hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (Jerry Hollombe) (02/09/85)
I started reading the Gor series when it first appeared, expecting
something on the order of ERB's John Carter of Mars series. Things seemed
ok for the first few books, though Norman did spend more and more words on
what looked like irrelevant or over-elaborate descriptions. I began to
think he was being paid by the word, sighed, and began skipping over some
of the more odious text.
Somewhere in the 5th or 6th book, after wading through a three page
description of a rather trivial piece of slave harness, I realized two
things:
1) The Gor books are pornography.
2) They are not the kind of pornography I find arousing.
A surprising number of people are into the Bondage & Dominance/Discipline
scene these days. Somewhat fewer are into Sado/Masochism. I suppose these
groups use the Gor books as aids to sexual arousal and masturbation. To
almost anyone else, they're nothing but a bore.
I've no quarrel with others' sexual preferences (de gustibus non
disputandum est, and all that). I have seen some of the Gor series for
sale in the B&D sections of sex shops, which I think is very appropriate.
I wonder how the publishers of DAW books feel about being in the
pornography business. I'm sure they never planned on it.
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The Polymath (Jerry Hollombe)
Citicorp TTI If thy CRT offend thee, pluck
3100 Ocean Park Blvd. it out and cast it from thee.
Santa Monica, California 90405
(213) 450-9111, ext. 2483
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