Rating: 
Summary: But they get better
Review: I've read all 25 books in this series (and will definitely be reading the 26th). If my recollection of events 15 years ago is correct, I think they get substantially better with time. The first few are a bit silly for my taste, but necessary to develop the counter-earth and get the full picture of what is to come. After that, the descriptions of the main people, events, cultures, and everything from military issues to the physical environment become more specific and thus more interesting. Norman is clearly a smart man who writes smart, creative fantasy. Anyone who loves politics, adventure, travel, alternate or ancient history, and non-magical primitive fantasy should be pleased. After a few more books, the biosociological M/f issues become markedly clearer as Tarl wakes up from his Earth-inspired stupor. While these passages are overly long and a bit too psychological versus overtly sensual, they greatly add to the uniqueness of the series and I find them to be a more formalized depiction of some very natural and fulfilling self-selected roles on Earth; women may be particularly interested in the female-viewpoint books like Captive or Dancer. For those of different mind, you can always just skip over these pages and still find a very intriguing line of fiction that's well worth trying. P.S. The Telnarian series, written by Norman in the 1990's, is a crude sci-fi imitation that's not in my opinion worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Edgar Rice Burroughs Spins In His Grave
Review: I was told by a friend that I would like tarnsman and the rest of the series because of my affection of Edgar Rice Burroughs' barsoomian novels. And at first glance, I have to admit that they hold up to the standard quite well. People like Lin Carter, Otis Kline, and even Michael Moorecock have all made their own attempts to copy Erb's style with success. What sets John Norman apart is his own ideas of what a woman's role in a male dominated society should be. Those ideas are given to you slowly over the entire book till they smother you, yet I found the book entertaining enough to go on to the next.
say what you will about John Norman's obsession with slavery, whips and others such things, he still deserves a pat on the back for well well thought out adventure of heroic fiction. I am somewhat surprised by the time he spends on desribing the trials of the women in bondage, and somewhat disturb by the way he glorifies it,(I think ERB would be too)and yet still finds the time to tell a story that moves at a pace that could only have been pulled off by a master.
Read these books and enjoy, and don't get hung up on the non political correctness of them.
Rating:
Summary: Passable fantasy novel akin to Burroughs
Review: Although it uses the trappings of science fiction, Tarnsman of Gor (the first volume of the Chronicles of Counter-Earth) is strictly fantasy adventure. The obvious ancestor of this book is Edgar Rice Burroughs's Mars books, which are likeways fantasy that use science as a mere device to get the story going. Like Burroughs's John Carter, Tarl Cabot is a man who is mysteriously transported to another world (this one a planet on the opposite side of the sun). On this new world, Cabot becomes a warrior and gets involved with the intrigues of this feudalistic planet. In one sense, this is a fun novel, pure adventure with no greater purpose than to amuse and in this sense, it largely succeeds. On the other hand, there are times when the last-minute rescues get a little out of control. Similar to Burroughs, Norman often shows a perception of the world that is less than modern. While Burroughs had 19th century values that bordered on racism in his books, Norman's book shows the seeds of the misogyny and sadomasochism which I understand gets completely out of hand in his later books. At least Burroughs is the product of his time; Norman seems to be around a millenium out of his. Nonetheless, for an adult who can see past these things, which are not so overt as to be truly bad, there is a good tale to be enjoyed.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting start to a controversial series
Review: The Tarl Cabot novels may not be your cup of tea, but anyone should be impressed with John Norman's ability to define, construct, and populate his own fictional world - in this case Gor, the Counter-Earth. His stories read very much like pulp fiction and thus must be taken with a grain of salt. Though by no means is "Tarnsman" high literature, this in no way detracts from the reader's enjoyment. Like Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard before him, Norman manages to picque your interest and lead you into a serialized telling of his characters' adventures on the planet Gor. If you're willing to set aside preconceived notions regarding Norman's work, this should be a fun and thrilling ride. I own the whole Gor series, and so far have only read to Book 10. I believe that anyone who tries to read all 25 novels in a row may experience burnout. "Tarnsman," though, keeps you asking for more. You'll find that the first 4 novels are actually parts of a fascinating story arc that introduces Tarl Cabot to this violent yet fascinating world. Through Cabot's eyes we get to observe the different societies on Gor, their customs and rituals, and also we meet the mysterious Priest-Kings who hold sway over it all. The consistency in the writing is truly remarkable and satisfying. Caveat: The reader will find, as stated in other reviews, that John Norman has very exact ideas regarding gender roles. He repeats himself quite a bit about how women are only fulfilled and content when they submit to male domination and thus allow themselves to be "truly female." In my experience I have found that both women and men are equally fans of John Norman's novels. If anything, the "slave/master" scenario tends to lend itself to sexual fantasies (or BDSM, as some have pointed out.) Therefore, I can't say that these ideas ruin the series for the reader. As long as you know what you're getting into and get past these "rough spots", you should be able to truly appreciate the Gor series. I would recommend "Tarnsman of Gor", as well as the rest of the novels in the series, to anyone who likes well-crafted adventure tales. They're great fun to read - my current favorite is #4, "Nomads of Gor." (Trying to collect the whole series may take more than just a little cash, as the novels are largely out of print. I hope all 25 get reprinted this time around.)
Rating: 
Summary: TARNSMEN OF GOR
Review: I AM PROBABLY LIKE MOST YOU, WE DIDN'T START WITH BOOK ONE WE STARTED WITH A LATER EDITION. I STARTED WITH "NOMADS OF GOR" AND WHEN I FINISHED IT I HAD TO FIND BOOK ONE. NO SOONER DID I START BOOK ONE I WAS HOOKED. I HAD TO HAVE THE NEXT ONE SO OFF TO THE BOOK STORE I WENT. I LOVE THE WHOLE STORY LINE,THE CHARACTERS, THE ADVENTURES. JOHN NORMAN WAS SO GOOD AT HIS WRITING I COULD PICTURE SOME OF THE SCENES IN MY MIND. SUCH AS TARL FLYING ON THE BACK OF HIS TARN. HIS BATTLE WITH MARLENUS. BUT AS MOST OF AGREE THE MIDDLE BOOKS IN THE SERIES STARTED TAKING ON THIS LONG DRAWN OUT SAPPY DAY DREAMS OF TARLS ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL SLAVES WERE AND HOW ALL WOMEN WANT TO BE SLAVES. I HAVE TO ADMIT I SKIPPED QUITE A FEW PAGES. BUT I STUCK WITH THE SERIES AND IT PAID OFF THE BOOKS GOT BETTER AND BACK TO THE OLD TARL FOR THE MOST PART. I HAVE ALL 25 BOOKS IN THE SERIES AND HAVE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE NEXT BOOK. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEXT BOOK OR JOHN NORMAN, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANKYOU
Rating:
Summary: A strange new world.
Review: I've given this book one more star than my reading experience would justify but there is a good reason for this. Tarnsman of Gor is the first of 25 published novels about the planet Gor, the Counter-Earth 180 degrees around the Earth's orbit. (Witness of Gor, the 26th novel remains unpublished.) Being Volume 1 it should have been a novel of discovery: the discovery of an exciting and strange new world where many of Earth's most interesting old civilizations have been preserved (in this volume it's Graeco-Roman civilization). A world of dinosaurs (tharlarion) and rocs (tarns),of sword fights and the Flame Death, of immortal barbarians and technological insects, of court intrigue and slave girls. Unfortunately for me it was not. I had already read Volumes 3, 4, and 5 before reading this one so I was already familar with much of Gor. To make matters worse, the plot of this book was outlined in retrospect in Volume 5 so instead of a novel of discovery it was more like a history book! I believe for someone who has never read a Gor book (as intended) it deserves 4 stars. Note: The presence of Nar the Spider in this book is not strictly necessary to the plot but foreshadows a revelation in Volume 3. It makes me wonder just how much of the Tarl Cabot saga was plotted out by the time John Norman began writing. (Norman annoyingly calls Nar an insect but he's wrong...spiders are arachnids, not insects.)
Rating:
Summary: A great start to a series that could have been the best ever
Review: This being the first novel in the Gor series, it is suprisingly short on detail, and high on action. As some other reviewers have stated, it is almost comicbook like it its writing. But, don't let that detract you from what is a fantastic story. John Norman's first 6 books are fantastic, with a hero (Tarl Cabot) that seems to survive incredible odds with flair. But that 6th book starts a dark slide, one which gets worse as the series evolves. Many of the rest of the novels still brim with action, once you learn to recognize that there are sections you can just skim over, as they have nothing to do with the plot. The man has created a very real world, that I can immerse myself into for hours and weeks at end. The books about the females (7, 11, 19, & 21) can be skipped, without any real lose of plot. And, they will save your eyes from his senseless drivel about female domination...something Norman can't seem to shut up about. But, if you don't mind skimming over his pages of that drivel, some wonderful stories come out of it. And I for one will snap up a 26th novel about the Counter-Earth in a second....because I really want to see that reunion with Talena fleshed out. It seems bizzare to wait 25 novels to see a "romantic" (for lack of a better word) plot to finish...but I have to know! Read them, and enjoy them...and know that it is fantasy, and the man DOES have some sick and twisted thoughts. As another reviewer did state...reading his books would sometimes influence the way I behaved towards women...I would be shorter with them...especially when I was younger, and didn't know how to work in a relationship Never any physical violence, or S&M desires, but I would act differently. Now that I am older an more mature, it doesn't affect me. Oh, and Norman did write some books for another publisher that had nothing to do with Gor after he stopped writing these books...don't waste your money...more of the slave drivel, with characters you couldn't care less about.
Rating: 
Summary: How not to do things....
Review: I hope to whatever deity exists that inexperienced dom's don't REALLY think this is a way to top. People would only get hurt. Try Sensuous Magic by Pat Califia-- if you want a fulfilling, safe S&M relationship.
Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed it.
Review: I enjoyed this book, it was adventurous and new. I also enjoyed the second and third. I stumbled through the fourth and fifth, then gagged through the sixth and seventh. I own every book in the series, though now I don't know why. They're all basically the same, just toss in a plot change and a few more gaggable chars and wa-la! You have the next in the series. If you're a "sub-slave" or a "dom"..you'll Love the series. If you're not...you'll throw the lot of these books into that brown bag and haul them to the local used bookstore for a refund. No doubt John Norman is a superb writer (when he feels like it), but come on, John! Enough of the dom syndrome, let's try another theme for your next 300 books, hmm? Don't make me slap a collar on you. ::the cold steel of her ko-lar is felt against the flesh of his little girly man neck...an impish grin:: Now, slave...you are no longer the man, John Norman...You will now be known simply as...streudel lips. You will speak only when permission is granted. You are my property, utter submission is the only way you shall be allowed to live. Now give your Mistress a kiss from those sugar coated girly man lips...NOW, slave. Read Tarnsman, then forget the rest of the series unless you want your brain to turn into jello.
Rating:
Summary: Not a great book compared to others but a good starting pt.
Review: I have read all but the last 4 Gor books and I must agree with most that Norman's obsession with the master/slave relationship is over done. I really liked the series up to about "Blood Brothers of Gor," then I had a hard time getting throu the rest. Norman is an outstanding fastasy/action writer but it takes a lot of "skimming" to get thru the slave gibberish. It seems to me, a society that has slaves for all its history would not spend to much time trying to figure out the "secret desire of all Gorian females to be slaves." I think that's why I enjoyed the first half of the Gor series and had such a hard time with the last half.
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