![]() Gor is described as a habitable planet in the Solar System that shares the same orbit as Earth, but it is linearly opposed to Earth and consequently always hidden by the Sun, making direct observation of it from Earth impossible. In the same interview, he said "one of the pleasures of writing science fiction is the development of, and characterization of, alien life forms". Interestingly, however obvious this influence might be, few, if any, critics, commentators, or such, have called attention to it." "I think, pretty clearly, the three major influences on my work are Homer, Freud, and Nietzsche. 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." Speculation on such a world, you see, is ancient. "The Counter-Earth, or Antichthon, is from Greek cosmology. 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 series has been variously 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). According to The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, Norman's "sexual philosophy" is "widely detested", but the books have inspired a Gorean subculture. The Gor series repeatedly depicts men abducting and physically and sexually brutalizing women, who grow to enjoy their submissive state. It also includes erotica and philosophy content. The series is inspired by science fantasy pulp fiction works by Edgar Rice Burroughs, such as the Barsoom series. The setting was first described in the 1966 novel Tarnsman of Gor. Gor ( / ˈ ɡ ɔːr/) is the fictional setting for a series of sword and planet novels written by philosophy professor John Lange, writing as John Norman. How would you aim a rifle at a target 200 miles away? Especially when the horizon on Mars is only a couple of miles away.First published in 1966, Tarnsman of Gor is shown here with 1976 artwork by Boris Vallejo. I suspect that Burroughs was indulging in his usual purple prose when initially describing the rifles, and not introducing any important plot device. In the seventh book, A Fighting Man Of Mars, a new type of rifle is invented that shoots a disintegrating ray rather than an explosive shell. The Kaolians were forming under their officers in readiness to board, and then a sudden fierce fusillade from the rifles of the green warriors vomited their hail of death and destruction into the side of the brave flier. Then Thuria came low above the other craft. Again it isn't explicit that these are the Martian long rifles: "But after the Torquasians had retreated beyond bowshot, they turned upon us with their terrible rifles, and by constant popping at us made life miserable within our walls."Īnd later Cathoris' flyer is attacked with rifle fire. Later in the book Jav relates to Cathoris how Lothar was attacked by Torquasians, and rifles are mentioned but it isn't clear if they are the same rifle: Such is the uncanny marksmanship of these Martian savages that three red warriors dropped in their tracks as three projectiles exploded in their vitals. As Thar Ban reached the side of his mount he snatched his long radium rifle from its boot, and, wheeling, poured three shots into the oncoming red men. They were racing madly after him who dared to steal what they already had stolen. Now from behind her came the shouts of her red abductors. ![]() In Thuvia Maid of Mars Thar Ban abducts Thuvia then is pursued by a group who also wanted to abduct Thuvia and were ticked off that Thar Ban got in first: Raising my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and touched the button which controlled the trigger there was a sharp explosion as the missile reached its goal, and the charging chieftain pitched backward from his flying mount. ![]() There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. In A Princess of Mars John Carter is attacked by Tharl warriors sent to capture Dejah Thoris: There are remarkably few mentions of the rifles being used, and as far as I know none that feature the extreme range. ![]()
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