Existence Alluded

Although there are those that will argue the panther girls were lesbians, this was not the case. John Norman hinted the possibility bisexuality among the panther girls, but there was never anything that we read in which the panther girls took each other for lovers. The dances under the moon aluded to sexual frenzy, but not the final culmination. On the other hand, it was quite prominent in the books of the panther girls capturing men and raping them, and their starvation for the touch of men and how they made hot slaves. This blows away true lesbianism though it leaves bisexuality still a possibility.

Along comes Magicians of Gor, however, and John Norman goes straight to the actual exposure of a gay Master (Apponius) and his handsome male slave, Milo.

Of course, if homosexuality did exist and was practiced on Gor, it pretty much blows John Norman's ever-monotonous diatrabes that Gor was a world pure on the philosophy of the natural order of men and women…

"Apponius and Milo must be on intimate terms," I said.
"Yes," she said. "The master treats him as though he might be a free man. They discuss matters of business and the theater. Even in the great hall, at the common suppers, he has Milo above the salt and at his right hand." — Magicians of Gor, page 310.

Tarl had quite a lengthy discussion with a slave girl of Apponius, she touching him, her master so enraged that a slave would dare touch another slave without permission, and the reaction of Milo.

"I was distraught," she said. "I was furious! My heart was beating wildly. Then I felt futile, helpless and miserable. I could do nothing! Such as I are completely at the mercy of our masters! I was only a slave! And then there were tears in my eyes, and Milo was so beautiful! I wanted him to see me, to notice me. I did not wish to be just another slave in the background, unrecognized, so simply taken for granted, serving but almost unnoticed, present but scarcely seen. I reached out, with tears in my eyes, and put my fingers on his arm."
      "Continue," I said.
      "He seemed startled that I had done this, as though he might not believe it. I looked at him, tears in my eyes, kneeling there, appealing to him, that he might take notice of me, though I were only a slave."
      "Yes?" I said.
      "This was noted, of course, by my master, Appanius. Apparently I had not realized the grievousness of what I had done. He leaped to his feet! His eyes blazed. He was beside himself with anger. 'Guards! Guards!' he cried, clapping his hands. I knelt small there by the table, trembling, my head down. I knew I had done wrong, daring to touch Milo, I, he so favored by the master and I only a house slave, but I had been unable to help myself. I so wanted to be brought to his attention! But never yet had he requested me, nor had I been put naked to my knees before him, my hands bound behind me in slave bracelets, the key about my neck, for his pleasure. I knew I had done wrong, but I had not understood that it was so terrible. I had only wanted to call myself to his attention, and had hoped doubtless that he might sometimes be moved to take pity on a poor slave. 'Guards! Guards!' cried Appanius. I was terrified. I trembled, not understanding the immensity of his anger, the enormity of his response to my tiny, pathetic deed. Guards rushed into the room, blades free of scabbards, the doors bursting open. Perhaps they had feared an attempt was in progress on the master's life. In a moment they were about me. I feared I was to be cut to pieces. He struggled, it seemed, to control himself. 'Forgive me, Master!' I wept. I crawled to him, my head down. 'Forgive me, Master!' I wept. I kissed his feet, fervently. He pulled away, in anger. He moved to the side. He kicked me twice, in fury. I returned to him on my belly, and showered my hair upon his sandals, and then again kissed his feet, again and again. 'Forgive me, Master!' I wept, an errant slave, one who had done wrong, pleading for mercy, and forgiveness. He pulled back, away from me again, and then stood there, some feet before me, looking down at me. I was still on my belly. I looked up at him, a slave regarding her master with terror, lying before him, his property, on the tiles of his house. 'Have her lashed,' he said. 'Then have her hair cropped, and sent her to the field!'"
      "And it was thus you came to the fields," I said.
      "Yes, Master," she said.
      "And how did Milo respond to all this?" I asked.
      "Imperturbably," she said. "I was, after all, only a female."
      "Do you think that Milo finds you attractive?" I asked.
      "Master?" she asked.
      "That he would like to strip you, collar you and throw you to the furs at his feet, there to vent his lust upon you, his slave?"
      "I do not know if his drives are that strong, Master," she said. — Magicians of Gor, pages 311-312.

What did she mean that it was so terrible? That he was not sexually interested in women? Actually, she was referring to her master's anger, because that she, a slave, had touched another slave without permission.

And much continued discussion, learning that Milo had not placed on the boards, his calling of slave girls to his furs (a practice often given to favored male slaves, allowing them usage of female slaves sexually), that Tarl found quite interesting.

"Milo must have exhibited some interest in you, or seemed to exhibit some interest in you," I said, "if only during the period of your seduction, when you were being trapped."
      "Yes," she said, "then."
      "But after you were in the house as a slave, collared, scantily clad, utterly vulnerable?"
      "No, Master," she said.
      "He never asked for you to be brought to him?"
      "No, Master."
      "Why do you think that is?" I asked.
      "I am insufficiently beautiful," she said.
      "Did he call for other women?" I asked.
      "I do not know, Master," she said.
      "Did you not see names written on the call boards in the kitchen?"
      "No," she said.
      "Interesting," I said.
      "One of the girls, another one of we three who had been trapped by Milo, claimed to have been with him, but it was proven that she had lied. She had been chained in the stable that night. The house master found out about it and she was whipped, before us all."
      "As far as you know, then," I said, "none of the girls of the house were put with Milo."
      "As far as I know, not," she said.
      "But surely there would be no cause for secrecy about such a matter," I said.
      "I would not think so," she said.
      "Milo was important in the house," I said. "He is famous. He is of great value to Appanius."
      "Certainly, Master," she said.
      "It would make sense then," I said, "to suppose that a girl would be sent to him, at least once in a while."
      "Perhaps, Master," she said.
      "So much is done even for quarry slaves," I said.
      "Yes, Master," she said.
      "But as far as you know this was never done?"
      "Not as far as I know," she said.
      "And if it had been done," I said, "it is my speculation that you would have heard of it, such gossip flowing quickly through the corridors of such a house."
      "I suppose so," she said.
      "If Milo had requested a girl, do you think he would have received one?"
      "I would suppose so," she said, puzzled.
      "Perhaps he did not request one," I said.
      "Master?" she asked.
      "Possible Milo does not find women attractive," I said. — Magicians of Gor, pages 313-314.

While the following quote confirms that Milo's master indeed was homosexual and in love with Milo, Milo himself was not. By the reaction of Marcus, it appears that homosexual love was something that was not publicly known.

"My Milo, my Milo!" wept Appanius, looking down at the much-beaten slave. "The most beautiful slave in Ar! My beloved slave! My beloved Milo!"
      "He has betrayed you," said one of the retainers.
      "How could you do it?" asked Appanius. "Have I not been good to you? Have I not been kind? Have you wanted for anything? Have I not given you everything?"
      The slave kept his head down. I think he was sick, and I did not much blame him. He had taken a fearful beating. His back and shoulders were covered with welts. I did not think that anything had been broken. I wondered if he had ever been beaten before. Perhaps not. I myself have doubtless been responsible for a few of those blows, but then they had been appropriately administered. His behavior, after all, had contained errors.
      "He is an ungrateful slave," said another of the retainers.
      "Send him to the fields," said one of the retainers.
      "Sell him," said another.
      "Make him an example to others," said the first retainer.
      "We can fine you a better, Appanius," said another.
      "One even more beautiful," said one.
      "And one with appropriate dispositions," said another.
      "And he, too, if you wish, can be trained as an actor and performer," said another.
      Marcus looked at me, puzzled. He did not really follow this conversation. I did not react to his look.
      "What shall I do with him?" asked Appanius.
      "Let all your slaves learn that they are your slaves," said one of the retainers.
      "Speak clearly," said Appanius.
      "Rid yourself of him," whispered the fellow.
      "Yes," said another.
      Appanius looked down at the chained slave.
      I now had some understanding of the jealousy of the retainers for the slave. The slave had doubtless enjoyed too much power in the house, too much favor with the master. They were eager to bring him down.
      "How?" asked Appanius.
      "He has been unfaithful to you," said a retainer.
      "He had made a fool of you, with a woman," said another.
      This remark seemed to have its effect with Appanius.
      "If this gets out, you will be a laughing stock in Ar," said another.
      I doubted this. It is natural enough for a male slave to have an eye for female slaves, and it is not unusual for a female slave to occasionally, say, find herself taken advantage of by such a fellow. — Magicians of Gor, pages 426-427.

Editor's Note

This page is an on-going project and will be updated as time allows.

 

 

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Special Note

Because of the differences in publishing the books, depending upon whether published in the U.S. or Europe, depending upon whether a first publishing or a Masquerade Books release, page numbers will often vary. All of my quotes are from original, first-printing U.S. publications (see The Books page for a listing of publishers and dates) with the exception of the following books:

  • Tarnsman of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)
  • Outlaw of Gor (11th Printing, Balantine)
  • Priest-Kings of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)
  • Assassin of Gor (10th Printing, Balantine)
  • Raiders of Gor (15th Printing, Balantine)
  • Captive of Gor (3rd Printing, Balantine)

Disclaimer

These pages are not written for any specific home, but rather as informational pages for those not able to get ahold of the books and read them yourself. Opinions and commentaries are strictly my own personal views, therefore, if you don't like what you are reading — then don't. The information in these pages is realistic to what is found within the books. Many sites have added information, assuming the existences of certain products and practices, such as willowbark and agrimony for healing, and travel to earth and back for the collection of goods. I've explored the books, the flora, the fauna, and the beasts, and have compiled from those mentioned, the probabilities of certain practices, and what vegetation mentioned in the books is suitable for healing purposes, as well as given practicalities to other sorts of roleplaying assumptions.