Althea M. (althea) reviewed Priest-Kings of Gor (Chronicles of Counter-Earth, Bk 3) on + 774 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I've been wanting to read some of these for years, just to see what all the brou-ha-ha was about, what with people actually living out roles in their relationships based on these fantasy books and whatnot, and the feminist outcry...
So I picked some random ones up, and this was the first one I read.
Basically, if you're expecting something kinky and pornographic... expect to be sadly disappointed. There's no explicit sex at all (hardly any IMplicit sex, for that matter!)
Much more adventuring and giant alien bugs underground and battles featuring sword vs. technology & such...
I'd say this book was basically an imitation of Robert E. Howard. I like Howard, for what it is, so I enjoyed it enough....
But the master/slave relationship thing doesn't come off as an exploration of alternative sexualities (it's no Kushiel's Dart, this stuff...) - it basically impresses me as the author sadly not understanding women, being intimidated by relationships, and thinking, "wouldn't it be ever so convenient if all men had to do was flex their muscles and women would just realize that they truly wanted to be my slave girls and do whatever I said..."
It might be heady stuff for a 12-year-old boy, but as a thirty-something woman, I wasn't that impressed. BUT, as I said, that aspect of the books wasn't that huge a part of the book. I remain un-offended - and un-titillated.
So I picked some random ones up, and this was the first one I read.
Basically, if you're expecting something kinky and pornographic... expect to be sadly disappointed. There's no explicit sex at all (hardly any IMplicit sex, for that matter!)
Much more adventuring and giant alien bugs underground and battles featuring sword vs. technology & such...
I'd say this book was basically an imitation of Robert E. Howard. I like Howard, for what it is, so I enjoyed it enough....
But the master/slave relationship thing doesn't come off as an exploration of alternative sexualities (it's no Kushiel's Dart, this stuff...) - it basically impresses me as the author sadly not understanding women, being intimidated by relationships, and thinking, "wouldn't it be ever so convenient if all men had to do was flex their muscles and women would just realize that they truly wanted to be my slave girls and do whatever I said..."
It might be heady stuff for a 12-year-old boy, but as a thirty-something woman, I wasn't that impressed. BUT, as I said, that aspect of the books wasn't that huge a part of the book. I remain un-offended - and un-titillated.
