Gor

Gor

First published in 1966, Tarnsman of Gor is shown here with 1976 artwork by Boris Vallejo.
Tarnsman, Outlaw, Priest-Kings, Nomads, Assassin, Raiders, Captive, Hunters, Marauders, Tribesmen, Slave Girl, Beasts, Explorers, Fighting Slave, Rogue, Guardsman, Savages, Blood Brothers, Kajira, Players, Mercenaries, Dancer, Renegades, Vagabonds, Magicians, Witness, Prize, Kur, Swordsmen, Mariners, Conspirators, Smugglers, Rebels, Plunder
Author	John Norman
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Sword and planet, science fantasy
Publisher	Del Rey
Published	1966—1988; 2001—present
Media type	Print (paperback)
No. of books	33

Gor /ˈɡɔːr/ is the Counter-Earth setting for John Norman's extended series of sword and planet novels. The series is inspired particularly by the Barsoom series and Almuric, but is also known for its content combining philosophy, erotica, and science fantasy. The series has been variably referred to by publishers with several names including The Chronicles of Counter-Earth (Ballantine Books), The Saga of Tarl Cabot (DAW Books), Gorean Cycle (Tandem Books), Gorean Chronicles (Masquerade Books), Gorean Saga (Open Road Media), and The Counter-Earth Saga (DAW Books, for novels with a protagonist other than Tarl Cabot). The customs, terminology and imagery depicted in these books inspired a Gorean subculture, with lifestyle adherents online and off. The books in the series are known as The Scrolls among some members of the Gorean subculture.

In an interview with the speculative fiction anthology Polygraff, John Norman spoke at length about the creation of the Gor universe and his influences.

"The Counter-Earth, or Antichthon, is from Greek cosmology. Speculation on such a world, you see, is ancient. One of the premises of the Gorean series is that a race of aliens, whom we might speak of as the Priest-Kings, have a technology at their disposal compared to which ours would be something like that in the Bronze Age." [1]

"I think, pretty clearly, the three major influences on my work are Homer, Freud, and Nietzsche. Interestingly, however obvious this influence might be, few, if any, critics, commentators, or such, have called attention to it."