Tarnsman

Tarnsman is a term from John Norman’s Gor series of science fiction novels. A Tarnman, or Tarn rider, is a warrior who fights from the back of a Tarn, a large winged mount native to the planet Gor. In Gorean society, tarnsmen constitute a mounted military elite and are associated with cavalry, reconnaissance, and raiding roles.

The first appearance of the term occurs in Tarnsman of Gor (1967), the inaugural novel in the series. The story follows Tarl Cabot, an Earthman who becomes a Tarn Rider and rises within Gorean society. From this origin, Tarnman becomes a generic title for riders of Tarn throughout the subsequent books, with many stories centering on Tarn-mounted warfare, patrols, and political-military conflict.

In-universe, Tarns are trained creatures that require skilled handling by their riders. Tarnmen typically wear leather armor or harnesses and utilize weapons suited to mounted combat. The bond between Tarn and rider is presented as central to Gorean warfare and social life, with Tarn mounts enabling rapid movement across the feudal city-states and hinterlands of Gor. The Tarn is a cultural emblem as well as a practical asset in Gorean military culture.

Reception and legacy: The Gor series has generated considerable controversy and discussion, particularly regarding its depictions of gender roles, slavery, and social hierarchies. Despite or in part because of these elements, the Tarnman motif remains one of the most recognizable images from the series, illustrating the distinctive blend of adventure, worldbuilding, and social dynamics that characterizes Gor.