One thing that is not mentioned in the Gor novels, as far as I know, is the widespread existence of newspapers. This could be due to high cost of rence paper and ink, or the possibility of scribe union strikes, or other production factors. But in my opinion, and maybe Norman's as well, this might be an outlawed technology. Knowing how many newspaper writers and editors are deserving of the flame death, I could well imagine the Priest-Kings lighting up the first fool to try and put together a printing press. It does make me wonder, however, what one might be like. The news section would be just that, the sports might consist of tarn races and events in the arena, but the classifieds... now they would be most unusual. Consider for instance, a for sale advertisement. FOR SALE - Used tarn for 18 copper tarsks. 4 1/2 ah-il tall with a full ah-ral wingspan. Brown with white markings and a very large yellow beak. Never ridden and not halter broken. Can been seen at the high tarncot on the Street of Coins. Ask for "Lefty". Or perhaps there would be a place in the Ar Herald for want ads for would be employers. Once again, the novels have never really given us many clues as to how difficult it is for job seekers on Gor, or those who might be interested in some kind of capital venture.

WANTED - See the world! Visit exciting places! Oarsmen for ram-ship needed. Pay commensurate with experience. Uniform provided with enslavement.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY - Paga tavern for sale. High volume business on the Street of Brands with great potential. Price reduced due to quiva and arrow damage to woodwork and furs that need replacing. Sluts and brewing equipment included in sale. New owner will need to provide own socks for straining paga.

We can read the novels and know that Gorean live in anything from a city cylinder to a prairie wagon, yet we know very little about how they might acquire such real estate. Any local paper would be sure to shed light on this question.

FOR RENT - 3 BR / 1 BA apartment in the high cylinder of Ar. Excellent view from high bridge. Perfect for freewoman looking for tarnsman testing his chain-luck. 6 silver tarsks per month with all utilities paid. NO PETS.

Of course, I doubt highly that any of the Wagon People would be venturing into town to sell their mobile housing. I've known a couple Tuchuks, however, and I'd bet if it happened, the ads would read something like this...

FOR SALE - Huge wagon with many extras available. Only 3 silver tarsks! Will not last long! Can be seen outside the gates of Turia. Find the wily Tuchuk for more information.

Then in the next issue...

FOR SALE - Tuchuk wagon accessories. Pair of bosk - 12 silver tarsks. Bosk hitching gear (leather and wood) - 6 silver tarsks. Wagon tongue - 8 copper tarsks. Wagon covering - 22 copper tarsks. Wagon wheels - 1 silver tarsk (each). Wagon axles - 1 silver and 10 copper tarsks (each). Grease for wagon axles - 6 tarsk-bits. Steps for wagon entrance - 18 copper tarsks. See the wily Tuchuk outside the Turian gate for further details.

The other section of the paper I would love to examine would be the personals...

GOREAN MASTER SEEKS SLAVE - Greetings, I am not the typical Gorean master. I am a firm believer that the most treasured possession a master has is his slave, and that I owe my slave nothing less than complete and utter fulfillment. I do not beat or humiliate... I simply teach a slave that they are owned. Ideal Person - A woman, or couple with a woman, who seeks to learn her role as a complete and utter slave. Size, age, race, is not important. Desire to please and learn is.

Now wait just a minute! If this master wanted a slave, wouldn't he be able to look in the "for sale" section of the paper and find one for a tarsk or two? Certainly that would be the case. In fact, I would guess there would be few Goreans seeking slaves in this manner, if there were any at all... The amusing part of the advertisement above is the fact that it is real. It was found on one of the personal services that abound on the Internet under the name "GoreanDOM". This fellow also noted that his body type consisted of "a little extra padding", and he was "looking for a woman or a couple for erotic chat/email/e-sex or a "discreet" relationship or 1-on-1 sex or group sex or bondage & domination". How interesting. It sounds to me like he should have been named "TypicalDOM", and should just be classified with the group that will purport to be anything if it means getting laid.

I wish you well, Goreans.