Captive of Gor

John Norman

Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)

Volume seven of the Chronicles of Counter-Earth

Here is the magnificent world of 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.

Review by Chrissi (010402) Rating (8/10)

Review by Chrissi
Rating 8/10
If you have ever seen the covers of this series, then you would realise that maybe this man has rather strong views on the subject of women's rights. This particular cover has a rather strange image of a naked woman and a beast with big teeth. If that did not put you off, then you would find a book about a world similar to our own but with different flora and fauna, in an almost medieval society.

This series was probably my first experience of science fantasy writing and when I reread this, it reminded me of things that I really like about the genre. On this world, there are agents of good and of evil, and the good are protecting our world, closely entwined as it is with Gor. There is a limited trade between the worlds, mainly in women, taken as slaves. They are referred to as barbarians, and are the lowest of Gorean society.

The young woman in the picture is Elinor, a citizen of earth who is taken to Gor to be placed in a house to murder a man who has fought for the Priest Kings, the rulers of the planet. She is first seen as a spoilt young woman at home in New York, and is taken on the spaceship to this other planet. She does not speak the language, and struggles to adapt to her new surroundings and the duties expected of her.

It is not all as strange as it sounds. The series is well written, and some of the scenes are both vivid and exciting. This particular one just happens to be told from the viewpoint of a female slave, but is not bad because of that. Rereading this has made me want to read some of the series over again, unfortunately, the series was written in the 70's and may not be that easy to find.
Chrissi (1st April 2002)