]

Mr. Norman knew how to build a world. I loved these books took me to an awesome counter earth.

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

Thanks for watching! I will have to go back to this book and continue on with it and see where it takes me.

[@ElizabethOconnellLincoln]

I have been a part of the lifestyle of Gor and read all the books though in the middle of reading them again, or as i should say, listening to the audio books there is an entire culture and lifestyle in reality and in secondlife, and your aspects of it are not quite correct but then each person has their own opinions of, this one her self is a kajira in real life and in second life for those who do not know what this is kajira means gorean slave girl and there are male slaves known as kajiru Nothern sl;aves are known as Bonds and thralls they tend to be more sub servant in the books , as for pronunciations , it is not pronounced cask , it is caste like a caste of actors , caste of trade , Free women are what we call the women who are not enslaved , Gree men are the men not enslaved , a little information that may help as well is that Gor is about a far of planet that is situated on the far side of earths sun o[posite side , any how it is ruled by the Priest kings said to be giant insect like crreatures, as for tarl how he ggot to Gor He was acquired the envelope he open was a letter from his father it did not teleport him to Gor but hay not saying any more do not want to spoil it

[@davidsbookreviews4983]

Wow! You do know alot about the series. It's been awhile since I finished the first novel and maybe next year I will continue with it. Thanks for watching.

[@Daiska_Plays]

I was looking for a comment like this. I too was a btb kajira in SL for 3 or 4 years. The experience was life changing. I'll never be the same.