A little busy...

There has been quite a lot of things in the past weeks, and I have books that I still have to read -drool...- It would be good if I don't collapse as soon as I have some free times. Hopefully, I can put up a review by next week. If not, I would do one during my college's winter break.

For now... Happy Thanksgiving! :)

-A faithful reader (on short hiatus)

Manly, manly, gorean man of Gor

The comic isn't entirely accurate. The manly Gorean Tarl Cabot doesn't have an actual slave until later books. Still. If you ever heard of the series' name, you would know what to come.



When I first heard of the infamous fantasy series 'Gor', which wasn't so long ago, I was curious. Why would a feminist-oriented mind reader be interested in a series that is scandalous for its philosophy of how women are natural slaves and men are natural leaders? Well, my taste hardly discriminate and I am always more than ready to read any kind of books. It also helps that my sense of humor can be quite politically incorrect. So, I got my hand on the first Gor book; Tarnsman of Gor.

(Despite how comfy I am with reading politically incorrect books, I do feel a little weird reading Gor together with romance novels. Hopefully, this won't manifest into a weird dream. A chick-lit Gor just doesn't work for me.)

In a nutshell, Gor series is about Tarl Cabot, an English professor who is brought to Gor, a planet on the opposite side of the sun by its ruler, the priest-king. He is then made into a Tarnsman, a warrior who command a darn big grumpy bird. The series is about his adventure on Gor,

As I have read from many pro/con reviews, 'Tarnsman' doesn't really get into the realm that has set the series to become (in)famous yet. There are slave girls, but they are portrayed as a part of Gor's rough sci-fi medieval culture rather than social commentary. Some violence against women ALMOST happened, but Tarl, who is still humbled by the ‘weak’ earthman attitude, prevents it. 'Tarnsman' isn’t that offensive. I even find the relationship between Tarl, a soft heart warrior, and Talena, his troublesome proud faux slave, to be cute (in a Gorean way).

The book is fast-paced and fun. It isn't one of the better dude-ish fantasy series I have read though. The first half of the book went way too fast. Many events are solved too easily. However, it would do if you want a manly fantasy quickie.

Why Not Kindle

Not that I would object if somebody ever decides to buy me a Kindle.

[edited - corrected the grammar]

Umbrella Academy, and that evil monument.

‘nuff said.

What? You want to know more? Fine.



The story is about a weird event, in which many non-pregnant women gave birth to babies. Sir Reginald Hargreeves, a globally renowned scientist and a space alien, seek to adopt those babies and got a hold on seven of them. When asked for the reason of his action, he said that he did it “to save the world, of course”, and proceeded to call his team of super powered adopted kids 'The Umbrella Academy'. "From what", the citizen of the book and the readers shall wonder. Sir Spacealien makes an asshole-ly father, which doesn’t give us much of a wonder when his dysfunctional adopted sons and daughters grow into adults with a lot of issues. Despite the obstacles, the kids (and then, adults) manage to save the world from hostile Eiffel tower, a psycho sick evil scientist with Eisenstein syndrome, evil orchestra band, and lastly themselves.

I pick the book up in a bookstore solely because I like the book’s name (“Umbrella Academy?”). The story makes about as much sense as the name. It makes sense in its own way even if it can be a bit surreal sometimes. What is it, is a quirky title with a lot of details (many of which doesn’t have any explanation until the later book), unexpected twists, interesting dialogues, neat art that works amazingly well with the story.



P.S.
I have read the second one in the series, ‘Dallas’ already, and I love it. I would say that if you didn’t dig it the first time, you probably still don’t. If you like the first one, I bet you already have ‘Dalls’ or plan on buying it.

Also, if you suspect that your country’s monument is up to something, it is probably up to something.

-by your sincerely book addicted [written during a peaceful Saturday's afternoon after a week with too much work.]