“I saw the ship descend. For a moment it looked like a falling star, but then it suddenly became clear and substantial, like a broad, thick disk of silver. It was silent and settled on the rock platform, scarcely disturbing the light snow that was scattered on it. There was a slight wind in the pine needles, and I rose to my feet. As I did so, a door in the side of the ship slid quietly upward. I must go in. My father’s words recurred in my memory: “The fate is upon you.” Before entering the ship, I stopped at the side of the large, flat rock on which it rested. I bent down and scooped up, as my father had asked, a handful of our green earth. I, too, felt that it was important to take something with me, something which, in a way, was my native soil. The soil of my planet, my world” – Tarnsman of Gor, e-book edition, page 20.
*
“Your daughter, Talena, is alive,” I said to Marlenus. He had not asked and did not now appear to have much interest in the matter. Still, if he was human at all, I assumed this remote, kingly, dream-obsessed man would want to know. “She would have brought a thousand tarns,” said Marlenus. “Proceed with the impalement.” The tarnsmen grasped my arms more securely. Two others removed the tharlarion lance from its crevice and brought it forward. It would be forced into my body, and I would then be lifted, with it, into place. “She’s your daughter,” I said to Marlenus. “She’s alive.” “Did she submit to you?” asked Marlenus. “Yes,” I said. “Then she valued her life more than my honor.” Suddenly my feeling of numbness, of incapacity, departed as if in a lightning flash of fury. “Damn your honor!” I shouted. “Damn your precious stinking honor!” – Tarnsman of Gor, e-book edition, page 184.
*
“Cabot lifted his Scotch again, holding it before him, not drinking. Then, ceremoniously, bitterly, he poured a bit of it out onto the table, where it splattered, partly soaking into a napkin. As he performed this gesture, he uttered some formula in that strange tongue I had heard but once before— when I had nearly perished at his hands. Somehow I had the feeling that he was becoming dangerous. I was uneasy. “What are you doing?” I asked. “I am offering a libation,” he said. “Ta-Sardar-Gor.” “What does that mean?” I asked, my words fumbling a bit, blurred by the liquor, made unsteady by my fear. “It means,” laughed Cabot, a mirthless laugh, “—to the Priest-Kings of Gor!” – Outlaw of Gor, e-book edition, page 12.
*
“I must tell you, Misk,” I said slowly, “that I came to the Sardar to slay Priest-Kings, to take vengeance for the destruction of my city and its people.” I thought it only fair to let Misk know that I was no ally of his, that he should learn of my hatred for Priest-Kings and my determination to punish them, to the extent that it lay within my abilities, for the evil which they had done. “No,” said Misk. “You have come to the Sardar to save the race of Priest-Kings.” I looked at him dumbfounded. “It is for that purpose that you were brought here,” said Misk. “I came of my own free will!” I cried. “Because my city was destroyed!” “That is why your city was destroyed,” said Misk, “that you would come to the Sardar.” – Priest Kings of Gor, e-book edition, page 174.
*
At that moment there was a scuffle and commotion at the gate to the inner courtyard and two Tuchuks, one laughing and with a bloody shoulder, were dragging a fiercely resisting, unveiled but clothed girl between them. It was Dina of Turia! The laughing Tuchuk, he with the bloody shoulder, hauled her before us. “A beauty,” said he, “Commander!” He nodded to his shoulder. “Marvelous! A fighter!” Suddenly Dina stopped pulling and kicking and scratching. She flung up her head and looked at me, breathing hard, startled. “Do not add her to the chain,” I said. “Neither remove her clothing nor put her in bonds. Permit her to veil herself if she wishes. She is to be treated in all respects as a free woman. Take her back to her home and while we remain in the city, guard her with your lives.” The two men were startled, but Tuchuk discipline is relentless. “Yes, Commander!” they both cried, releasing her. “With our lives!” – Nomads of Gor, e-book edition, page, 523.
*
“I saw four crossbowmen at the box of the Ubar, on a signal from Saphronicus, who stood there, fire. Menicius, hit four times with iron bolts, spun and fell into the sand. I saw one of the four crossbowmen fall, an arrow from the stands transfixing him. I saw Cernus, in the swirling robe of the Ubar, leap to his feet, summon Taurentians about him. In the distance I heard singing, a song of Ar’s glory; in the stands the song was picked up. Men began to stand in the tiers, singing. “Stop!” cried Cernus. “Stop!” But the song became louder and louder. There was an anger in the song, and a triumph, a defiance and a pride, a pride of men in their city, Glorious Ar.” – Assassins of Gor, e-book edition, page 518.
*
“The tarn strike was sudden. I had been waiting for days for it to happen. There was from the broken cover of clouds, like a bolt of dark, beating lightning, the thunder of the wings of a tarn. The alarm bell sounded almost immediately. There was shouting. The tarn’s talons struck the delta wall, and, wings beating, it clung there, and put back its head and screamed. I saw, for one moment, the helmet of the warrior, and his hand extended downward. I heard the girl cry out and run to the saddle, and seize the hand. “No!” I said to Thurnock, putting my hand on the arrow, thrusting it to one side. He looked at me wildly. “No!” I said, sternly.” – Captive of Gor, e-book edition, page 571.
*
“I carried only my sword, in its sheath, and a short sleen knife, balanced. “He is alone,” said a man, reporting back from the beach to the south. “Keep watch,” said Sarus. He was not shaved. He looked at me. He seemed a strong man, hard, a leader. “You wear the yellow of Tyros,” he said. “I am not of Tyros,” I told him. “Of that I am sure,” said Sarus. “What are you doing here?” asked one of the men, crowding close. I looked at Sarus. “I am your enemy,” I said. “I would speak with you.” – Hunters of Gor, e-book edition, page 427.
*
“Long ago, at a banquet in Turia, Kamchak of the Tuchuks had taught me this trick. Where one may not go armed, there it is well to go armed. The huge chest shook. I saw it rise and fall. Its eyes turned toward me. “I thought,” it said, “humans were honorable.” “You are mistaken,” I said. It reached out its paw toward me. “Foe,” it said. “Yes,” I said. The paw gripped me, and I it. Long ago, in the Sardar, Misk, the Priest-King, had told me that Priest-Kings see little difference between Kurii and men, that they regarded them as equivalent species. The lips of the Kur drew back. I saw the fangs. It was, I suppose, a frightening expression, terrifying, but I did not see it that way. It was a Kur smile. Then it died.” – Marauders of Gor, e-book edition, page 417.
*
“A slave hood was pulled over the head of Hassan. His fists were clenched. It was locked under his chin. “One gains a victory,” said Ibn Saran, “but one loses an enemy.” He looked at me. He unsheathed his scimitar. “No,” I said. “I will march to Klima.” “I am prepared to be merciful,” said he, “Comrade.” “No,” I said. “It is cool here,” he said. “Your death would be swift.” “No,” I said. “You are of the Warriors,” said he. “You have their stupidity, their grit, their courage.” – Tribesmen of Gor, e-book edition, page 376.
*
““What are Priest-Kings like?” asked the beast. “Are they like us?” “No,” I said, “they are not like us.” “They must be fearsome things,” said the beast. I thought of the lofty, delicate, golden creatures. “Perhaps,” I said. “Have you ever seen one?” he asked. “Yes,” I said. “You do not wish to speak?” he asked. “No,” I said. “I would prefer not to speak.” He put both paws on my shoulders. “Good,” he said. “You are loyal. I will not press you!” “Thank you,” I said.” – Beasts of Gor, e-book edition, page 616.
*
“I, panga clutched in two hands, lunged after the beasts. Kisu seized me, holding me back. Bila Huruma, too, interposed himself between me and our shaggy adversaries. “No!” cried Kisu. “No!” cried Bila Huruma. “It is madness to follow!” “Stay with us, Tarl!” cried Ayari. Turgus, too, seized an arm. I could not free myself from Kisu and Turgus. “Release me!” I said. “You can do nothing now,” said Kisu. “They will destroy the bridge,” I said. “We will be prisoners here!” “Tonight is the full moon,” said Ayari. ‘Tonight, if you wish, you may wade through the fish unharmed. Tomorrow they will have returned to the lake.” “Release me!” I cried. “You can do nothing now,” said Kisu. I, held, watched the departure of the Kurii. They, obedient to their orders, withdrew. I admired the Kur commander, that he had been able to instill in his fierce beasts such discipline. As they withdrew some dragged with them the fallen bodies of askaris.” – Explorers of Gor, e-book edition, page 732.
*