Melissa Jeltsin

From iHeart Podcast, I'm Melissa Jeltsin, and this is What Happened to Talena Zar?

From iHeart Podcast, I'm Melissa Jeltsin, and this is What Happened to Talena Zar?

I had hoped to speak to John Norman, author of the Gore series, to learn more about his work and the subculture inspired by the books. But his current publisher told me that Norman, quote, does not want to be interviewed if The Slant is going to be another judgmental feminist attack. He added that Norman is also over 90 years old, and like many that age, can be a little cranky.

I had hoped to speak to John Norman, author of the Gore series, to learn more about his work and the subculture inspired by the books. But his current publisher told me that Norman, quote, does not want to be interviewed if The Slant is going to be another judgmental feminist attack. He added that Norman is also over 90 years old, and like many that age, can be a little cranky.

So instead, I talked to an expert who, despite being a feminist, was surprisingly nonjudgmental.

So instead, I talked to an expert who, despite being a feminist, was surprisingly nonjudgmental.

You know, fiction is an escape. This is Dr. Gloria Bream, a sex therapist and self-described kinkster.

You know, fiction is an escape. This is Dr. Gloria Bream, a sex therapist and self-described kinkster.

Gloria has spent her career as a sex educator trying to reduce the stigma around BDSM, an acronym you've probably heard thrown around that stands for bondage, dominance, sadism, and masochism.

Gloria has spent her career as a sex educator trying to reduce the stigma around BDSM, an acronym you've probably heard thrown around that stands for bondage, dominance, sadism, and masochism.

Though the Gore books were titillating, Gloria never really connected with them. The strict gender roles depicted in the series felt anachronistic. On Gore, men were in charge. Women followed, listened, and served, often while scantily clad.

Though the Gore books were titillating, Gloria never really connected with them. The strict gender roles depicted in the series felt anachronistic. On Gore, men were in charge. Women followed, listened, and served, often while scantily clad.

Gloria's introduction to gore was brief, didn't leave that much of an impact. But later in life, when she immersed herself in the BDSM community, she learned that some people felt very connected to the books.

Gloria's introduction to gore was brief, didn't leave that much of an impact. But later in life, when she immersed herself in the BDSM community, she learned that some people felt very connected to the books.

There's no way to know how many people in the US or in the world call themselves Gorian or try to live according to the principles in the books. But if you move in BDSM spaces, you may come across them once in a while.

There's no way to know how many people in the US or in the world call themselves Gorian or try to live according to the principles in the books. But if you move in BDSM spaces, you may come across them once in a while.

This world, it's been hard to pierce as an outsider, reporter, and a woman. Gorians are extremely protective of their lifestyle, knowing that their choices are probably not accepted in the mainstream. Those who did talk to me shared fears of being outed and losing their jobs or jeopardizing their families.

This world, it's been hard to pierce as an outsider, reporter, and a woman. Gorians are extremely protective of their lifestyle, knowing that their choices are probably not accepted in the mainstream. Those who did talk to me shared fears of being outed and losing their jobs or jeopardizing their families.

In order to better understand what it even is to be a Gorian, I spent six months lurking in the online spaces where they hang out these days, Reddit and Discord. And listening in on these conversations, I was able to glean some information. For example, there's a spectrum of Gorian participation. On one end are those who keep it virtual, where they role-play the master-slave dynamic online.

In order to better understand what it even is to be a Gorian, I spent six months lurking in the online spaces where they hang out these days, Reddit and Discord. And listening in on these conversations, I was able to glean some information. For example, there's a spectrum of Gorian participation. On one end are those who keep it virtual, where they role-play the master-slave dynamic online.