Cultures Within a Culture

Gor, or as it is otherwise known, the counter-earth, is positioned behind the sun and following the same orbital path of the Earth in such a way so that it is never visible to the peoples of Earth. Somewhat shy creatures, the Priest-Kings who put together this world, needed the planet to remain unknown and undiscovered. The Priest-Kings are an intelligent race of giant insects, peaceful and curious.

Gor bears many similarities to Earth, with much of the same general geological and ecological makeup, differing only enough to have its own character and wealth of indigenous organisms. With the move of the planet, likely some of the vegetation, if any, that were native before the move may not have survived the journey; or perhaps the Priest-Kings' biologists manipulated the plantlife in order to ensure their survival. While some of the plant and animal life is similar to what is found on Earth, this was surely due to the arrival of man on the planet; said creatures necessitating the survival of humankind.

The arrival of man brought them a new animal to experiment on, which they did; the Muls Al-Ka and Ba-Ta are prime examples of the experiment of genetic mutation and manipulations. Another is the ancient mankind of some world perhaps not even of earth, that were raised to be the carriers of the precious Gur. Far more intelligent than man, despite that they are in fact overgrown cockroaches, the Priest-Kings are the true masters of Gor. The Priest-Kings filled their vivaria with humankind, releasing them to the planet which serves as a large-scale vivaria. To the Priest-Kings, humankind are but low animals. Leaving mankind and other beasts alike to inhabit the world with almost no outside interference, the Priest-Kings remain hidden away in their nest in an almost unapproachable mountain range. From the safety of their nests, they study mankind much in the same way as we did when we were children with our ant farms. Species from many planets were obtained and transported to this planet called Gor by the Priest-Kings in what they rationalize as "studying for the betterment of each species."

Failed experiments? Certainly, and with little thought the Priest-Kings would terminate the existence of such. Some were evaporated to dust; others ended up in dissection chambers for their corpse to be studied. Man was no different in their eyes, and would on occasion, destroy a city simply as a statement to mankind that they were growing too fast and too bold, and to keep mankind humble before their gods.

The people of Gor are used to harsh living conditions. The various cultures that can be found on Gor is culminated from this collection of peoples over periods of time. Gor bears many similarities to earth, but they are few and minor. While the calendric time is paralleled to that of earth, that is about the only semblance of similarity of sociology between the two worlds. While allowed to advance in such things as medicine and agriculture, the people live as those of earth did in ancient times. Technology in things such as weaponry and explosives, specific forms of mechanization and industrialization, communication and transportation are limited to modest basics. Not only are the Priest-Kings controlling mankind to protect mankind from itself, but to protect themselves as well. Of course, man is always unpredictable, and when one comes along tinkering with such forbidden knowledge, the Priest-Kings have a swift way of ending such tinkering.

The arrival of their mortal enemy, the Kur, the Priest-Kings fear the end of their world. While no longer practicing the Voyages of Acquisition, human agents of the Kur have brought in fresh stock of humankind from the modern world; people who know of weapons of mass destruction, who know of technology far beyond the primitive world found on Gor. While most of the people are females, whom of course end up slaves, enough men find their way, including the Kurii agents; is this likely what the Priest-Kings refer, rather than their own lives? Perhaps. Certainly mankind has nearly killed off their mother planet of Earth. The more humans knowledged in the existence of this world, the Voyages of Kurii agents in this modern world, yes, Gor is certainly threatened of its survival.

For now, Gor remains, at least to those of modern culture, a barbaric world ruled with steel, primarily male dominated; yet it is modern humans of Earth perceived by Goreans to be the ones truly barbaric. Slavery is politically and morally correct for the Gorean peoples, not simply because it is Gor, but because of the diverse cultures brought to Gor which indeed even on Earth, slavery was acceptable. Some of the cultures you will find noticeable in this world is derived from such groups as the ancient Greeks, Romans and Arabics, as well as the Vikings, African cultures, Native Americans and Inuit. These people still live somewhat akin to their native cultures; the Arabic tribes within the Sahara-like Tahari, the ancient Norsemen within the rugged, cold Torvaldsland, the Innuit in the arctic north, the ancient nomads upon the plains of Turia, the Marsh Arabs nestled within the rence islands of the Vosk delta, and so forth. The ancient Greeks and Romans built cities mirroring their own on Earth; Ar is representative of Rome, for example.

Although an experiment, one should consider it a fairly successful experiment. Mankind has returned to finding beauty in the world he lives within. Too, left to the mere basics of life, mankind has been ingenious in developing a world that is vivid and fascinating.

 

 

*



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.