Gag
Device used on slaves to keep them silent.
The roll in my mouth then loosened a little, as I could not help struggling with it, and this, by design, caused it to expand and, secured in place, pack my entire oral orifice. "Are you well gagged?' she asked. I made a very tiny, pathetic, affirmative whimper. I could do little more. — Dancer of Gor, page 271.
Gag Law
A command often utilized whenever guards use slave girls; the girl is forbidden to speak, save for whimpering and moaning.
"When she had been used before my kennel she had been under 'gag law,' as is common when the guards use a girl, forbidden speech, save for moans and whimpers.," — Dancer of Gor, page 65.
Galley
John Norman uses this term generally in reference to the ram-ships of Gor, however he has on occasion used the term galley in reference to a smaller boat.
(a) A large, usually single-decked medieval ship of shallow draft, propelled by sails and oars, and used as a merchant ship or warship in the Mediterranean; an ancient Mediterranean seagoing vessel propelled by oars;
b) A large rowboat formerly used by British customs officers. — American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition ©2001
"A galley," I said, "a ram-ship, heavy class." — Raiders of Gor, page 167.
Galley Slaves
Generally male prisoners which labor as oarmen in the galleys of ships.
"… a galley slave … The great merchant galleys of Port Kar, and Cos, and Tyros, and other maritime powers, utilized thousands of such miserable wretches, fed on brews of peas and black bread, chained in the rowing holds, under the whips of slave masters, their lives measured by feedings and beatings, and the labor of the oar." — Hunters of Gor, page 13.
Game of Favors
A game played by free women at Carnival, which allows the free woman to somewhat announce her sexual needs and make advances to males.
"In short, the game of favors permits free women, in a socially acceptable context, by symbolic transformation, to assuage their sexual needs to at least some small extent, and, in some cases, if they wish, to make advances to interesting males." — Players of Gor, page 45.
Games of Love and War
The games in which warriors of Turia compete against warriors of the wagons peoples; the prizes are women. See also: "Love War."
Gaming Rooms
Establishments in a city in which Kaissa, and other forms of wagering games are played.
"Yes," said Portus, "but they do little-they are well paid, more than twice what was done before, but they spend the mornings in practices with arms, and the afternoons and evenings in the taverns, the gaming rooms and baths of the city." — Assassin of Gor, page 17.
Gant
A web-footed bird of the marshes; also: "Arctic Gant," "Marsh Gant" and "Jungle Gant."
"I heard a bird some forth or fifty yards to my right; it sounded like a marsh gant, a small, horned, web-footed aquatic fowl, broad-billed and broad-winged." — Raiders of Gor, page 4.
Garbage Death
A commond death for a slave in which a slave is bound naked, then thrown to canal urts; common in Port Kar.
"You are a slave girl," I told her. "No such honorable death would be yours. You would be given one of the deaths of a slave girl, who has not been pleasing. In Port Kar, doubtless, you would be given the Garbage Death — bound naked and hurled to the urts in the canals." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 313.
Garlic
Great for Warriors' blood pressure.
"I have peas and turnips, garlic and onions in my hut." — Outlaw of Gor, page 29.
Garrote
An instrument of execution, rather than a weapon.
Etymology:Spanish garrote club, garrote, probably from Middle French garrot heavy wooden projectile;
"1a) A Spanish method of execution by means of an iron collar affixed to a post and tightened by a screw until the victim is strangled; b) the instrument with which the execution is effected — before each turn of the garrotte the Greek was ordered to tell the truth — W.S.Maugham;
2a) strangulation as if with the garrote especially with robbery as the motive; b) an implement (as a length of piano wire with wooden handles) used for this purpose." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
About my throat, closely looped, was a narrow golden chain. It was controlled by two narrow wooden handles, in his hand. "It was a girl-capture chain," I said. "It is to be distinguished sharply from the standard garrote, which is armed with wire and can cut a throat easily. The standard garrote, of course, is impractical for captures, for the victim, in even a reflexive movement, might cut her own throat. — Savages of Gor, page 180.
Giani
A small cat-like panther.
In the lower branches of the "ground zone" may be found, also, small animals, such as tarsiers, nocturnal jit monkeys, black squirrels, four-toed leaf urts, jungle varts and the prowling, solitary giani, tiny, cat-sized panthers, not dangerous to man." — Explorers of Gor, page 312.
Giant Urt
Extremely large, aggressive rodent; also known as the "Pack Urt."
"Through the bodies, an urt came pressing towards me. It was a large urt, darkly furred. It had one tusk broken at the side of its jaw. It was about four feet high at the shoulder, extremely large for this type of animal. It had a silver snout." — Players of Gor, page 283.
Gieron
A rather unique allergen, which causes a yellowing of the whites of the eyes; in combination with sajel, it reproduces the symptoms of the Bazi Plague.
Gim
One of many varieties of birds found on Gor; see: "Horned Gim," "Lang Gim" and "Yellow Gim."
Gint
A freshwater fish of the rainforests.
"These tiny fish, incidentally, are called gints." — Explorers of Gor, page 300.
"I saw the large fish, one of the bulging-eyed fish we had seen earlier, a gigantic gint, or like a gigantic gint, it now having slipped over the channel's sill, disappear under the water." — Explorers of Gor, page 389.
Girl-Capture Chain
A closely looped narrow chain, controlled by two wooden handles, and fashioned after the garrote; used specifically to capture. The fineness of the chain permits the capturing of a girl without serious damage to her neck.
About my throat, closely looped, was a narrow golden chain. It was controlled by two narrow wooden handles, in his hand. "It was a girl-capture chain," I said. "It is to be distinguished sharply from the standard garrote, which is armed with wire and can cut a throat easily. The standard garrote, of course, is impractical for captures, for the victim, in even a reflexive movement, might cut her own throat. — Savages of Gor, page 180.
Girl Catch
A contest utilized at the Sardar Fairs to decide disputes between two cities; much like the Games of the Love War in that one hundred of the most beautiful girls of each city are required to participate, as well as one hundred men of each city. These contests are not utilized, however, if it is felt that honor is involved in the disagreement; such disputes are then met with steel.
"In one place, hearing a jangling of bells, I went over to a large open circle of fellows to watch a game of 'girl catch.' There are many ways in which this game, or sort of game, is played." — Magicians of Gor, page 40.
Girl-Yoke
Generally, this is a narrow piece of wood with holes drilled in the middle and at each end. A girl is secured via thongs, which are looped through each end hole and the hole at the neck, attached to both wrists and neck. See also: "Northern Yoke" and "Yoke."
"She wore an improvised girl-yoke. This consisted of a stout branch, about two inches thick. and some five feet in length, drilled at the center and near the extremities. It fits behind the back of the girl's neck. A long, single thong of rawhide fastens the girl in place. Her left wrist is thonged and then the thong is passed through the drilled aperture in the left end of the yoke. Her wrist is pulled tight to the yoke. The same thong is then taken behind the yoke and passed through the center hole, whence, after having been knotted, to prevent slippage to the left, and having been looped about the girl's neck, usually some five times, and having been knotted again, to prevent slippage to the right, it is returned through the same hole, whence it is taken behind the yoke to the hole drilled at the right-hand extremity of the apparatus. It is passed through that hole and then, of course, is used to fasten the girl's right wrist in place, tightly against the yoke. When this action is completed then, as you can see, the whole package is neatly tied. The knots near the throat and, in preventing slippage, serve two functions; they hold e girl's wrists against the yoke and, at the same time, prevent any undue stress from being placed on the throat bands. The function of the throat bands is to hold the girl's throat in the yoke, securely and perfectly, not to cause her discomfort, nor to strangle her. Gorean men are not fools in tying women. Longer yokes, such as this, incidentally, are commonly used for marches." — Savages of Gor, page 281.
Girth Cloth
Used by tharlarion breeders to wrap newly hatched tharlarions as they hatch from their eggs to avoid burning on the hot sand.
"He threw the girls feed sacks. To Tuka he gave a pair of scissors. To all of them he gave a needle and thread. The sacks were to be used to make girth cloths for the expected hatchlings." — Fighting Slave of Gor, page 262.
Gitch
Biting Insect often found in insulae.
"They are harmless, not like the gitches whose bites are rather painful. Some of them are big fellows, too. But there aren't many of them around. The frevets see to it. Achiates prides himself on a clean house." — Mercenaries of Gor, page 277.
Gladius
Latin for "sword."
Etymology: Latin, from gladius - sword; Date: 15th century.
— Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
Glana
A term which denotes the state of virginity of a female.
"The closest to the English is the distinction between 'glana' and 'metaglana.' 'Glana' denotes the state of virginity and 'metaglana' denotes the state succeeding virginity." — Savages of Gor, page 203.
"The buyers were also informed that I was 'glana,' or a virgin. The correlated term is 'metaglana,' used to designate the state to which the glana state looks forward, or that which it is regarded as anticipating. Though the word was not used of me I was also 'profalarina', which term designates the state proceeding, and anticipating, that of 'falarina,' the state Goreans seem to think of as that of being a full women, or, at least, as those of Earth might think of it, one who certainly is no longer a virgin. In both terms, 'glana' and 'profalarina', incidentally, it seems that the states they designate are regarded as immature or transitory, those of 'metaglana' or 'falarina.' Among slaves, not free women, those things are sometimes spoken of along the lines as to whether or not a girl has been "opened" for the uses of men. Other common terms, not generally of slaves, are 'white silk' and 'red silk', for girls, who have not yet been opened, or have been opened, for the uses of men, respectively." — Dancer of Gor, page 128.
Glave
Light, bladed poles used by slaves on barges to cut through the marshes. Possibly John Norman created this word from the Latin word glaive.
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, javelin, sword, modification of Latin gladius sword; Date: 15th century. — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"A punt, from the flagship, moved ahead. Two slaves stood aft in the small, square-ended, flat-bottomed boat, poling. Two other slaves stood forward with glaves, lighter poles, bladed, with which they cut a path for the following barges. That path must needs be wide enough for the beam of the barges, and the width of the stroke of the oars." — Raiders of Gor, page 69.
Glass of the Builders
A telescope. See: "Builder's Glass."
"From the stern castle of the Dorna, then, with a long glass of the builders, I observed, far across the waters, the masts of ram-ships, one by one, lowering." — Raiders of Gor, page 197.
As the beat dropped, I took out the glass of the builders and scanned the horizon." — Raiders of Gor, page 201.
"The walls were crowded, and I supposed many upon them used the long glasses of the Caste of Builders to observe the field of the stakes." — Nomads of Gor, page 113.
Gliding Urt
Inhabits the rainforests inland of Schendi; much like a flying-squirrel.
"Here, too, may be found snakes and monkeys, gliding urts, leaf urts, squirrels, climbing, long-tailed porcupines, lizards, sloths, and the usual varieties of insects, ants, centipedes, scorpions, beetles and flies, and so on." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Goat
Possibly the verr, but John Norman specifically uses the word "goat."
"Great Mintar," I spoke up, "forgive this she-tharlarion. Her father was a goat keeper by the swamp forests of Ar, and I did steal her, but she begged me to take her from the village.. As soon as we left the village, I put the bracelets on her and am taking her to Bristol, where she will tend my goats." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 122.
Goat Keeper
One who tends the goats.
The warrior laughed and slapped his thigh. "You would have me believe that she is of High Caste," he said. "She is probably the daughter of a goat keeper." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 115-116.
Gold Wire
Export from Tor, sold in rolls. The Paravaci used gold wire to display their treasures.
"There is a little market in simple Laura for the more exquisite goods of Gor. Seldom will one find there Torian rolls of gold wire…" — Captive of Gor, page 86.
Golden Beetle
Large 
beetle found in the Nest of the Priest-Kings. The beetle has a filamented, narcotic mane which serves as a lure for unsuspecting victims, such as the Priest-Kings. As the victim is anesthetized by the narcotic substance, the bettle will then pierce them with its curved, hollow, laterally moving jaw pincers, and drain them of their body fluids, feeding itself, and thereby slaying them.
"What does the Golden Beetle kill?" I asked.
"Priest-Kings," said the second slave. — Priest-Kings Gor, page 105.
Golden Eating Prong
Eating utensil indigenous to the city of Turia.
"I replaced the golden eating prong in its rack beside my place, shoved back the glittering dish in which lay several theoretically edible objects, carefully arranged by a slave to resemble a bouquet of wild flowers sprouting from a rock outcropping." — Nomads of Gor, page 86.
Golden Hith
See: "Hith."
Golden Mask
This mask, made of pure gold, was once worn by Lara, Tatrix of Tharna, before the rebellion. Lara since abolished the wearing of masks by free women.
"On the throne itself there sat a woman, proud, lofty in haughty dignity, garbed regally in majestic robes of golden cloth, wearing a mask not of silver but of pure gold, carved like the others in the image of a beautiful woman. The eyes behind the glittering mask of gold regarded me. No one need tell me that I stood in the presence of Lara, Tatrix of Tharna." — Outlaw of Gor, page 90.
… Lara had commanded that the giant mask of gold which hung behind it be pried by spears from the wall and cast to the floor at our feet. The men of Tharna watched almost in disbelief as the great mask loosened, bolt by bolt, from the wall, leaned forward and at last, dragged down by its own weight, broke loose and plunged clattering down the steps of the throne, breaking into a hundred pieces. "Let it be melted," Lara had said, "and cast into the golden tarn disks of Tharna and let these be distributed to those who have suffered in our day of troubles."
"And add to the golden tarn disks," she had exclaimed, "tarn disks of silver to be formed from the masks of our women, for henceforth in Tharna no woman may wear a mask of either gold or silver, not even though she be Tatrix of Tharna herself!" — Outlaw of Gor, page 247.
Golden Slash of the Messenger
Messengers are distinguished by a golden slash/mark on the left temple of their helmets.
"I dyed my hair black and acquired the helmet and gear of an Assassin. Across the left temple of the black helmet I fixed the golden slash of the messenger. In this disguise I freely wandered about the camp, observing the siege operations, the appointment of the compounds, the marshalling of the troops." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 176-177.
Golden Sphere
This sphere was sought fastiously by Saphar and nearly cost the life of Tarl Cabot, thusly becoming the object of Tarl Cabot's interest while he was living amongst the Wagon Peoples, in his search for the last egg of the Priest-Kings, which was hidden in the camp of the Tuchuks. This sphere was mistakenly thought by Saphrar to be of extreme value, and mistakenly thought by Tarl Cabot to be the last egg of the Priest-Kings. However, it was later discovered that this golden egg was nothing more than a tharlarion egg painted gold by the Tuchuks, making it an apt decoy from the real egg. See also: "Last Egg of the Priest-Kings."
"… the Tuchuks at this time at the time that I was among them, hoping to discover and return to Priest-Kings what I supposed to be a golden spheroid, the egg, the last hope of their race." — Nomads of Gor, page 36.
"My heart was beating with great rapidity. I had learned now, if Saphrar was correct, that the golden sphere, undoubtedly the last egg of Priest-Kings, was in the wagon of Kutaituchik, said to be Ubar of the Tuchuks. At last, if Saphrar was correct, I knew its location." — Nomads of Gor, page 93.
"I wondered if any in the camp of the Tuchuks realized how actually great indeed was the value of that golden sphere, containing undoubtedly the last hope of the people called Priest-Kings." — Nomads of Gor, page 146.
Gold[en] Tarn Disk
This coin, made of gold, is generally worth about ten (10) silver tarsks (of one of the high cities, such as Ar).
"Ten silver tarsks, usually, is regarded as the equivalent of one gold piece, of one of the high cities. … Other generally respected coins tend to be the silver tarsk of Tharna, the golden tarn disk of Ko-ro-ba, and the golden tarn of Port Kar, the latter particularly on the western Vosk, in the Tamber Gulf region, and a few hundred pasangs north and south of the Bosk's delta." — Rogue of Gor, page 155.
Gor
Literal translation: "Home Stone."
"Gor," he said, "is the name of this world. In all the languages of this planet, the word means Home Stone." He paused, noting my lack of comprehension." Home Stone," he repeated." Simply that." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 26.
Gordian Knot
A style of a complex knot; of Earth fame, Alexander the Great sliced such a knot with his sword, thusly sealing his fate. See: "Complex Knot."
1) an intricate problem; especially: a problem insoluble in its own terms — usually used in the phrase cut the Gordian knot;
2) a knot tied by Gordius, king of Phrygia, held to be capable of being untied only by the future ruler of Asia, and cut by Alexander the Great with his sword. — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006"Knot that gave its name to a proverbial term for a problem solvable only by bold action. In 333 BC, on his march through Anatolia, reached Gordium, the capital of Phrygia. There he was shown the chariot of the ancient founder of the city, Gordius, with its yoke lashed to the pole by means of an intricate knot with its end hidden. According to tradition, this knot was to be untied only by the future conqueror of Asia. In the popular account, probably invented as appropriate to an impetuous warrior, Alexander sliced through the knot with his sword, but, in earlier versions, he found the ends either by cutting into the knot or by drawing out the pole. The phrase "cutting the Gordian knot" has thus come to denote a bold solution to a complicated problem." — Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
Elizabeth then watched in silence while I, trying to recall the intricacies of my signature knot, worked the boskhide cords. At last, with a sigh, I leaned back, finished. "It is a regular Gordian Knot," she said.
"The Gordian Knot," I said, "was quite possibly just such a knot."
"Alexander," she remarked, smiling, "cut it with his sword."
"And in so doing," I laughed, "informed the entire world that the room, or whatever it was, had been entered." — Assassin of Gor, page 55.
Gorean Acclaim
Gorean way to show their approval, recognition or praise to another. To show such acclaim, a Gorean male will strike his right hand to his left shoulder.
"The crowd roared and stamped, and its men rose to their feet, shouting, pounding their right fists on their left shoulders, in Gorean acclaim." — Assassin of Gor, page 307.
Gorean Alphabet
Comprised of 28 characters, all of which owe their origin to one or another alphabets of Earth. At least six or seven are of classical Roman influence, others possibly Greek, Cretan, and Oriental. Those of the 28 letters of the Gorean alphabet mentioned in the book are: Al-Ka, Altron, Ar, Ba-Ta, Delka, Eta, Homan, Ina, Kwah, Kef, Omnion, Nu, Shu, Sidge, Tau, Tun and Val. Eta, Nu and Tau, incidentally, are the 7th, 13th and 19th letters of the Greek alphabet respectively. Gorean children are not taught the alphabet in a particular order, as say, Earth children are taught their "ABC's."
"There are 28 characters in the Gorean alphabet." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 94.
"The Gorean alphabet has twenty-eight characters, all of which, I suspect, owe their origin to one or another of the alphabets of Earth. Several show a clear-cut resemblance to Greek letters, for example. ‘Sidge', on the other hand, could be cuneiform, and ‘Tun' and ‘Val' are probably calligraphically drifted from demotic. At least six letters suggest influence by the classical Roman alphabet, and seven do, if we count ‘Kef', the first letter in ‘Kajira'. ‘Shu' is represented by a sign which seems clearly oriental in origin and ‘Homan', I speculate, may derive from Cretan. Many Gorean letters have a variety of pronunciations, depending on their linguistic context. Certain scribes have recommended adding to the Gorean alphabet new letters, to independently represent some of these sounds which, now, require alternative pronunciations, context-dependent, of given letters. Their recommendations, it seems, are unlikely to be incorporated into formal Gorean." — Explorers of Gor, pages 9-10.
"In matters such as those of the alphabet conservatism seems unshakable. For example, there is not likely to be additions or deletions to the alphabets of Earth, regardless of the rationality of such an alteration in given cases. An example of the conservatism in such matters is that Goreans, and, indeed, many of those of the Earth, are taught their alphabets in an order which bears no rational relation whatsoever to the occurrence pattern of the letters. That children should be taught the alphabet in an order which reflects the frequency of the occurrence of the letters in the language, and thus would expedite their learning, appears to be too radical and offensive an idea to become acceptable. Consider, too, for example, the opposition to an arithmetically convenient system of measurement in certain quarters on Earth, apparently because of the unwillingness to surrender the techniques of tradition, so painfully acquired so long ago." — Explorers of Gor, page 10.
"In Gorean," said Bosk, "the most frequently occurring letter is Eta… The next most frequently occurring letters in Gorean," said Bosk, "are Tau, Al-Ka, Omnion and Nu. Following these in frequency of occurrence are Ar, Ina, Shu and Homan, and so on… studies were conducted originally, at least publicly, as opposed to the presumed secret studies of cryptographers, in connection with the Sardar Fairs," said Bosk, "at meetings of Scribes concerned to standardize and simplify the cursive alphabet. Also, it was thought to have consequences for improved pedagogy, in teaching children to first recognize the most commonly occurring letters… And these innovative scribes have had little success with their proposed reforms. Yet, from their labors, various interesting facts have emerged. For example, we have learned not only the order of frequency of occurrence of letters but, as would be expected, rough percentages of occurrence as well. Eta, for example, occurs two hundred times more frequently in the language than Altron. Over forty percent of the language consists of the first five letters I mentioned, Eta, Tau, Al-Ka, Omnion and Nu … Further, over sixty percent of the language consists of those five letters plus Ar, Ina, Shu and Homan." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 384.
Gorean Applause
The applause of the Gorean differs in that the palm of the right hand strikes the left shoulder. This is true for slaves as well. However, a Gorean warrior, when applauding, clashes his weapons.
"I heard the approval of the Council, both in voice and by Gorean applause, the quick, repeated striking of the left shoulder with the palm of the right hand." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 63.
"There was some polite striking of the left shoulder with the right hand in the room, which is a common Gorean applause, though not of the warriors, who clash weapons." — Raiders of Gor, page 177.
"My retainers cried out with pleasure at my generosity, many of them striking their left shoulders with their right fists in Gorean applause." — Raiders of Gor, page 227.
"My retainers cried out with pleasure at my generosity, many of them striking their left shoulders with their right fists in Gorean applause." — Raiders of Gor, page 232.
"With the other girls I applauded, striking my left shoulder in Gorean fashion, as the mountebank put his beast through its paces." — Captive of Gor, page 104.
Gor[ean] Compass
Similar to the compasses of Earth; as the Earth compass always faces to the north, the Gor compass always faces to the Sardar Mountains; divided into eight quadrants.
"I kept my course by the luminescent dial of my Gor compass, the needle of which pointed always to the Sardar Mountain Range, home of the Priest-Kings." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 73-74.
"Like most Gor compasses, mine contained a chronometer, and I took the compass, turned it over, and pressed the tab that would snap open the back and reveal the dial." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 78.
"Had I possessed a Gorean compass, its needle would have pointed invariably to those mountains, as though to indicate the home of the Priest-Kings." — Outlaw of Gor, page 179.
"For purposes of convenience I am recounting directions in English terms, thinking it would be considerably difficult for the reader to follow references to the Gorean compass. Briefly, for those it might interest, all directions on the planet are calculated from the Sardar Mountains, which for the purposes of calculating direction play a role analogous to our north pole; the two main directions, so to speak, in the Gorean way of thinking are Ta-Sardar-Var and Ta-Sardar-Ki-Var, or as one would normally say, Var and Ki-Var; 'Var' means a turning and 'Ki' signifies negation; thus, rather literally, one might speak of 'turning to the Sardar' and 'not turning to the Sardar', something like either facing north or not facing north; on the other hand, more helpfully, the Gorean compass is divided into eight, as opposed to our four, main quadrants, or better said, divisions, and each of these itself is of course subdivided. There is also a system of latitude and longitude figured on the basis of the Gorean day, calculated in Ahn, twenty of which constitute a Gorean day, and Ehn and Ihn, which are subdivisions of the Ahn, or Gorean hour. Ta-Sardar-Var is a direction which appears on all Gorean maps; Ta-Sardar-Ki-Var, of course, never appears on a map, since it would be any direction which is not Ta-Sardar-Var. Accordingly, the main divisions of the map are Ta-Sardar-Var, and the other seven; taking the Sardar as our "north pole" the other directions, clockwise as Earth clocks move (Gorean clock hands move in the opposite direction) would be, first, Ta-Sardar-Var, then, in order, Ror, Rim, Tun, Vask (sometimes spoken of as Verus Var. or the true turning away), Cart, Klim, and Kail, and then again, of course, Ta-Sardar-Var." — Nomads of Gor, page 3 (footnote).
Gorean Dice
Unlike dice of Earth, symbols are generally painted on their surfaces to keep an even balance. Some are sold in sealed boxes bearing their cities imprint.
"The major difference, I think, between the dice Earth and those of Gor is that the Gorean dice usually have their numbers, or letters, or whatever pictures or devices are used, painted on their surfaces. It is difficult to manufacture a pair of fair dice, of course, in which the 'numbers,' two, three and so on, are represented by scooped out indentations." — Magicians of Gor, page 59.
Gorean Foot
A unit of measurement which is measured by an official "foot" at the Sardar; this "foot" is in actuality, a metal rod. Ten (10) Horts equal one (1) Gorean Foot. See also "Merchant Foot."
"The Gorean foot, interestingly, is almost identical to the Earth foot" — Raiders of Gor, page 127.
Gorean Greeting
"Tal" is the word meaning "Greetings." It is the general courtesy that when one greets, he raises his right hand to shoulder level, palm inward. See: "Tal."
"Tal!" I called, lifting my hand, palm inward, in Gorean greeting. — Nomads of Gor, page 15.
In the halls we passed many individuals, who would normally, in Gorean fashion, lift the right hand, palm inward, saying "Tal," which greeting, in turn, we returned. — Assassin of Gor, page 392.
Gorean Kite
Bird of the plains.
"Overhead a wild Gorean kite, shrilling, beat its lonely way from this place, seemingly no different from a thousand other places on these broad grasslands of the south." — Nomads of Gor, page 4.
Gorean Language Learning Device
Created by the Priest-Kings, this device teaches the Gorean language while a person sleeps.
Interestingly, Elizabeth learned to read Gorean in the Nest, and in less than an hour. Learning that she could not read the language, Kusk volunteered to teach it to Elizabeth had agreed but was startled when placed on a long table, actually of a size for a Priest-King, and found her head enclosed between two curved, intricate devices, rather like two halves of a bowl. Her head was fastened in an exact position by metal clamps. Further, that she not be terrified and attempt to struggle or leave the table, she was secured to it by several broad metal bands, plus ankle, leg, wrist and arm clips. — Assassin of Gor, page 62.
"We found, after the Nest War," Kusk informed me, "that many of our ex-slaves could not read, which is not surprising since they had been bred in the Nest and it had not been generally thought important that they have that skill. But, when they became free, many wished to learn. Accordingly we developed this device, not too difficult with the single, rather simple brain of the human, which so orders the brain that it can recognize letters, in various forms, and words. The neural dispositions which allow the human to read are of course the result of certain patterns of synaptic alignments, which are here produced without the time-consuming process of habit formation."
"In educating a Priest-King," I said, "wires were used — eight — one to each brain."
"We now dispense with wires," said Kusk, "even in the case of a Priest-King. They were used largely as a matter of tradition, but the humans of the Nest suggested refinements in the technique, leaving them to us to develop, of course." Kusk peered down at me with his antennae. "Humans, it seems," said he, "are seldom satisfied."
"Let me up," said Elizabeth. "Please." Kusk twiddled a knob, and Elizabeth said "Please," once more and then it seemed she could hardly keep her eyes open, and then she closed her eyes and was asleep.
Kusk and I discussed various matters then for about an Ahn, primarily having to do with the extent to which the surveillance and control devices of the Nest had been restored since the Nest War, the increasing role of humans in the Nest, and the difficulties of working out a set of social arrangements mutually acceptable to species so disparate. There was a tiny click and a small odor signal was emitted from the apparatus closed about Elizabeth's head. Kusk perked up his antennae and stalked over to the apparatus, switching it off. He moved back the two curved pieces, and I freed the girl of the bands and clips. She opened her eyes. "How do you feel?" I asked.
"I fell asleep," she said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes, swing her legs over the side of the table. "I'm sorry. I could not help myself."
"That is all right," I assured her.
"I'm awake now," she said. "When can we start?"
"We are finished," said Kusk, the words coming, even-spaced, from his translator. In his prehensile hooks, those on the right foreleg, he carried a sheet of plastic, on which was the Gorean alphabet, and some paragraphs in Gorean, in various scripts, some printed, some cursive. "Read it," said Kusk.
"But its Gorean," said Elizabeth. "I can't read Gorean." She looked at the page, puzzled.
"What is that sign?" I asked, pointing to one.
A look of surprise came over her face, then almost of fear. "It is Al-Ka," she said, "the first letter of the Gorean alphabet."
"Read this sentence," I suggested.
"I can't read," she said.
"Sound it out," I said.
"But I can't read," she said.
"Try," I said.
Slowly, numbly, she began to make sounds, saying what came into her head. "The-first-born-of the Mother-was Sarm …" She looked at me. "But they are only noises."
"What do they mean?" I asked.
Suddenly she cried out, gasping. "The first born of the Mother was Sarm!" she cried.
"She is a very bright human," said Kusk. "Sometime it takes a quarter of an Ahn before the initial adjustments take place, basically the recognition that the sounds they spontaneously associate with the marks are actually the words of their language. In a short time she will easily read the marks as words, and not as mere patterns associated with arbitrary sounds. Her skills will grow. With some days of practice she will read Gorean as well as most Goreans; beyond this it merely a question of interest and aptitude."
"When I look at it," said Elizabeth, excitedly, holding sheet of plastic, "I just know what the sounds are. I know!" — Assassin of Gor, pages 62-64.
Gorean Lock
The Gorean is known for his intricacy in everything, including knots and locks. There are many forms of Gorean locks, such as the Pin-Tumbler Lock, the Knife Lock, the Combination Lock, the Padlock, the Disk Lock, the Poison Lock and the Pit Lock.
"… easy to overlook in the crevices and grillwork of the commonly heavy, ornate Gorean lock." — Assassin of Gor, page 52.
Gorean Long Bow
See: "Long Bow."
Gorean Love Bow
In this, the slave is knelt, thighs spread wide, then by a master, her back is bent leaning her over backwards until her head touches the ground, displaying the "bow" of her beauty. It is not a position that a slave girl does on her own.
He then threw her, on her back, over the body, head down, of the fallen Kur. He took the two loose ends of the binding fiber and, taking them under the body of the fallen Kur, dragged her wrists, elbows bent, over and above her head; he then, bending her knees, tied one of the loose ends about her left ankle, and the other about her right. It was the Gorean love bow." — Marauders of Gor, page 261.
Gorean Map
At times in the books, John Norman makes note that there are very few maps of Gor. Of those that exist, however, the directional values are the same, moving in a clockwise direction.
"Ta-Sardar-Var is a direction which appears on all Gorean maps; Ta-Sardar-Ki-Var, of course, never appears on a map, since it would be any direction which is not Ta-Sardar-Var. Accordingly, the main divisions of the map are Ta-Sardar-Var, and the other seven; taking the Sardar as our "north pole" the other directions, clockwise as Earth clocks move (Gorean clock hands move in the opposite direction) would be, first, Ta-Sardar-Var, then, in order, Ror, Rim, Tun, Vask (sometimes spoken of as Verus Var. or the true turning away), Cart, Klim, and Kail, and then again, of course, Ta-Sardar-Var." — Nomads of Gor, page 3.
Gorean Master
The Free Male of Gor; often owning slaves for labor and pleasure.
"Perhaps it should only be added that the Gorean master, though often strict, is seldom cruel. The girl knows, if she pleases him, her lot will be an easy one. She will almost never encounter sadism or wanton cruelty, for the psychological environment that tends to breed these diseases is largely absent from Gor. This does not mean that she will not expect to be beaten if she disobeys, or fails to please her master. On the other hand, it is not too unusual a set of compartments on Gor where the master, in effect, willingly wears the collar, and his lovely slave, by the practice of the delightful wiles of her sex, with scandalous success wheedles her way triumphantly from the satisfaction of one whim to the next." — Outlaw of Gor, page 53.
"Gorean men are not easy with their slaves, even those for whom they care deeply." — Explorers of Gor, page 15.
Gorean Midnight
The last Ahn (hour) of a full day/night cycle.
"… at the twentieth Gorean hour, or midnight…" — Tarnsman of Gor, page 69.
Gorean Month
Commonly, the Gorean month consists of twenty-five (25) days, five (5) five-day weeks; there are twelve (12) Gorean months in a year.
"It was one day to Thentis by tarn, but in the wagon we knew the trip would take perhaps the better part of one of the twenty-five day Gorean months. There are twelve twenty-five day Gorean months, incidentally, in most of the calendars of the various cities. Each month, containing five five-day weeks, is separated by a five-day period, called the Passage Hand, from every other month, there being one exception to this, which is that the last month of the year is separated from the first month of the year, which begins with the Vernal Equinox, not only by a Passage Hand, but by another five-day period called the Waiting Hand …" — Assassin of Gor, page 78.
Gorean Oar
Used to propel the mighty ships and boats that sail the Thassa.
"A thirty-foot Gorean oar, the most inboard oar, would commonly weigh thirty stones, or about one hundred and twenty pounds. The length and weight of these oars would make their operation impractical were it not for the fact that each of them, on its inboard end, is weighted with lead." — Raiders of Gor, page 194.
Gorean Peach
See: "Peach."
"The fruit — grapes and peaches of some sort — was fresh and as cold as mountain snow." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 22.
"The girl lifted her head then and timidly lifted the ripe, rounded fruit which she held in her hands. Gorean peaches and plums, to me." — Rogue of Gor, pages 194.
Gorean Pear
No mention is made in the books as to the nature of the plantlife which bears a yellow fruit; most likely a tree.
"In her hand there was a half of a yellow Gorean pear, the remains of a half moon of verr cheese imbedded in it." — Explorers of Gor, page 62.
• Gorean Phalanx
Military tactic which became obsolete for the most part with the introduction of the Torian Squares.
Phalanx
Etymology: Latin phalang-, phalanx, from Greek, battle line, digital bone, literally, log;
"A body of heavily armed infantry in ancient Greece formed in close deep ranks and files; broadly: a body of troops in close array." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2006.
"A close-formed military formation is difficult to maintain over rough terrain. Indeed, the Torian Squares, which I have mentioned, common among Gorean infantries, with their superior mobility and regrouping capacities, had, long ago, made the phalanxes of such cities as Ar and, in the south, Turia, obsolete." — Assassin of Gor, page 343.
Gorean Pike
A small carnivorous river fish.
"If it were a school of fifteen-inch Gorean pike, for example, I might kill dozens and yet die half eaten within minutes." — Nomads of Gor, page 206.
Gorean Plum
No mention is made in the books as to the nature of the plantlife which bears a fruit by this name.
"From the garment, to the sand about her ankles, there fell several small Gorean plums…" — Hunters of Gor, page 92.
Gorean Python
Large constrictor, more commonly known on Gor as the "Hith."
"After dark, various serpents seek out the road for its warmth, its stones retaining the sun's heat longer than the surrounding countryside. One such serpent was the huge, many-banded Gorean python, the hith." — Outlaw of Gor, page 26.
Gorean Salute
The Gorean salute is performed by lifting the right hand, palm facing inward.
We acknowledged the salute, lifting our right hands, palm inward. "Very well," said he, grinning, and lifted his right hand in Gorean salute." — Nomads of Gor, page 277.
Gorean Script
The manner in which the language is written.
"… in Gorean script, moving from left to right, and then from right to left on alternate lines. The writing was quite legible. It was written in black ink, probably with a reed pen. This again suggested the delta of the Vosk." — Nomads of Gor, page 50.
Gorean Shark
Many varieties of this carnivorous fish, found in both the sea and the rivers.
"… Gorean sharks, probably descendants of Earth sharks placed experimentally in Thassa millennia ago by Priest-Kings." — Nomads of Gor, page 205.
"Upon occasion, and it had happened early in Se'Kara this year, the arena is flooded and a sea fight is staged, the waters for the occasion being filled with a variety of unpleasant sea life, water tharlarion, Vosk turtles, and the nine gilled Gorean shark, the latter brought in tanks on river barges up the Vosk, to be then transported in tanks on wagons across the margin of desolation to Ar for the event." — Assassin of Gor, page 190.
Gorean Shaving Knife
For removing unwanted facial hair; small, straight-bladed knife.
"Beside her, on the floor, rested a laver of polished bronze, filled with water, a towel and a straight-bladed Gorean shaving knife. I rubbed my chin. She had shaved me as I slept." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 34.
Gorean Short Sword
Gorean Slave Whip
The five bladed whip used to discipline slaves.
"Then she screamed with pain, throwing back her head, as the lash of the five-strap Gorean slave whip cut into her back." — Raiders of Gor, page 110.
Gorean Spear/War Spear
Favored weapon of tarnsmen; long, thrusting weapon which is also thrown. See also: "Lance."
Gorean Stone
A unit of measurement equal to four (4) earth pounds.
"… each in turn going to a long table whereon were placed many pairs of scales, and each at that table was weighed out four Gorean stone of gold, about six Earth pounds …" — Nomads of Gor, page 310.
Gorean Surrender
On Gor, should one give up the battle, or surrender, he would break his shield straps and the shaft of his spear, thus indicating that he is disarming himself, and placing himself at the mercy of the victor.
"In surrender, on the other hand, the shield straps and the shaft of the spear are broken, indicating that the vanquished has disarmed himself and places himself at the mercy of the conqueror." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 187.
Gorean Truce
A putting aside of weapons, halting a battle to request a military parley or conference, the one calling the truce placing his shield and spear at his feet.
"… raised a shield and then set it at his feet. He then raised a spear and set it, like the shield, at his feet. This gesture is a military convention employed by commanders of Gor when calling for a parley or conference. It signifies a truce, literally the temporary putting aside of weapons." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 187.
Gorean Year
Commonly, the Gorean year consists of twelve (12) twenty-five (25) day months.
"It was one day to Thentis by tarn, but in the wagon we knew the trip would take perhaps the better part of one of the twenty-five day Gorean months. There are twelve twenty-five day Gorean months, incidentally, in most of the calendars of the various cities." — Assassin of Gor, page 78.
Gorean Week
Commonly, the Gorean week consists of five (5) days; five (5) five-day weeks in a Gorean month.
"There are twelve twenty-five day Gorean months, incidentally, in most of the calendars of the various cities. Each month, containing five five-day weeks, is separated by a five-day period, called the Passage Hand, from every other month, there being one exception to this, which is that the last month of the year is separated from the first month of the year, which begins with the Vernal Equinox, not only by a Passage Hand, but by another five-day period called the Waiting Hand…" — Assassin of Gor, page 78.
Gorean Weight
A unit of measurement; ten (10) Stone equal one (1) Weight.
"A weight is some ten stone, or some forty Earth pounds." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 37.
Gort
Hook-billed bird of the rainforests.
"In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like the grub borer and lang gim." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Gourds
Unspecified gourds; mention of the gourd in the following quote sounds like a type of yellow squash.
Etymology: Middle English gourde, from Middle French, from Latin cucurbita, probably of non-Indo-European origin like Latin cucumer-, cucumis cucumber;
"1a (chiefly Britain) : a cucurbitaceous fruit (as a cucumber, watermelon, or squash);
b(1): any of numerous hard-rinded inedible usually large fruits (as a bottle gourd) of vines of the genus Lagenaria extensively used for vessels and utensils — called also calabash;
b(2): any of numerous hard-rinded inedible small fruits derived from a natural variety of the pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) — called also ornamental gourd;
2: a cucurbitaceous plant whose fruits are gourds;
3: any of various hard-rinded fruits (as of the calabash tree) resembling or used like gourds;
4: a cleaned dried shell of a gourd used as a dipper or water bottle." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"Then she took a long draught of water from a yellow, curved gourd… she put the plug, carved from gourd stem, back in the gourd, and replaced it in the corner." — Raiders of Gor, page 34.
Grain Basket
Large baskets found in marketplaces in the Tahari which hold grain for sale.
"I passed a fellow inlaying wood, and the shop of a silversmith, and stalls filled with baskets, some of which, grain baskets, were large enough to hold a man." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 50.
Grain Cylinder
Silos which store vast amounts of grains.
Within the city the Initiates, who had seized control shortly after the flight of Marlenus, would have already tapped the siege reservoirs and begun to ration the stores of the huge grain cylinders. A city such as Ar, properly commanded, might withstand a siege for a generation." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 181.
Grain Scale
Scales used to weigh grains.
She had even been thrown on a grain scale and weighed." — Explorers of Gor, page 66.
Granting Quarter
The Gorean practice between warriors, during a death-dual, in which the one who is the obvious victor, grants quarter, or, offers the other a chance to give up the battle, by gesturing to the ground with his weapon. If his opponent accepts quarter, he will then lay his weapon on the stones of the victor's feet. Such for a warrior to accept quarter, is seen as disgrace in the Codes of the Warriors.
"Once I stepped back, gesturing to the ground with my sword, the symbolic granting of quarter should it be desired. But Kazrak would not lay his sword on the stones at my feet." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 117.
Grasshoppers
Hopping pests; on Gor a red variety is found.
"A grasshopper, red, the size of a horned gim, a small, owllike bird, some four ounces in weight, common in the northern latitudes, had leaped near the fire, and disappeared into the brush." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 293.
Gratis Blow
The final strike of a whip during a slave's initial whipping to remind her that she is a slave. See also: "Last Blow" and "Mnemonic Blow."
"I then stood behind her, and to her left, I grasped the handle of the slave whip with two hands. Then again, with unrestrained force, the hardest blow of all, was she struck. She cried out in pain. Then, again, sobbing, she hung in the bracelets, a whipped slave. This last blow is often, though not invariably, added to a slave's whipping. It is sometimes referred to as the gratis blow, or the mnemonic blow. Often it functions as little more than a stroke for, say, good measure. To be sure, whatever its purpose, it makes it very clear to the slave that she is fully under discipline, and that the master may, if he wishes, beat her how, when and as much as he pleases." — Guardsman of Gor, page 205.
Gravitationally Resistant Metal
Special metal created by the Priest-Kings.
"Surely you have noted the unusual lightness of the transportation disk for its size?" he asked.
"Yes," I said.
"It is," he said, "built with a partially gravitationally resistant metal."
"On your old world," said Misk, "gravity is still as unexplored a natural phenomenon as electricity and magnetism once were, and yet you have mastered to some extent those phenomena-and we Priest-Kings have to some extent mastered gravity." — Priest-Kings of Gor, pages 239-240.
Gray Robe
The Tuchuk dais. See: "Dais."
"His wagon," smiled Kamchak, "is the First Wagon and it is Kutaituchik who sits upon the gray robe."
"The gray robe?" I asked.
"That robe," said Kamchak, 'which is the throne of the Ubars of the Tuchuks." — Nomads of Gor, page 32."… I saw that beneath Kutaituchik, over these rugs, had been spread a simple, worn, tattered robe of gray boskhide. It was upon this simple robe that he sat. It was undoubtedly that of which Kamchak had spoken, the robe upon which sits the Ubar of the Tuchuks, that simple robe which is his throne." — Nomads of Gor, page 43.
Grease Bucket
A narrow, cylindrical bucket that serves as common accessories for wagons of Gor.
"In the wagon ahead, briefly illuminated, I saw, swinging from its strap, slung over a hook on the rear axle housing, a narrow, cylindrical, capped 'grease bucket,' the handle of the brush protruding through the hole in the cap." — Renegades of Gor, page 19.
Grease Marking Stick
A grease pen; used at sales of animals. See also: "Marking Stick."
"The auctioneer was now calling off her measurements, and her collar, and wrist and ankle-ring size. He had jotted these down on her back with a red-grease marking stick." — Explorers of Gor, page 38.
[The] Great Block
The auction block which means, to a slave girl, being sold to great wealth and a luxurious life.
"The major auction house, the Curulean, contains the great block. It is a great mark of prestige among slave girls to be selected for sale from the great block in the Curulean, and girls tend to compete viciously among themselves for this honor. To be sold from the Curulean great block is almost a guarantee of a rich master, and a luxurious pleasant life, though it be, of course, only that of a slave. As at many of the larger markets, there are Musicians near the block, and a girl is given enough time to present herself well." — Assassin of Gor, page 112.
Great Bow
Favored weapon of the peasants, a large, heavy bow made of Ka-la-na wood, with bow-string of hemp and silk.
Great Dance
The pole dance is performed by young men of the red savages in which he demonstrates his manhood, and thusly his worth to be a man and have a wife.
"After the hunt," said Cuwignaka, "the great dance will be held."
I had to walk quickly to keep up with Cuwignaka. "Where are you going now?" I asked Cuwignaka.
"To see the cutting of the pole," he said.
"Where does this take place?" I asked. I did not understand what was going on.
"This year it is only three pasangs from camp," he said.
"I do not understand," I said.
"This year," Cuwignaka, "I am going to dance. I am going to show them I am a man."
"The pole," I said, "is used in this dance?"
"Of course," said Cuwignaka.
— Savages of Gor, page 31.
"Who will select the pole?" I asked.
"The medicine chief of the dance," said Cuwignaka. …
"Who will cut down this pole," I asked, "chieftains?"
"No," laughed Cuwignaka. "How little you understand these things!" I shrugged. "Do you not understand the meaning of the pole?"
"No," I said.
"It is a pole," said Cuwignaka, "a great pole."
"Yes?" I said.
"Who, then, must begin its preparation for the great manhood dance?" asked Cuwignaka.
"I do not know," I said.
"A captive female," said Cuwignaka.
— Savages of Gor, page 32.
Great Staff
Another favored weapon of the peasant-folk.
Green
Not only the caste color of the Physicians, but to mariners, green is a color associated with the pirates of Gor.
"Green, on Thassa, is the color of pirates. Green hulls, sails, oars, even ropes. In the sun reflecting off the water, green is a color most difficult to detect on the gleaming Thassa. The green ship, in the bright sun, can be almost invisible." — Raiders of Gor, page 190.
[The] Green Tarn
Paga tavern in Ar.
"I know a good tavern," said he, "which favors the Greens. Many of the faction eat and drink there after the races."
"Good," I said. "I am hungry and would drink. Take me to this place."
The tavern, like the Capacian Baths, was within fair walking distance of the stadium. It was called, appropriately enough, the Green Tarn, and the proprietor was a genial fellow, bald and red-nosed, called Kliimus. The Pleasure Slaves who served wore green Pleasure Silk, and the tops of the tables and the walls were also painted green; even the curtains on the alcoves by one wall were green. About the walls, here and there, were lists and records, inked on narrow boards; there were also, here and there, hanging on the walls, some memorabilia, such as saddle rings and tarn harnesses, suitably labeled as to their origin; there were also representations of tarns and some drawings of famous riders, who had brought victory to the Greens. — Assassin of Gor, page 167.
Green Ubar
Famed racing tarn of Ar; brought out of retirement, he died in a race during the fall of Cernus.
Mip was fondling the beak of one bird, an older bird I gathered. It was reddish brown; the crest was flat now; the beak a pale yellow, streaked with white. "This is Green Ubar," said he, scratching the bird's neck. I had heard of the bird. It had been famous in Ar a dozen years ago. It had won more than one thousand races. Its rider, one of the great ones in the tradition of the greens, had been Melipolus of Cos. — Assassin of Gor, page 170.
"Suddenly Green Ubar, in the flash of the wings and the cries of the riders passing him, righted himself and with a cry of rage and pain burst toward the rings… Then the bird, which had in its time won a thousand races and more, addressed itself again to that fierce and familiar path in the Stadium of Tarns. It was Green Ubar as I had heard speak of him, Green Ubar of the legends, Green Ubar as he had been in the stories told by men who had seen him years before, Green Ubar, greatest of the racing tarns, holder of awards, victorious, triumphant." — Assassin of Gor, pages 358-359.
[The] Greens
Racing (tarn) faction in Ar.
"By this time there were four or five other individuals gathered about, besides myself, to observe the play. There was a Builder, two Saddle Makers, a Baker, and a Tarn Keeper, a fellow who wore on his shoulder a green patch, indicating he favored the Greens." — Assassin of Gor, page 32.
"This house itself," said Cernus, "is allied with the faction of the Greens, as certain other houses, and various of the establishments of the city, are associated with other factions."
"I know," I said, "that the House of Cernus is allied with the Greens." …
"It is unlikely though," said Cernus, "for those who favor the Greens are numbered in the thousands and come from all the castes of Gor. The Administrator of Ar himself, and the High Initiate, are partisans of the green." — Assassin of Gor, pages 43-44.
Ground Urt
This rodent inhabits the floor of the rainforests inland of Schendi.
"In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as ground urts…" — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Ground Zone
Literally, the floor of the rainforest. This ecological zone extends from the ground to the lower canopies, approximately sixty feet (60') in height. It is home to a great variety of reptiles, insects, mammals and birds.
"The first zone extends from the ground to the beginning of the canopies above, some sixty feet in height, Gorean measure. We may perhaps, somewhat loosely, speak of this first zone as the 'floor,' or, better, 'ground zone,' of the rain forest. … In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like the grub borer and lang gim. Along the river, of course, many other species of birds may be found, such as jungle gants, tufted fishers and ring-necked and yellow-legged waders. Also in the ground zone are varieties of snake, such as the ost and hith, and numerous species of insects. … In the lower branches of the 'ground zone' may be found, also, small animals, such as tarsiers, nocturnal jit monkeys, black squirrels, four-toed leaf urts, jungle varts and the prowling, solitary giani, tiny, cat-sized panthers, not dangerous to man. On the floor itself are also found several varieties of animal life, in particular marsupials, such as the armored gatch, and rodents, such as slees and ground urts. Several varieties of tarsk, large and small, also inhabit this zone. More than six varieties of anteater are also found here, and more than twenty kinds of small, fleet, single-horned tabuk. On the jungle floor, as well, are found jungle larls and jungle panthers, of diverse kinds, and many smaller catlike predators." — Explorers of Gor, pages 311-312.
Grub Borer
Bird of the rainforests.
"In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like the grub borer and lang gim." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Grunt
Fish found in the Thassa and some fresh water rivers.
"In it, as had been demonstrated, by the hurling of a haunch of tarsk into the waters, crowded and schooling, were thousands of blue grunt." — Explorers of Gor, page 432.
Guernon Monkey
Found in the rainforests.
"We could hear the chattering of guernon monkeys about." — Explorers of Gor, page 307.
Gunni
Training devices used by arena fighters, slave and free, for muscle strengthening.
"On my hands I wore the gunni, training devices, curved weights of lead, several pounds heavy, with handles, cushioned with cloth." — Fighting Slave of Gor, page 239.
Gur
The thin, white honey-like liquid secreted in the Nest by a large, grey domesticated arthropod which feeds on Sim Plants (see Flora and Fauna page). This special Gur is then fermented in the stomachs of specially chosen Priest-Kings, and ritually fed to the Mother of the Nest on the Feast of Tola.
Gur Carriers
Mutated, spider-like Muls who can climb walls and who gather the fermented Gur for the Feast of Tola.
Gur Ceremony
During the Feast of Tola, the ceremony performed by the Priest-Kings of feeding Gur to the Mother of all Priest-Kings.
Gurdo
The layered, ventral membrane which is shielded by porous plating, which is common amongst many of the marine predators of Gor.
"… gurdo, the layered, ventral membrane, shielded by porous plating, of several of the marine predators" — Nomads of Gor, page 205.
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.