Fjord

In John Norman's Gorean series, fjords are a defining geographical feature of Torvaldsland, the harsh, Viking-inspired northern frontier of the planet Gor. Because of this, fjords are prominently featured in the books that take place in or discuss the northern regions.

Here is where you will find fjords mentioned and explored:

Primary Appearance

• Book 9: Marauders of Gor (1975)

  This is the primary novel dedicated to Torvaldsland. The protagonist, Tarl Cabot, journeys to the far north, where the geography is heavily characterized by deep, icy fjords, towering cliffs, and freezing seas. The book introduces specific fjord-based locations and characters, such as a minor captain explicitly named Rolf of Red Fjord. The plot revolves heavily around the seafaring, raiding culture of the men who live along these fjords.

Secondary Mentions

• Book 12: Beasts of Gor (1978)

  This book also explores the extreme northern regions of Gor, extending past Torvaldsland into the polar ice cap. It focuses on the "Red Hunters" (a society heavily inspired by Earth's Inuit cultures) who live near the Axe Glacier and hunt marine life in the icy, fjord-cut archipelagos of the north.

Brief Lore Context

Within the series, Torvaldsland is described as a brutal, unforgiving landscape of stone, pine forests, and jagged fjords. The people of Torvaldsland are seafarers, hunters, and raiders who navigate the fjords in longships. The region would be entirely locked in ice if not for the "Stream of Torvald," a warm ocean current that keeps the fjords and harbors just navigable enough to support life and allow for their raiding expeditions.