John Norman

Books

• “Chronicles of Gor,” also “Chronicles of Counter-Earth” (1967-2001)
• “The Telnarian Histories” (1991-1993)

Historical fiction:

• Time Slave (1975)
• Ghost Dance (1979)

Nonfiction:

• Imaginative Sex (1974)

Norman is a protégé of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and his influential Gor series bears parallels to Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars. His novels include lengthy philosophical and sociological dissertations contrasting the malaise of modern society (everything from common dishonesty to nuclear holocaust) with the remedial beauty of natural society. Placing emphasis on living in accordance with a Nietzsche-esque natural order, he sponsors a hierarchy of talent.

From this hierarchy and his use of evolutionary psychology to analyze gender differences, he then suggests that woman is the submissive natural helper, and figurative slave, of dominant man. His work often, but not always, takes this observation literally: heroes enslave heroines who, upon being enslaved, revel in the discovery of their natural place. Norman and Goreans have been criticized for this tenant of what they consider honoring nature.

Personal Views

Norman, also a political activist, modified his alignment from conservative to libertarian during his effective censorship. The extent to which he himself is Gorean is unclear.

Career

1. Late 1960s-early 1980s: Norman becomes wildly popular, rivaling fellow author Marion Zimmer Bradley with sales of the first third of the Gor series. His rise may be attributed to the willingness of rebellious or disaffected Americans during this period to consider his social alternatives.
2. Mid 1980s -mid 1990s: Increasing political correctness, especially feminism, prompted consumers and interest groups to take action against the sale of Norman’s books, including petitioning retailers. Norman’s books were removed from bookstores and libraries, and Norman accused publishers of blacklisting him.
3. Late 1990s-present: Acceptance of BDSM and growth of the Internet allowed the resurgence of Norman’s ideas without the consent of normal publishing channels. Goreans assembled on the Internet and in real life while smaller publishers attempted, with limited success, to “bring Norman back.”

External Links

• John Norman’s current publisher
• Recent open letter by Norman noting his discrimination and expressing his libertarianism
• Google cache of Usenet group discussing Norman’s work (alt.books.gor)

Referenced By