Companions of Gor: Chapter Three

 

 

The estate was impressive, and, like many of the properties surrounding Vonda, was essentially a self-sufficient and fortified farmstead or, in this case, country house with landscaped gardens, set in the centre of hundreds of acres of land on which crops were grown, animals were pastured and most importantly, vines were cultivated. The wines of the Vonda region are quite remarkable, and a personal favourite of mine. 

 

We rode on down through the vineyards belonging to my Lady, observing men and women tending to the vines under the watchful eye of overseers with whips. To the right I could see a river which was the source of the irrigation for the fields. The main building up ahead was essentially a large open rectangle, with porticos enclosing gardens entered through another portico, but decades of expansion had resulted in adjoining buildings with independent courtyards. These were then organically linked by their own porticos or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. 

Companions of Gor: Chapter Two

 

I was in a great mood that morning as I rode through the countryside surrounding the walls of Vonda. 

 

A great mood.

 

I must have been an impressive sight as I rode like the important man I now was, with my personal banner men who sat with rigid spines on their tharlarions. We flew the serpent banner of Cassandra’s house and from time to time we passed travellers on foot going to or from Vonda.

 

“Tal, friend,” I would say, offering them a cheery wave. They were mostly poor people of low castes, though we also rode past a few wagons and carts on which sat men and women of the scribes and merchants. I wanted them to feel a little of my benevolence and good mood, and once they realised my banner men weren’t going to rob or kill them, they responded back with polite greetings of their own. 

Companions of Gor: Chapter One

 

((Something to help tide my faithful readers over while Chloe and I are working hard on the new book, ‘Gods of Gor’. This is a three part short story focussing on Simon and Cassandra, following on from their return to the Sardar after the events of Ubara of Gor))

 

And so, farewell to the bloodstained coast of the Black Kingdoms, and that bitch, Yishana!

 

It was a relief when Cassandra and I finally left the Sardar estate, that wet morning. It had been uncomfortable enough on the long voyage home on the ship, Waverider, surrounded by Brinn’s warriors, none of whom seemed to have anything good to say about me. Their grim, silent hostility hung over the vessel like a toxic cloud as the ship sailed north, and the way they stared at me as I passed by on the main deck beggared belief. When I would mention this to Cassandra, she would smile and simply reassure me that ‘my brother’s men can be surly at times. Ignore them, my beloved. We will be home soon.” Her gentle arms would embrace me and we would share a chaste kiss away from the gazes of the men. Cassandra Assante was a rich prize, indeed, and I basked in the raised status that companionship with her bestowed. 

Gods of Gor Preview

A quick update note to assure you all that I’ve been working hard on the new Emma book, and of course I understand it can be frustrating having to wait for the finished piece. Mind you, if you’ve been waiting for the sixth Game of Thrones book, then a short delay from me pales into insignificance in comparison! And George Martin doesn’t even have my excuse that I have a day job! 

 

So, anyway, I thought I’d post some pages from the work in progress, since you’ve all been so patient. You’ll eventually see it released with pretty pictures by Chloe, but in the meantime, here are thirteen pages from chapter four. The first three chapters have seen Brinn, Tijani, and their gaggle of kajirae sailing down the Nyoka river, into the dark rain forest interior east of Schendi, in search of the distant trading post and Emma’s Earth sister, Bea. The kajirae have been bickering throughout. But here is some intrepid river action!

Gorean Tropes

GOREAN TROPES

 

I put this together recently as a bit of fun, and to hand out to people who asked to play in my Tales of Gor RPG on Tavern Keeper, on the occasions when they aren’t necessarily familiar with the common themes of John Norman’s books (for better or worse). A lot of people who roleplay Gor often have only a basic understanding of the writing style and view the setting as simply ‘Conan style’ BDSM. While the BDSM is definitely there, the approach to it is rather unique, so far as other forms of BDSM writing is concerned. 

 

This then is my take on many of the common themes, as they seem to appear to me, in the official books. The tropes are important to me, not just for a pattern to follow to imitate Norman’s writing, but also as a standard to deviate from at times in subversive ways, to approach Gor from a different angle. It’s safe to say that, although I’m a fan of the books, I don’t take them at all seriously, the way Mr Norman does, and many of the hard core fans do. I don’t, for example, view them as a template for some ‘better society’.

 

The following tropes tell you pretty much what you can expect from both the original novels, and my own stories and games. Be warned - my tongue is firmly in my cheek when it comes to some of the entries… ;)

Merry Christmas to you all!

 

It’s Christmas Eve! 

 

Or rather it will be when it’s um, the evening. I never really think of Christmas Eve being Christmas Eve until it gets dark, and right now, as I type these words, the sun is shining brightly in the south of England – a perfect winter’s day.

 

This year has been a weird and perhaps unsettling one for us all, but I hope everyone gets a chance to hunker down and enjoy the Christmas period (or ‘Holidays’ as I believe the lovely Americans refer to it) in some respect, even if normal family events are curtailed. 

Um… I’ve let things slip a bit, haven’t I… ;)

 

Hello! Or perhaps, Tal!

Apologies for the longer than intended radio silence. Taking a ‘brief break’ is, like, my kryptonite. Before I know what’s happened, a couple of months have rolled by! Not the first time, and probably not the last. My work ethic is very weird. So long as I’m writing to a regular pace, I’m incredibly prolific, but once real life throws me out of the rhythm for a week or two, things slip. So sorry about that. 

I will catch up with the recent e-mails some of you sent to check I was still around and reply (thank you for those), and hopefully get things flowing again on the Blog this weekend.

In the meantime, Chloe sent me this picture as her light hearted guess how the current Rachel serial might end. Thought you might find it amusing. :)