Series 4.a – Where to Start with the Books of Gor – Part 3: The Philosophy Behind the Fantasy: How Gor Evolved (and Why It’s Not Just “Erotic Pulp”)

When evaluating the Gor books, especially as a newcomer, it’s crucial to understand how the series’ tone and intent evolved over time, in tandem with both the author’s growth and the changing social climate. What began as a relatively straightforward adventure series took on an increasingly philosophical (some would say polemical) bent. Let’s break down the major philosophical stages of Gor and how they mirrored or reacted to the “society mindset” of their times:

• 1960s – Pulp Beginnings with a Twist: The first Gor novel came out in 1966, at the tail end of the pulp sci-fi/fantasy era. In many ways, Tarnsman of Gor reads like a classic adventure of its decade – a bit campy, action-packed, with a John Carter-like hero and a damsel. Norman, a philosophy professor by trade, initially wove in only light philosophical commentary (e.g., musings on honor or the simplicity of Gor’s life versus Earth’s complexities). Notably, the sexual politics were present but subdued; there’s a free woman love interest and a minor slave girl, but nothing overtly shocking by today’s standards. However, even in Book 2 or 3, one catches glimmers of a “counter-counterculture” stance: as the real 1960s were embracing sexual revolution and nascent feminism, Norman’s Gor quietly suggested that perhaps traditional gender roles were deeply satisfying. Back then, this wasn’t taken too seriously – the books were mostly seen as Burroughs-style romps with some risqué spice.
• 1970s – Philosophy Emerges, Controversy Grows: As the series entered the 1970s, Norman’s voice became bolder. This was the era of second-wave feminism, women’s lib, and a lot of social experimentation. In response (or perhaps in provocation), the Gorean novels doubled down on the idea of “Natural Order.” By the mid-to-late ’70s (Books 7–14), Norman was explicitly arguing that men and women are fundamentally different by nature – men being dominant, women being submissive – and that modern egalitarianism was suppressing these truths . His protagonists would often critique Earth culture as soft, decadent, or hypocritical, while extolling Gor’s harsh but clear-cut way of life. It’s no coincidence that during this period the books greatly expanded their focus on female slavery – Norman was using Gor as a thought experiment to say, “what if women were freed from modern constraints and had to submit – might many discover it fulfills them?” The content also got more graphic in terms of BDSM and humiliation scenes, which caught the ire of some critics. Indeed, mainstream fantasy and sci-fi readers started to react: some were appalled (seeing the books as misogynistic porn), while others became ardent fans of the provocative ideas. By the end of the ’70s, the Gor series was notorious. The Encyclopedia of Fantasy later noted that while the first books were decent ERB pastiches, the later volumes “degenerate into extremely sexist, sadomasochistic pornography… causing widespread offence” . This was a common view in literary circles – Gor was seen as going off the deep end in pursuit of its kink and message.
• 1980s – Pushback and the End of the Classic Era: The early ’80s saw Norman continue his saga (the Jason Marshall books, then the big war arc) with no tone-down in sight. If anything, the philosophy became even more didactic. Entire chapters might be devoted to a Gorean master explaining why Gorean society is more honest about male dominance than Earth’s, or a newly enslaved woman reflecting on how confused she was by “false freedoms” on Earth and how alive she feels now (despite or due to her chains). Such content was polarizing. Importantly, publishers started getting cold feet. DAW Books, which published Gor through the ’70s and ’80s, decided to cut the series after Magicians of Gor (1988), citing low sales – though Norman publicly argued it was blacklisting due to feminist pressure . The late ’80s were indeed a time when explicit content in genre fiction got more scrutiny (and Gor’s ideology didn’t win it any favors among progressive voices). Famed sci-fi author Michael Moorcock even quipped that Gor novels should be put on the top shelf away from minors, saying he wasn’t for censorship but supported marginalizing “stuff that works to objectify women” . By 1988, Gor was effectively pushed out of the mainstream – it went out of print, and Norman couldn’t get a publisher for sequels. Interestingly, this period also saw the rise of the Gorean subculture: fans, via early internet forums and gatherings, kept the spirit alive (some literally living as Goreans behind closed doors) . They didn’t see the books as pornographic abuse manuals; they saw a kernel of truth that resonated with their personal identities (e.g., men who felt happiest leading, women who felt happiest yielding). This fan support would be crucial for Gor’s later revival.
• 2000s – Revival in a Changed World: Come 2001, Gor returned via small press and then e-books. Society had changed: BDSM themes were somewhat more mainstream (the mid-’90s had shows like Xena, and by 2010s we’d have 50 Shades of Grey making dominance/submission a water-cooler topic). However, Gor was still extreme in its unilateral male-dom fantasy. The new novels (Books 26+) reflect an older Norman reasserting his views for a new generation, sometimes even more directly. The writing style shifts a bit – some fans noticed subtle differences in tone or even wondered if a ghostwriter was involved – but the core philosophy remains intact, if not sharpened. Norman, having seen the backlash, now had nothing to lose and a dedicated niche audience to gain. He used more metafictional commentary, through characters, to answer critics indirectly. For example, a Gorean character might remark how on Earth “political correctness” forbids acknowledging natural instincts, but on Gor they do so freely . Also, the later books put an emphasis on consensualism in the subculture in subtle ways: they make it clear that while Gor in fiction has non-consensual slavery, real-life Goreans practice these roles only with consenting adults. This mirrors the fan community’s stance that “Gor is not about actual abuse; it’s about chosen power exchange” . In essence, by the 2000s Norman was writing for the fans who got it. He left certain provocations in (to stay true to the fictional world) but also gave nods to the idea that modern people would adapt Gor ethically, not literally .
• 2020s – A Legacy in Context: In the most recent books, we see a reflective quality as mentioned. Norman is tying together 50+ years of storytelling, effectively saying, “This was my vision of a natural order, take it or leave it.” By now, the series exists somewhat outside the mainstream – it’s a known phenomenon (scholars of sci-fi note it for its unique longevity and subculture impact), but it’s rarely discussed in polite literary society except perhaps as a curious footnote of BDSM/fantasy crossover. Yet, ironically, the wider world has shifted on some axes closer to Gor’s discussion points. For instance, polyamory is openly practiced by more people now; a 2023 study found a sizable percentage of adults are open to non-monogamous relationships . The idea that not all women want the careerist independent life – that some choose submission in relationships – is increasingly visible in discussions around kink and lifestyle choices. While Gor is far more rigid and role-essentialist than most real-world dynamics, readers today might not be as shocked by the concept of a consensual Master/slave relationship as readers in the 1970s were. Thus, new readers might approach Gor with a nuanced view: “It’s an extreme fantasy, but it touches on desires that do exist for some people.” And indeed, Norman’s later books and interviews emphasize that he’s exploring a fantasy of “complementary” roles, not advocating literal enslavement under modern law . His point (stated through characters) is that if a man and woman truly fit the dominant/submissive polarity, choosing to live that way is nothing to apologize for – it’s their natural path, and it can be beautiful and meaningful for them . In the 2020s, with the rise of the BDSM community’s visibility and concepts like “submissive as empowerment,” Gor finds itself oddly aligned in message (consent is key, roles can be chosen for fulfillment) even as it remains radical in execution.

To sum up this evolution: Gor started as adventure fiction with a hint of patriarchal traditionalism, grew into an explicit philosophical rebellion against feminism, was then tempered by exile and rebirth into a cult favorite that actually contributed to the BDSM subculture. John Norman often said he was influenced by Nietzsche and Freud – you see Nietzschean master-morality in his heroes and Freudian sexual undercurrent in his portrayal of women’s “secret wishes.” Over time he made those undercurrents overt. The books themselves acknowledge they are “intentionally provocative… pushing gender roles to a dramatic limit” . Modern Goreans (and readers) are urged to take what’s useful and inspiring (honor, directness, purposeful relationships) and leave behind what is incompatible with modern ethics (coercion, inequality of human worth) . As I’ve stated previously: “We take the parts that speak to our values…and we leave behind what cannot coexist with modern consent, law and basic respect.” That means you can enjoy Gor as an intense fantasy that resonates with certain primal ideas, without thinking it’s a literal model to implement verbatim in real life (no, you cannot actually kidnap someone and claim Gorean philosophy – that’s abuse, period!).

I wish you well!

©2026 – Written by Azrael Phoenix

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You can read the full set of articles of this Series here:

• Series 1 – Start Here: Understanding the Gorean Lifestyle
  • 1.a – Understanding the Gorean Lifestyle: Myths and Realities
  • 1.b – From Page to Practice: How People Moved From the Books of Gor to a Modern Lifestyle
  • 1.c – Key Gorean Concepts for Beginners: Home Stone, Caste, Natural Order & More
  • 1.d – Common Misconceptions About the Gorean Lifestyle
• Series 2 – The Philosophy: Values Behind the Gorean Lifestyle
  • 2.a – Honor, Responsibility and Discipline: The Core of Gorean Philosophy
  • 2.b – Freedom, Choice and Voluntary Surrender: A Paradox at the Heart of Gor
  • 2.c – Strength and Vulnerability: The Gorean View of Masculinity and Femininity
  • 2.d – Understanding Gorean Natural Order: Philosophy and Modern Life
  • 2.e – Aligning Words and Actions in Gorean Life
• Series 3 – Practicing a Gorean-Inspired Lifestyle (Safely & Ethically)
  • 3.a – Gorean Living: Crafting your ideal Household Structure
  • 3.b – Emotional Safety in Gorean Dynamics: Limits and Aftercare
  • 3.c – The Joy of Service in Gorean Life
  • 3.d – Bridging Fantasy and Reality in Gorean Relationships
  • 3.e – Integrating Gorean Values Into a ‘Vanilla’ Public Life
• Series 4 – Reading Gor: Guides, Themes, and Character Studies
  • 4.a – Where to Start with the Books of Gor
    • Part 1 – A Reading Guide for Newcomers
    • Part 2 – Saga in Stages: Phases of the Gorean Journey
      • Stage 1 – The Early Adventures (Books 1–6): From Earthman to Gorean Warrior
      • Stage 2 – Broadening Horizons & Deeper Themes (Books 7–13): New Perspectives on Gor
      • Stage 3 – The Jason Marshall Trilogy (Books 14–16): A New Tale of Submission and Identity
      • Stage 4 – War and Upheaval (Books 17–25): The Epic Gorean War and Turning Point
      • Stage 5 – The Saga Resumes (Books 26–33): New Century, New Faces, and the Gorean Renaissance
      • Stage 6 – Climactic Conclusions (Books 34–38): A New Resolve and the Future of Gor
    • Part 3 – The Philosophy Behind the Fantasy: How Gor Evolved (and Why It’s Not Just “Erotic Pulp”)
    • Part 4 – Major Pivotal Books & Moments in the Saga
    • Part 5 – Where to Find the Gor Books (Legally and Easily)
    • Part 6 – Confronting the Controversies: Misconceptions and Reality-Checks