History of Gor (Luther)

From Luther Scroll Archives

The Gorean novels present a fictional history of Gor that extends back a couple million years. This scroll shall explore the events on that timeline, adding some analysis and comparisons to Earth history when applicable. Some of the events on this timeline have very nebulous dates so their position on the timeline is only supposition. This timeline does not contain every event mentioned in the books, just many of the major ones. Additional events may be added in the future, especially if new books are ever published.

The Mother of the Priest-Kings, alive at the time of Priest-Kings of Gor, was the oldest known being on Gor. She was over two million years old though she died during the events of Priest-Kings of Gor. Her first five children became the High Council of the Nest. Sarm was the First Born and Misk was the Fifth Born. Misk was hatched, over two million years ago, before Gor was brought to our solar system. Only Sarm and Misk would still be alive by the events of Priest-Kings of Gor. It is unknown when the other three Priest-Kings died though it is known they succumbed to the lure of the Golden Beetle.

Around two million years ago, the Priest-Kings brought the planet of Gor to our solar system. Gor was brought from another solar system, possibly from another galaxy even. Gor has been transported before but we know nearly nothing of that distant past. Obviously transporting an entire planet, inhabited as well, is a monumental technological achievement. This speaks much of the power of the Priest-Kings at that time. Why they chose to settle in our solar system is a mystery. We do not know what attracted them. We do not know what they required of a solar system before they would settle there.

At that time period on Earth, Homo Habilis, a primitive precursor to Homo Sapien, walked the world. Homo habilis, the "handy man," presented a key point in evolution. It had a larger brain than its ancestors and it was able to create and use tools. Civilization though was still a very long time away. Maybe the Priest-Kings were seeking a place where no other sophisticated, intelligent life existed. Maybe they sought a place in its beginnings, a place they could help direct and control.

We know the Priest-Kings brought with them to our solar system certain species of creatures, some sentient such as the Swamp Spiders. We do not know what type of civilization the Swamp Spiders might have had over the last two million years. They may have once covered much of Gor, roaming far and wide. We do not know if they evolved or changed at all during this time. They are now pacifists but we do not know if once they were more aggressive creatures that became pacifists over time. We do not know what other creatures may have existed on Gor during that time that maybe now are extinct. As the time of the dinosaurs on Earth had already been long past by this time, no dinosaurs could have been transported to Gor.

We do not know exactly when the Priest-Kings began transplanting plants and animals from Earth to Gor. We also do not know if the Priest-Kings transplanted any Gorean plants or animals onto Earth. These are matters we will never know. We also are unsure what part the Priest-Kings may have played in the evolution of man. Did they somehow interfere in man's natural evolution to create mutations to speed up the evolutionary process? Where did man originate, Gor or Earth?

Anthropoidal fossils have been found on Gor that leads to the possibility that man could have developed independently on Gor. Thus, it is possible that these men could have been sent to Earth to develop and evolve. Though we know as a fact that many men would be eventually brought to Gor from Earth, there is still the possibility that some Goreans have no Earth blood at all. In the present day, it is unlikely that any pure blooded Goreans exist as so many Earth people have been brought to Gor that the bloodlines have probably been well mixed.

For the last one million years, no Priest-King has killed another Priest-King. This would change during the War of the Nest in Priest-Kings of Gor.

About one hundred thousand years ago, the Kurii civilization began. They originated on a planet orbiting a yellow, medium-sized and slow-rotating star. After two billion years of evolution, the kurii had emerged as the dominant species on their world. The pinnacle of their civilization was about forty thousand years ago. At that time, they possessed very advanced technology, far greater than what they presently possess. But, over twenty thousand years ago, the kurii fought internecine wars, very destructive wars among themselves. Much of their technology was destroyed and lost during these wars. They also ruined the viability of their world so they needed to locate a new planet to inhabit.

After these great wars, the remnants of technology they still possessed was sufficient to create interstellar spaceships, steel orbs, each several pasangs in diameter. They piloted these ships to other stars seeking a new world to claim as their own. We know that one group of Kurii entered our solar system about twenty thousand years ago, before man on Earth had begun civilization. We are unsure if other groups of Kurii settled into other solar systems. We do not know the details of the first encounter between the ships of the Priest-Kings and those of the Kurii but we can be sure it was not peaceful. The Kurii are an aggressive race and the Priest-Kings are very possessive of both Earth and Gor. The war between the Kurii and Priest-Kings has continued through the many centuries.

We know that the Kurii have been driven from our solar system eleven times but they always return. We do not know why the Kurii have continued to fight this losing battle for thousands of years. Why don't they simply seek another solar system? Maybe their fuel for their spaceships is scarce and they do not possess sufficient power to travel to other solar systems. Maybe our solar system possesses something unique that they desire. Maybe there are few solar systems that possess viable planets that would fit their physiology. Their technological might is not a match for the Priest-Kings and probably will never be as technological research does not appear to be a high priority for the Kurii.

The city of Ar is said to been the oldest civilized community on Gor, over 10,000 years old. The calendar of Ar dates back to the city's mythical founding by Hesius. Hesius may be the same individual as Hersius. Hersius is the Gorean name for the planet Jupiter and was once a legendary hero of Ar. It is unclear if Hesius and Hersius are two different people or not. The Home Stone of Ar is said to be as old as the founding of Ar. The founding of Ar would coincide with the invention of agriculture on Earth. Earth civilization would still be a couple thousand years away. Now, we do not know if Ar is actually that old or not. It may only be a myth and it may be a few thousand years younger. I believe it makes more sense that Gorean and Earth civilization paralleled each other so both may have developed civilization about 8000 years ago.

Priest-Kings are usually sexless. Only the Mother of the Priest-Kings is a female. During the last 6000 years, only a single female egg had been hatched. Sarm had previously destroyed all of the other female eggs. In the last 8000 years, only a single male egg has been hatched.

It is clear the Voyages of Acquisition, when the Priest-Kings would bring men from earth to Gor date back nearly to the beginning of Earth civilization. There is no rhyme or reason as to which Earth people were taken. There are Earth civilizations that are not represented on Gor. Why were they passed over? What did they lack that the Priest-Kings sought in others? Or are there other civilizations on Gor but located in the unexplored regions of Gor? For example, is there a Japanese culture somewhere on Gor? Could it be located past the World's End, that part of Thassa that is unknown?

Based on the civlization of Gor, we can see that ancient Greece and Rome apparently had the greatest impact on the cities of Gor. This would make it logical that the Priest-Kings made the most Voyages of Acquisition about two thousands years ago, during the historical period of ancient Greece and Rome. The other cultures of Gor can also be somewhat dated as to their arrival on Gor. Torvaldslanders are similar to the Earth Vikings and the Torvaldsland calendar in Marauders of Gor states it is year 1006 by their reckoning. This would follow the historical period of the Earth Vikings. The Red Savages of the Barrens are similar to the Native Americans of North America. They have a Memory of a hatred of white men so they would have had to be brought to Gor sometime after the first white explorers came to North America. Thus, the Red Savages may have been brought to Gor roughly 300-400 years ago.

One important question then arises of why the Priest-Kings chose to monitor only Gor and leave Earth free to develop on its own. The small number of Priest-Kings may have prohibited them from properly monitoring two worlds at once. They may also have wanted Earth to be a control for their experiment on Gor, to see what man would become if left unfettered to develop. Whatever their reasons, they are not pleased with the progress of Earth. They even believe that the Earth will destroy itself in 1000 years. Yet, they still protect the Earth from the predations of the Kurii.

During the last ten thousand years on Gor, only the last fifty years are documented to any sufficient degree in the novels. Some prior historical events are mentioned but often not given specific dates.

The Slave Wars occurred at some indeterminate time in the past, likely quite some time ago. The Slave Wars were a series of wars, between various cities, that occurred off an on for a period over a period of twenty to forty years. The wars involved large-scale slaving, levying of tribute and trade route control. The importance of these wars was that much of the law concerning slavery originated as a result. The Slave Wars occurred basically in the northern hemisphere of Gor but in the southern hemisphere there were the Kailla Wars. We do not know if these Wars occurred in the same time frame or not. The Kaiila Wars were fought among the different tribes of the Wagon Peoples. Though the acquisition of kaiila was the primary reason for the Wars, the acquisition of slaves became an important side benefit. The Wagon People began to appreciate the idea of owning slaves and their slave ownership grew more prevalent.

The most common calendar used on Gor is the calendar of Ar. The calendar of Ar is reckoned as "Contasta Ar" which means from the founding of Ar. It is the calendar I will use primarily to describe the events depicted in the Gorean series. Other calendars are used by the different cities of Gor but the Ar calendar is the most widely used. We can try to equate the Ar calendar to our own Earth calendar but we cannot be precise as there is insufficient information in the books to do so. Logically, we can narrow it down to within a two to three year span.

The events of Tarnsman of Gor started during 10,109 C.A., during February on Earth. The book was published on Earth in December 1966. According to Outlaw of Gor, Harrison Smith, a friend of Tarl Cabot, received the manuscript for Tarnsman of Gor just after Tarl Cabot returned to Gor the second time, in 10116 C.A., again in February. The Gorean New Year begins in March. Harrison Smith brought this manuscript to John Norman to publish. It normally takes at least a year or two to get a book published.

If we assume the book was published in less than a year, which is unlikely, then Outlaw of Gor would have begun in 1966. That would then place the start of Tarnsman of Gor in 1959. But, it would make more sense that the book took longer than a year to be published, based on normal publishing standards at that time. Thus, we should push back the time frame a year so that Tarnsman of Gor actually began in 1958. Potentially, if the manuscript had serious problems getting published, we might have to push the date back further to 1957. My personal preference would be 1958 as I assume it would take longer than one year to get published but not more than two. In the rest of this scroll, I will use this estimate to translate Gorean years. Though Gorean years and Earth years are the same length, they do begin at different times. Gorean years go from spring equinox to spring equinox. Thus, the Gorean year of 10110 C.A, would encompass the Earth time period of March 1958 to March 1959.

During the 1300s A.D. (about 9451 C.A. to 9551 C.A), Matthew Cabot was born. We do not have a more specific date, knowing only that he was brought to Gor over 600 years ago, possibly when he was in his 40s.

During the 1500s A.D. (about 9651 C.A. to 9751 C.A.), Matthew Cabot began to first work for the Priest-Kings.

On February 3, 1640 A.D., (8469 C.A.), Matthew Cabot wrote a letter that would eventually be delivered to Tarl Cabot, over three hundred years in the future.

We do not have an exact age for Tarl Cabot though he is said to be in his early 20s and not more than 25 years old. He did attend a University in England so it is likely he is not just 20 or 21 years old. He does become a college professor though so may have gotten his Masters after University. I will suppose that he was 25 years old when he was first brought to Gor. This would make his year of birth around 1933. His father, Matthew Cabot, would vanish before Tarl Cabot was six years old. His mother would die when Tarl was six, around 1939.

Around 10098 C.A. (around 1947 A.D.), a Valley War ended on Gor. The war involved the city of Ar against unknown foes. There are no real details of this war but it would coincide timewise in some respects with Earth's Second World War. In the Valley War, Marlenus seized power in Ar as a Ubar. After the war, Marlenus refused to step down as Ubar but luckily many people supported him and permitted him to remain in power. Marlenus had major plans for the expansion of Ar.

Around 10108 C.A., (around 1957 A.D.), Matthew Cabot became the Administrator of Ko-ro-ba. He was once its Ubar and it is unsure if this occurred directly before he became Administrator.

In 1957, Tarl Cabot would begin a job as an English history teacher in a small college in New Hampshire. During the Christmas vacation, Tarl would go camping in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. On Febrary 3, 1958, Tarl Cabot was first taken to Gor, by a spaceship of the Priest-Kings. Thus begins the events of Tarnsman of Gor that will continue on into 10110 C.A. When Tarl arrives on Gor, it would be the 11th month of 10109 C.A. Tarl Cabot would reunite with his father and receive training both as a Warrior and all about Gorean society. This training would last several months, into 10110 C.A.

During the Planting Feast of Sa-Tarna, celebrated early in the growing season of Ar, Tarl steals the Home Stone of Ar. Marlenus, Ubar of Ar, humiliated for this great loss, must flee the city and the Initiate Caste takes control of Ar. Later, the Master Assassin Pa-Kur assembles a mighty army to try to conquer Ar. His army besieges Ar and the Initiates eventually surrender to Pa-Kur. His reign is short lived though as Tarl Cabot, Marlenus and armies from Ko-ro-ba and Thentis, successfully retake the city. Tarl and Pa-Kur duel and Tarl defeats him. Rather than be captured, Pa-Kur leaps off a high cylinder, obstensibly to his death. But, Pa-Kur's body is never found and its whereabouts are never confirmed. The Warrior Kazrak is made the temporary Administrator of Ar while Marlenus is exiled. Tarl is joined in Free Companionship to Talena, the daughter of Marlenus. But, Tarl is then returned to Earth, against his will, in September 1959, seven months after his arrival on Gor. Tarl does not understand why the Priest-Kings returned him to Earth.

Around 10114 C.A., Ar's Station is established by the city of Ar as an outpost and trading station on the southern shore of the Vosk River. Ar does this in an attempt to extend its influence over the important Vosk River. Ar is battling Cos and Tyros for influence over the Vosk River communities.

Tarl spends several years on Earth, yearning to return to Gor. Finally, on February 3, 1965, Tarl is once again taken to Gor by agents of the Priest-Kings. This begins the events of Outlaw of Gor, which start in the 11th month of 10116 C.A. and eventually end in 10117 C.A., before the fair of En'Kara. Tarl discovers that the city of Ko-ro-ba, the place of his Home Stone, has been destroyed by the will of the Priest Kings. Tarl chooses to confront the Priest Kings in the mysterious Sardar Mountains to get an explanation for their actions. On route to the Sardar, he stops in the city of Tharna to purchase a tarn. Tharna is a city ruled by women, led by a Silver Masked Tatrix. Tarl ends up accused of plotting against the Tatrix and is enslaved, to be used in their gladiatorial games. Tarl is able to escape, kidnapping the Tatrix as well. While Tarl and the Tatrix are away, Dorna, a powerful woman in Tharna, seizes power of the throne. She captures Tarl when he tries to ransom the Tatrix back to Tharna and he is once again made a slave, though this time to work in the silver mines. Tarl is able once again to escape, this time freeing many of the other mine slaves. The slaves then lead a rebellion in the city and the Silver Masked women in power are overthrown. Dorna is able to escape by tarn from the city and vows vengeance on Tarl. Dorna does not appear in any further books. The former Tatrix, Lara, is installed as Administrator of Tharna. Tarl then continues his journey to the Sardar.

Late in En'Kara of 10117 C.A., as depicted in Priest-Kings of Gor, Tarl ventures to the Sardar Mountains to confront the Priest-Kings who ordered the destruction of Ko-ro-ba. Tarl Cabot is permitted to enter the Sardar and soon learns the identity of the Priest-Kings, a race of sentient insect-like beings. Tarl finds himself drawn into the intrigues between two High Priest-Kings, Sarm and Misk. Sarm wants Tarl to destroy Misk. Misk though has a more noble task for Tarl, to save the Priest-Kings from extinction. The Priest-Kings are generally sexless but the first male Priest-King has been born after 8000 years. The Mother of the Priest-Kings is dying and they need to perpetuate their race. A female egg has recently become available and Misk wants Tarl to locate it. Tarl is told that he was brought to Gor to help the Priest-Kings and he had been tested at the siege of Ar. He was then sent back to Earth for a time to build up resentment to the Priest-Kings. When he was brought back, Ko-ro-ba was also destroyed to build even more hate within Tarl for the Priest-Kings. They wanted to goad Tarl into coming to the Sardar.

The Mother of the Priest-Kings tells Tarl that the female egg is being kept by the Wagon People. Soon after speaking with Tarl, she dies. Sarm, thwarted in his plans to use Tarl to kill Misk and also wanting vengeance against the Mother, starts a war within the Sardar. Sarm has many allies and at first his forces are able to overpower Misk and his allies. But, Tarl Cabot and the Muls aid Misk and they are eventually able to defeat Sarm's forces. Sarm then tries to destroy the Power Plant within the Sardar that will destroy the entire planet of Gor. The Muls though had previously constructed an alternate Power Plant and this was placed into action to save the planet. Tarl and a few others now leave the Sardar. They find it is now the Fair of Se'Var in 10117 C.A. Tarl finds his father at the Fair who has the Home Stone of Ko-ro-ba. The city of Ko-ro-ba may now be rebuilt and the people of Ko-ro-ba are returning to help. Tarl heads off the land of the Wagon Peoples to locate the female egg of the Priest-Kings.

Nomads of Gor details Tarl's experiences with the fierce Wagon Peoples of the Plains of Turia. In the fall of 10117 C.A., Tarl begins his journey to the south. On the Plains, Tarl impresses the Ubars of the Wagon Peoples with his courage and is befriended by Kamchak, the Ubar of the Tuchuks. The Tuchuks find an Earth woman, Elizabeth Cardwell, bearing a message collar. The message within it is obstensibly from the Priest-Kings and states that Tarl should be killed. Kamchak ignores the message, knowing that it is a fake. Tarl spends some time among the Tuchuks and notes a gold sphere that he believes to be the egg he seeks. The Turians also appear interested in the egg. Eventually, Turians, accompanied by a group of mercenary tarnsmen, attack the Tuchuk camp. They kill Kamchak's father and steal the golden egg. In retaliation for the murder of his father, Kamchak and the Tuchuks besiege Turia.

Tarl enters Turia to steal the golden egg but ends up captured. He learns that the Paravaci have betrayed the rest of the Wagon Peoples. Tarl is given to the Yellow Pool Monster of Turia to be killed but he is able to escape the creature's grasp. He flees the city only to return at another time. This time though, the Tuchuks, with a bit of subterfuge, break into the city and capture it. The treacherous Paravaci though attack the Tuchuk camps and kill many of their bosk. With the help of the other tribes, the Tuchuks are able to defeat the Paravaci. Tarl then discovers that the golden sphere was not the egg of the Priest-Kings. Kamchak gives him the real egg, now trusting he will deliver it to the Priest-Kings. The Tuchuks depart from Turia, allowing it to recover and rebuild. Kamchak is declared the Ubar San of the Wagon Peoples, a great honor. It is now the start of 10118 C.A., and Tarl and Vella, once Elizabeth Cardwell, head off toward the Sardar.

The events of Assassin of Gor begin in 10118 C.A. Tarl returns the egg to Misk and is told about the Others who seek to conquer Gor. These Others had been quiet for thousands of years but now have begun again to make moves against Gor. To help battle these Others, Tarl proposes infiltrating a known connection to the Others, the House of Cernus, a Slaver in Ar. During the second month of 10118 C.A., Tarl stops to visit Ko-ro-ba before following through with his mission in Ar. A Warrior is killed and Tarl Cabot is thought to have been the victim. He pretends to be dead and disguises himself as an Assassin named Kuurus. He enters Ar in En'Var and is hired by the House of Cernus as a Sword. Cernus is working for the mysterious Others and is scheming to become the Ubar of Ar.

A few years before, Administrator Kazrak of Ar was deposed and banished by the Initiates and Merchants. Kazrak had made many enemies during his short reign. He began to levy taxes on the Initiate Caste and upheld some rulings of the civil courts over the Initiate courts. He also tried to stop some of the monopolies of the Merchants. A new Administrator was chosen, Minus Tentius Hirnabius, of a well-known and respected family in Ar. Cernus eventually kidnaps the Administrator's daughter. Cernus also raises his Caste and becomes a Warrior. Cernus increases the pressure on Administrator Minus and causes him to step down. Cernus is then made Ubar of Ar in the month of Camerius 10119 C.A.

Cernus captures Tarl, aware of his disguise as Kuurus. Tarl is made to participate in the gladiatorial games of Ar. Marlenus also happens to be disguised as a gladiatorial fighter. Together, they cause the other gladiators to rebel and strike back at Cernus. Cernus tries to escape in the chaos but is killed by one of the Others. Marlenus assumes the throne of Ar once again. Though Tarl helped him regain the throne, he banishes Tarl for his past crime of stealing the Home Stone of Ar. Marlenus could not escape this duty to his city even though he likes Tarl. Tarl left Ar on his tarn.

Raiders of Gor begins around the Sixth Passage Hand of 10119 C.A., just before Se'Kara. Tarl tried to get the Priest-Kings to return Vella to Earth but she doesn't want to go. Vella fled on Tarl's tarn and when the tarn returns, Tarl is very upset and sends the tarn away. Tarl now travels through the Vosk delta on route to Port Kar to visit Samos. While traveling through the marshes, Tarl is captured by Rencers. They give him a choice of becoming a slave or being bound and fed to the marsh tharlarion. To his dismay, Tarl chooses slavery over death. He then feels that he has betrayed his codes and is nothing but a coward. A Rence girl, Telima, becomes his Mistress and makes Tarl cut rence.

During a Festival in the marsh, slavers from Port Kar attack, aided by a traitor within the Rencers. In the confusion, Tarl escapes with Telima into the marsh. Because a small boy of the Rencers had once shown him kindness, Tarl chooses to pursue the men of Port Kar. He kills many of them with a long bow and ultimately prevents the slave ships from leaving the marsh. Tarl frees two men, Thurnock and Clitus, and lets the Rencers be freed by the other slaves on board. Tarl and the two men, and some slaves, then journey to Port Kar. Tarl feels that due to his dishonor in the marshes, he may belong in Port Kar.

Out of concern for the fate of a kajira, Tarl duels Surbus, an infamous Captain of Port Kar. Tarl kills Surbus but allows him to see Thassa before he dies. The men of Surbus, pleased that Tarl let Surbus see the ocean, then join Tarl who becomes their Captain. By the First Passage Hand of 10120, C.A., Tarl has been in Port Kar for seven months. He now calls himself Bosk of Port Kar and has become a prosperous Captain. Five Ubars led Port Kar but the regent of one Ubar betrays the rest, seeking to be the sole ruler of Port Kar. And this traitor is supported by the islands of Cos and Tyros, long enemies of Port Kar. The coup fails and the Council of Captains seizes power in the city. Port Kar tries to make peace with Cos and Tyros but they refuse.

In Se'Kara of 10120 C.A., a massive naval force from Cos and Tyros sails toward Port Kar to attack. Many wish to flee Port Kar fearing this massive navy. Tarl creates Port Kar's first Home Stone from a rock in the streets, carving the initials of Port Kar in it. This helps to unite many in Port Kar and give them an important reason to defend themselves against Cos and Tyros. Though outnumbered, on the 25th of Se'Kara, Port Kar soundly defeats the attacking fleet. While this occurs, the original traitorous regent tries to seize power again. This second coup attempt is also defeated. Tarl later learns that Samos works for the Priest-Kings and wants his help but Tarl states that he will no longer work for the Priest-Kings.

In the beginning of Captive of Gor, it is the spring of 10121 C.A. Elinor Brinton, an Earth woman, is captured and taken to Gor by the Kurii, the enemies of Gor, known to some as the Others. Their the ship crashes and Elinor escapes only to be later captured by a Slaver. The book details her adventures on Gor including her dealings with the infamous Rask of Treve. Marlenus, while hunting in the northern forests, captures Verna, a leader of a band of panther girls. Men from Treve would later help free Verna, basically to thwart Marlenus. Tarl Cabot learns that Talena is now a slave of Verna and he wants to seek her out. Much of this book sets up the plot for its sequel, Hunters of Gor.

In Hunters of Gor, Tarl heads to the northern forest to find Verna so he can recover Talena. Marlenus is also in the northern forests but he is there seeking only Verna. While hunting, Tarl and his men locate Verna's camp and find it empty. They drink some wine they find there but do not realize that it is drugged. The panther girls later return to their camp and capture all of the men including Tarl. Marlenus arrives though, captures Verna and frees Tarl. Tarl returns to find his camp captured by men from Tyros. He later learns that they are working with some panther girls and hope to capture Marlenus. Marlenus is indeed captured by men of Tyros and some panther girls. The men of Tyros head toward the shore to await their ships, building a wooden stockade for their protection. Tarl enters this stockade to stop the men of Tyros and soon finds himself aided by men from one of his ships. Unfortunately, in one duel, Tarl is poisoned by a blade and ends up partially paralyzed. Marlenus is freed and frees Verna, offering to make her his Ubara. She refuses though she loves him, preferring the freedom of the forests. Talena is bought by men of Samos and Tarl returns to Port Kar.

In the events of Marauders of Gor, Samos gives Talena to Tarl who then frees her to return to Ar. Telima, the Rence girl, is stolen from the marshes by a tarnsman who heads northwest. Tarl overcomes his paralysis so he can recover Telima. He heads north, toward Torvaldsland, early in 10122 C.A. In Kassau, Tarl meets Ivar Forkbeard of Torvaldsland and takes passage north on his ship. Ivar is an outlaw and is trying to pay a near impossible wergild. Tarl finds that there is a large army of Kurii seeking passage through Torvaldsland to the lands of the south. The men of Torvaldsland refuse their offer for safe passage through their lands and eventually the Kurii attack. The Kurii win this first major battle though Tarl and Ivar escape. Tarl and Ivar climb the Torvaldsberg Mountain and find the ancient war arrow of Torvald, the legendary founder of Torvaldsland. With this arrow, Ivar rallies the Torvaldslanders for an attack on the Kurii. In a berserk rage, they are able to defeat the Kurii and thwart their plans. An antidote for the poison that plagues Tarl is found and he is cured. Tarl sets sails for Port Kar.

Tribesmen of Gor begins during the winter of 10122 C.A. and then continues into 10123 C.A. Tarl returned two months ago from Torvaldsland. The Kurii have issued a cryptic ultimatum to the Priest-Kings. It simply read Surrender Gor. Tarl heads toward the Tahari region to try to gain further information about the plans of the Kurii. Tarl encounters Sulieman, chieftain of the Aretai tribe. Tarl is framed for an assassination attempt of Sulieman and is sentenced to be a slave in the salt mines of Klima. Tarl eventually escapes before being sent to the mines and seeks for a steel tower in the desert. Tarl is subsequently caught two more times, but now by agents of the Kurii and he is actually sent to the salt mines of Klima. Tarl escapes once again and finds a Kur in the desert. The Kur leads Tarl to a Kurii spaceship. The Kur gives Tarl an invisibility ring that will allow Tarl to easily sneak up on the ship. The ship has a massive bomb that will destroy the entire planet. Tarl is able to kill the Kur guarding the ship and disarm the bomb. Another plot of the Kurii is foiled.

Though little clear evidence is given, it appears that most of the events of Slave Girl of Gor occur during 10124 C.A. An Earth girl, Judy Thornton, is captured and sent to Gor, part of a Kurii plot. The book details her life on Gor as a slave. Near the end of the book, we learn that she has a secret message hidden away within her memory. Tarl and Samos learn that the message states that a great Kurii general, Half-Ear, is coming to Gor. This might signal an imminent invasion.

Beasts of Gor begins just before the En'Kara Fair of 10125 C.A. Tarl receives a message from Half-Ear, the Kurii general, to meet him at the world's end. Samos wants Tarl to immediately sail past the World's End, that part of Thassa past which no one knows what lies and from which no one has ever returned. Tarl decides to first attend the En'Kara fair to see an important Kaissa match between Centius of Cos and Scormus of Ar. In this epic match, Centius defeats Scormus. Scormus feel disgraced and goes into hiding. Tarl also uncovers some clues that indicate Half-Ear might be in the polar north, another possible definition of the world's end. When Tarl returns to Port Kar, he tells Samos he is going to the polar region though Samos thinks it is a trap to keep him from the World's End.

Tarl heads north and encounters the Red Hunters of Gor. He stays with them for a time and eventually seeks out Karjuk, a Red Hunter who might know of the Kurii. Tarl is eventually captured by agents of the Kurii and brought to their secret base within a mountain of ice. He meets Half-Ear, the Kurii General, who has plans to conquer Gor. He sends Tarl out to be killed by a Kur on the ice. Tarl is able to defeat the Kur and he returns to the base to seek a way to destroy it. Aided by some Red Hunters and an Assassin, they attack the base and seize control of it. Rather than surrender, Half-Ear sets the base for self-destruction. Tarl and his friends leave the base before it explodes and Half-Ear is believed to have died in the explosion.

It is now 10126 C.A. for the events of Explorers of Gor. Samos recovers a ring similar to the invisibility ring that Tarl Cabot acquired in the Tahari. But, this new ring might be a trap. The other ring is supposed to be taken by Shaba, an explorer and agent of the Priest-Kings, and delivered to the Sardar. But, Shaba instead takes the ring and heads into the equatorial rainforests. Tarl pursues him into the jungles. Tarl meets Bila Huruma, the black Ubar of the jungles, and is again set up to look like an assassin out to kill Bila. Tarl is sentenced to work as a slave building a canal. Tarl escapes and continues his pursuit of Shaba. Tarl heads up the Ua River, finally finding Shaba at a lake at the head of the Ua. There are the ruins remains of an ancient civiliztion at the lake. Shaba tells Tarl that he used the ring for the glory of exploring these uncharted regions, not for personal gain. Kurii then attack the men at the lake, including a force of men of Bila Huruma. Shaba is killed, the Kur recover a ring and then they depart. But, they recovered the wrong ring, the trapped one. It explodes, killing that group of Kurii. Tarl is given the true invisibility ring and he returns to Port Kar.

Books #14 to #16 form the Jason Marshall trilogy, three novels centering on another Earth man brought to Gor. They apparently begin in 10126 C.A. and conclude in 10127 C.A.

In the first book of the trilogy, Fighting Slave of Gor, Jason Marshall is taken from Earth to Gor and immediately enslaved. He is trained as a silk slave, a male slave taught to please women. Jason eventually becomes a stable slave, fighting other slaves as entertainment for the stable masters. He excels in this area becoming a champion fighting slave. Cosian tarnsmen attack the suburbs of Ar. During this time, Jason enslaves his own Mistress and escapes from his slavery. He begins to search for an Earth girl, Beverly Henderson, he knew who was enslaved when he had been.

In the second book of the trilogy, Rogue of Gor, Jason searches for Beverly Henderson in the towns on the Vosk. At this time, Cos and Vonda ally together against Ar and try to get the rest of the Salerian Confederation to join against Ar. Ar successfully conquers Vonda and holds off the other cities of the Confederation. The Confederation decides not to pursue the issue and the war ends. Jason does find the woman he seeks, wanting to free her, but she is not what he expects. The Vosk River pirates decide at this time to join together to attack some of the river towns. The pirates begin amassing their fleets while some of the river towns try to ally together against the coming attack.

Guardsman of Gor is the finale of the trilogy. A few of the Vosk towns form a blockade line to stop the pirate fleets from uniting. The pirate fleet, though heavily damaged, breaks through the blockade and unites with the other pirate fleets. The pirates attack the town of Victoria but are defeated by a joint alliance of all the major river towns. This new alliance then seeks out and destroys the strongholds of the river pirates. The alliance, except for Ar's Station, then form the Vosk League to prevent any further piracy on the Vosk. Ar will not permit Ar's Station to join the alliance. Jason becomes a lauded hero of the river war and he also makes Beverly his slave.

Books #17 and #18 then form a single story of Tarl Cabot's journey to the Barrens in 10128 C.A. As Savages of Gor begins, two Kurii have come to parley with Tarl and Samos. The Kurii claim that Half-Ear still lives and is hiding in the Barrens, the home of the Red Savages. The Kurii want them to kill Half-Ear for them. Tarl refuses to aid them and the Kurii depart. Tarl decides to travel to the Barrens to warn Half-Ear because they once shared paga together. Samos does not quite understand why he is going. Tarl first visits some border towns next to the Barrens seeking a guide to take him into the lands of the Red Savages. Tarl finds a Merchant to take him into the Barrens. In the Barrens, Tarl learns that a small force of Kurii has entered the Barrens seeking Half-Ear. At one point, Tarl frees a staked Red Savage, angering the Kaiila tribe. Though Tarl wishes to battle them, he is convinced to surrender to them as a slave.

Tarl's adventures in the Barrens continue in Blood Brothers of Gor. Tarl remains as a captive of the Kaiila. The Kurii foster war within the Barrens convincing some of the tribes to attack other tribes. The tribes of the Yellow Knives and Kinyanpi, along with a mercenary force of white men, plan to attack the Kaiila tribe during their Festivities. A traitor within the Kaiila tribe aids them as well. During the Festivities, a great battle ensues and it goes poorly for the Kaiila. Tarl and and a few others escape and seek out other Kaiila tribes for aid. Tarl reunites with his old tarn, the Ubar of the Skies. The remaining Kaiila tribes rally together to battle a combined force of Yellow Knives, Kinyanpi, white mercenaries and Kurii. Half-Ear joins the battle to aid the Kaiila and fight the Kurii. The Kailla are victors in the war.

After the war, there is a single Kur left who speaks with Half-Ear. This Kur was not part of the Death Squad. Tarl leaves his tarn to be free within the Barrens. Tarl then speaks with Half-Ear and learns that the death sentence against Half-Ear has been lifted. Half-Ear will return to the Steel Worlds as a General. Tarl then returns home.

Kajira of Gor takes place during 10129 C.A. An Earth woman, Tiffany Collins, is captured, brought to Gor and made the Tatrix of Corcyrus. This is all part of an intricate scheme by the real Tatrix of Corcyrus, Sheila, supported by the Kurii. Corcyrus seizes the silver mines of Argentum, starting a war, the Silver War. But forces from Ar enter the fray to protect their ally, Argentum, and Cos chooses not to get involved. Corcyrus loses the war and is captured. Tiffany, thought to be the Tatrix, is to be brought to Argentum to be impaled. She is freed by unknown parties and she flees. Eventually she is caught and brought to Argentum, though the real Tatrix has also been captured. Argentum tries to decide who was the true Tatrix and in time the real Tatrix confesses. Tiffany becomes the slave of her previous bodyguard. Corcyrus now becomes an ally of Ar.

Also in 10129 C.A., Marlenus, Ubar of Ar, takes a military force to make a punitive attack against Treve. The results of this attack have yet to be given though Witness of Gor is expected to give the details of this endeavor.

As Players of Gor begins, it is a couple days before the Twelfth Passage Hand of 10129 C.A. There is now a new Mother of the Priest-Kings. Carnival arrives in Port Kar and someone tries unsuccessfully to kill Tarl. Samos warns Tarl that the Priest-Kings have declared him to be a traitor and wish him to be captured and sent to the Sardar. Samos though will not do that. As Tarl plans to leave the city, he is tricked by a woman, drugged and captured. Tarl is later able to trick the woman and escape. He stops off at the En'Kara fair of 10130 C.A. Tarl's clues lead to the city of Brundisium and he joins a carnival troupe on route to the city. Just outside Brundisium, Tarl is captured and placed into a cell with an urt person. He and the urt person escape though their captors had expected it. Only Tarl is able to escape from a murderous horde of urts.

The carnival troupe recaptures Tarl and brings him back to the city. One of the troupe is actually Scormus of Ar, the famous Kaissa player. The city, once an ally of Ar, is now working with Cos. The troupe helps Tarl escape, their plan all along. Tarl frees a captive Kur and it then kills the Ubar of Brundisium. Ar arrives to retake the city. It is learned that Cos and Tyros wish to attack the city of Ar. Early in Se'Kara, their fleets begin landing in the harbors of Brundisum and Ar must flee. Tarl deciphers some intricate codes that state Talena is going to betray Ar to the Cosians. Cos and Tyros have some bold ambitions and a traitor within Ar would surely make it much easier for them.

Late in Se'Kara of 10130 C.A., Mercenaries of Gor begins. Tarl is traveling around, seeking information on the invasion forces of Cos and Tyros. Tarl encounters a group of Alars and travels with them a bit. They visit they city of Torcodino that was once allied with Ar but now is allied with Cos. Dietrich of Tarnburg, the famous mercenary captain, now captures the city of Torcodino with his mercenary army. He does this on his own initiative. No one had hired him to do so. Tarl meets with Dietrich who asks him to deliver some military information to Ar. Tarl accepts the mission and journeys to Ar. He learns that Talena has been made a citizen of Ar by the Regent of Gor. Marlenus is still away on his raid against Treve. Tarl is arrested and is to be brought before the Regent.

Dancer of Gor is a bit of a departure from the last book. It concerns an Earth girl, Doreen Williamson, who is taken to Gor to be a slave. The book mainly deals with her life as a slave, eventually becoming a very talented dancer. The book touches on the Ar/Cos war only briefly. It states that Ar sends some forces toward Ar's Station to defend it from Cosian invaders.

Renegades of Gor continues the story that ended in Mercenaries of Gor. Tarl is brought before the Regent of Ar and tells him that the main Cosian force is at Torcodino. The Regent ignores his information and sends the bulk of the army of north toward Ar's Station. The Regent sends Tarl to Ar's Station with a message for the city. Tarl flies to Ar's Station and finds Cosian forces besieging it. Tarl enters Ar's Station and meets the commander, handing over the message. The Regent's message states that Tarl is a Cosian spy and he is arrested. The army of Ar is actually wintering at Holmesk and will not come to save Ar's Station. Tarl escapes from his cell and helps defend the city against Cos. But, Cos captures the city though the Home Stone had been sent to Ar a few weeks before. Ships of the Vosk League arrive and attack some Cosian ships. Tarl meets Jason Marshall. Vosk League ships help take some of the refugees from Ar's Station to Port Cos. Rumors begin to pass around that Ar's Station willingly let Cos capture the city in exchange for gold.

Vagabonds of Gor appears to take place during 10131 C.A. Tarl goes forth to spy on Cosian forces near the Vosk River. Tarl is recognized as a spy and must flee the Cosian camp. Tarl heads toward Holmesk and encounters his friend Marcus on route to Holmesk. They meet a patrol of Ar and are arrested as spies. They learn that Ar has left Holmesk and is headed toward Brundisium. Tarl is sent to the Vosk Delta as a prisoner with a large army of Ar seeking Cosians within the Delta. This is actually ruse to destroy the army, devised by traitors within Ar. The army loses many men to the natural dangers of the delta and to the Rencers. Some men try to leave the Delta and are attacked by Cosians waiting outside the Delta. Tarl eventually escapes and meets up with some of the remaining men of Ar who now realize they have been betrayed. Over 45,000 Warriors of Ar perished in the Delta. Tarl reunites with Marcus and they leave the Delta. Dietrich withdraws from Torcodino and Saphronicus, leader of the forces of Ar in the north, dies mysteriously. Tarl and Marcus head back to Ar.

Magicians of Gor, the last published Gor novel, starts with Tarl and Marcus staying in a camp outside of Ar. During the day, they enter the city and Tarl tries to join Ar's military but no one is being hired. The Home Stone of Ar's Station is publicly displayed and people revile it, thinking Ar's Station sold out to the Cosians. People are saying that the Regent is a tyrant. Seremides finally deposes the Regent in a military coup. Cos is then welcomed into the city, praised for helping to deliver Ar from the tyranny of the Regent. The mighty gates of Ar are burned by its own citizens. Talena is made the Ubara of Gor, the military forces of Ar are disbanded and Cosians take their place. The citizens of Ar are disarmed and the walls of Ar are destroyed to serve as quarries. It is said that Ar's Home Stone is moved to Cos and a false Home Stone is used for citizenship ceremonies.

Tarl and Marcus form what they call the Delta Brigade to cause trouble for Cos. The Brigade is just the two of them but others begin copying their tactics to oppose Cos. Tarl meets again Boots Tarsk-Bit, the leader of the carnival troupe he once accompanied to Brundisium. He hires Boots to recover the Home Stone of Ar's Station through his sleight of hand. Boots easily recovers it and takes it north to Port Cos. Tarl tricks Talena into going to meet a handsome male slave, Milo. Talena prepares to couch with the handsome slave and thus violates the couching laws of Ar. She then becomes a slave of the master of the male slave, which is now Tarl. Her violation is witnessed and her slavery is documented. Tarl allows her to resume her position of Ubara knowing that she is his secret slave. Tarl wants to oust Cos from Ar and Marcus remains with him in Ar.

The timeline of these books would bring us to 1981 A.D. The projected 26th book of the Gor series is Witness of Gor. This will deal with the fate of Marlenus and his raid against Treve. It is supposed to be over 1000 pages long. It may also continue to describe Tarl's efforts within Ar to help oust the Cosians. There is no current date of publication for Witness of Gor though it is eagerly awaited by many.

The current Earth year of 2000 A.D. would correlate to 10152 C.A.

About

Since the saga of the Books of GOR have started back in 1966 many texts have already been written and many persons have spent countless hours studying and sharing information to help others understand better what is GOR. One of these persons is known as “Ubar Luther” who wrote a series of papers (most seem to be over 15 to 20 years old, but still very up-to-date in many topics) called the “Luther’s Gorean Educational Scrolls” that were available on Gor-Now.net, but that site has been hacked. So to preserve them, I have moved them to this wiki.