"Perils of GOR" RPG?

[mythago]

Um. Gor is very much different than 'classical Earth society.' (That was something Norman was very big on, IIRC--that Gor was honest and true to human nature, unlike that pansy planet, Earth.)

I'm not sure how you would role-play a Gorean campaign without the softcore aspects, but maybe that's the point.

The story about the bet is an SF urban legend, said about many different series. Variations include other SF writers, like L. Ron Hubbard. From everything I have heard about John Norman, he sincerely believes the stuff he writes about how women really want to be slaves.

With apologies to Eric's grandma--Norman also published a book called "Imaginative Sex" that's a sort of sexual-fantasy-play guide intended for heterosexual couples. As Dan Smith wrote, it gets 5 hoots.

 

[hong]

It's a long-standing rumor that the GOR series was written on a bet (between the author and Harlan Ellison), that there was no series so bad it could not be published.

I believe you're thinking about the bet between Robert A. Heinlein (famous creator of Conan) and L. Ron Hubbard (famous founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses), that Ron couldn't start his own religion.

 

[Sulimo]

I believe you're thinking about the bet between Robert A. Heinlein (famous creator of Conan) and L. Ron Hubbard (famous founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses), that Ron couldn't start his own religion.

You mean the Cult...errr Church of Scientology.

 

[Ace]

Ye, he is still alive. The 20-something book in the series, "Witness of Gor," was just recently published.

I haven't read a lot of Conan books, but I will venture to say that the Gor books are significantly more emphatic about the male dominance/female submission theme.

Funny, though, although I don't agree with or condone Norman's general opinion of women, and the male/female dynamic he advocates, I've never really thought of his message as being "anti-women." I suppose it just depends on what point of view you're taking when reading his stuff.

Actually Norman isn't anti woman at all. Its just his ideas on what consistute a healthy relationship are shall we say, oh hell lets say it

ABNORMAL

Still having said that I used to love them as a kid and they really are fun reads if you are either really into BDSM or can ignore those bits

Plus I want stats for Sleen

 

[War Golem]

Plus I want stats for Sleen

That's what I'm talking about!

So... if we can ignore the controversial aspects of Norman's ideology for a moment... does anyone have any actual info on the forthcoming RPG itself?

 

[Nifft]

L. Ron Hubbard (famous founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses)

Oh, boy. I think the only thing worse than having the J.W.s knocking on my door would be having Scientologist lawyers knocking.

Anyway, I've never actually read any Gor, but I think I get the general idea. It might be kind of interesting to see a society where the only form of wealth is socially-sanctioned slaves.

(The only novel non-soft-porn aspect of Gor that I can see is the economics of the place...)

-- Nifft

 

[Ciaran]

And to all you Girls blouses who are horrified by Gor can just go and bite the leg spreader!

Wow! That's... I don't know what that is!

Could you repeat that in the original language? Like most idiomatic expressions, the more colorful insults don't translate well...

- Eric

 

[Kilmore]

I believe you're thinking about the bet between Robert A. Heinlein (famous creator of Conan) and L. Ron Hubbard (famous founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses), that Ron couldn't start his own religion.

Um, not to disagree with the mighty Hong, but Robert A. Heinlein wrote "Starship Troopers". Robert E. Howard wrote "Conan".

 

[hong]

You mean the Cult...errr Church of Scientology.

Eh? Since when did Robert A. Heinlein found the Church of Scientology?


Hong "although John Travolta would make a KQQl Conan" Ooi

 

[drnuncheon]

To everyone relying to hong:

YHBT. YHL. HTH. HAND.

J
(IYKWIMAITYD)