The Usurper (Telnarian Histories), by John Norman
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The Usurper (Telnarian Histories), by John Norman
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The fourth volume in John Norman's epic Telnarian Histories describes the continuing rise to power of an unsung warrior thrown into the maelstrom of ambition, treachery, and violence that is the galactic empire When Filene, a former noblewoman masquerading as a slave, attempts to assassinate the ascendant tribal king, Ottonius, she fails and becomes fully enslaved. The story of her education in proper submission is told in counterpoint to the tale of the powerful but primitive warrior who finds himself drawn into intrigues affecting the destiny of a threatened and crumbling empire. This ambitious novel, written on an interstellar scale, follows the latest adventures of a man who has fought and killed his way out of obscurity to become a newly crowned king. As events unfold, he finds himself on a bloody and violent path that may lead to the imperial throne itself.
The Usurper (Telnarian Histories), by John Norman - Amazon Sales Rank: #1335438 in Books
- Brand: Norman, John
- Published on: 2015-03-03
- Released on: 2015-03-03
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.00" h x 1.59" w x 5.25" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 636 pages
The Usurper (Telnarian Histories), by John Norman About the Author John Norman is the creator of the Gorean Saga, the longest-running series of adventure novels in science fiction history. He has also produced a separate science fiction series, the Telnarian Histories, plus two other fiction works, Ghost Dance and Time Slave; a nonfiction paperback, Imaginative Sex; and a collection of thirty short stories, Norman Invasions. The Totems of Abydos was published in 2012. Norman is married and has three children. For more information, visit Norman's website, gorchronicles.com, which has been specially created for his tremendous fan following and where one may read everything there is to know about his work.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Gorean themed space opera with fantasy influences . . . fun, intriguing stuff By Bob Milne A little over 20 years ago John Norman stepped outside the world (if not the themes) of Gor and delivered a trilogy entitled the Telnarian Histories. Whereas the Gor novels were primarily fantasy epics tinged with science fiction elements, this new trilogy flipped that around, being more of a traditional space opera with fantasy influences.In terms of narrative, little has changed over the years, with The Usurper having the same sense of style that fans have become used to, but which may unsettle a new reader. Expository prose is often long and blocky, with descriptions that can stretch into a second page without a paragraph break, and the amount of detail surrounding the physical, mental, emotional, and psychological realities of slavery is often exhausting. That's not to say it isn't fascinating, or sometimes necessary to the plot, but it may take some readers deeper into a submissive mindset than they're comfortable with. Dialogue is often very formal, carefully structured and delivered as if for an audience, with little of the casual banter we so often expect of the genre. Again, that's not a flaw or a complaint, just an observation on what makes Norman's writing unique. Overall, however, the prose here is stronger and more polished than what fans may be used to, with phrases like "the airless, lonely, nigh-vacant deserts between world" having an almost poetic quality to them.The world-building is exceptionally strong here, as it was in the Gor saga, with a fully realized history of conquest and rebellion. Culturally, there are significant Greco-Roman influences to the story, but there's also a bit of a Conan-esque flavor to Ottonius, the barbarian King. It's really with the philosophies of sadomasochism and the spirituality of submission that the story comes alive. However, in an era where BDSM has very much become a part of pop-culture, Norman's ideas are hardly as shocking or taboo as they once were. That's something of a double-edged sword for the Telnarian Histories, as the novelty (and some of the attraction) for old fans is gone, while new fans demand something more than mere taboo titillation. It's a cultural shift that has forced Norman to focus more of his attention on the storyline and the characters, with The Usurper being one of his strongest, most complete tales yet.This is a book that's heavy on the history and the cultural composition of the world, with a mysterious narrator often acting in the role of teacher or advisor to the reader. Part of that is necessary to allow new readers to catch up on what's gone before, but part of it is also deliberate world building. As for our hero, Ottonius, he has grown and evolved significantly from what I remember. Instead of the cold prototypical Norman protagonist, he has acquired some of the rough-edged charm and black humor common to pulp adventure heroes like Conan. Filene is a remarkable character as well, perhaps the most well-developed female character Norman has written. She begins the story masquerading as a slave, in order to get close and assassinate Ottonius, but we also get glimpses of the free woman behind the mask. Of course, she's very quickly found out, turning that masquerade into a reality, but she retains a spark of personality that only grows brighter as the tale continues.There's more of conflict to The Usurper than I remember from any of the Gor novels as well, which is sure to appeal to fans of more militaristic science fiction and fantasy. Alien technology, starships, blockades, sieges, and battles dominate much of the second half of the book. This is very much Otto's tale and Otto's conflict, with him at the center of it all, but we do get a much wider view of the war and how it impacts the characters around him. There are some long, slow periods of prose before we get to the conflict, and Norman still interrupts the action to share the insights of slaves and masters on their role in the battle, but overall I found this to have a much faster paced story, with a better balance of plot and philosophy. Politically, it's a sharper tale as well, with great attention devoted to the affairs of rulers and captains, which helps bring it all together.If you've ever found yourself curious about John Norman's work, then The Usurper is a great place to begin. Even though it's the fourth book of the Telnarian Histories, it can still be read as a standalone title, which is almost necessary with a 20 year gap. If, like myself, you always saw this saga as a weaker sort of cousin to the Gor novels, then you're likely to be pleasantly surprised. However, if you're deeply offended by his social philosophies or his depiction of women, and aren't interested in the 'how' and 'why' of his world . . . well, this isn't going to change your mind.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Intense storyline with deep characterization By Michele Douglas “The Usurperâ€(Telnarian Histories)John NormanThis is the fourth book in the Telnarian series where we continue to see the transformation of Ottonius, everyone’s beloved barbarian warrior. He may now be leader of his own people, but it clear that others fear him; especially those of the Empire. The Empire sends a free woman disguised as a slave to assassinate him. When she does not succeed, Captain Ottonius realizes that he must find the persons responsible for sending the assassin. Along with his most trusted advisors, he leaves his home on a journey to discover his heritage and uncover the power he possesses that can affect the empire.Filene, a formal noble woman, currently a free woman is sent on a mission to kill Ottonius the tribal King. She is provided the knife and the cover. She enters the camp disguised as a slave and attempts to use her feminine wiles to attract Ottonius for him to take her to his tent. When he falls for the trap, she is thrust into his tent to await his arrival. She is nervous and excited all at once. When he enters, she is unaware that he is already on to her and is playing along to see what happens. He locates the knife she had stashed and sends her to be turned into a true slave, stripped of her freedom as easily as she is stripped of her clothing.My thoughts:At first, I had a problem getting through the book because I wanted more dialogue and less history lessons. However, I understand now that the history is necessary, because it reminds the reader about a character or situation that may have happened in another book or time. This helps to center the reader, rather than leaving them trying to remember this or that character or circumstance.Regarding the story, I like Ottonius. Regardless of what his role is in society, he is first and foremost a barbarian and he never apologizes for it. He sees that barbarism can be found in the form of shield and sword, or in the form of treachery and corruption. He is used to one on one combat, not backstabbing, but he eventually discovers that the way to prevent corruption is to throw yourself into the path of it.As a woman, I had issues with the way they referred to the free women and mostly the slaves. Then, I thought about what I believe the author may be trying to convey. To me it seems as though the free women were the ones that were confined. They were slaves to their culture, looking and acting a certain way, watching how they speak and to whom, etc.The slave women had the most freedom even while sitting naked with collars on at the feet of the men. The slave women were celebrated for their femininity. The men coveted and protected their slaves more so than any free women. The women were exposed naked to the world that they lived in. They had nothing to hide and could be themselves. They could accept and embrace their sexual, sensual sides without fear of being judged.I enjoyed the way the author never left any stone unturned. Each character had his or her role to play in the plot of the story. I don’t remember any characters that were introduced but not played out. In the end, everything made sense to me. The storyline was wrapped up nicely and left with an opening, of course, for what the next book might be about, if there is to be one.I would say if it is too hard for the reader to get past at what first appears as the degradation of the slaves, then this is probably not the book for you. However, if you, like myself, can see past that, you are in for an excellent story with deep characterization.Review by Michele DouglasFull Disclosure: I was provided and ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. but it is better than books in Norman's "middle period" By John You know what you are getting with this, but it is better than books in Norman's "middle period". If you like Norman, you will like this and if you don't, you won't.
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