Tales of Nevèrÿon by Samuel R. Delany
"Tales of Nevèrÿon" is a collection of five interconnected narratives that explore the complexities of civilization's early development. The stories are set in the fictional world of Nevèrÿon, engaging with themes such as slavery, gender roles, and commerce. Central to the collection is "The Tale of Gorgik," which follows a young man from the city of Kolhari, whose journey from enslavement to empowerment is marked by encounters with a noblewoman and the Child Empress, ultimately leading him to become a successful merchant and military officer.
Another story, "The Tale of Old Venn," highlights the education of a girl named Norema through the tales of her mentor, Venn, shedding light on women's roles in Nevèrÿon. "The Tale of Small Sarg" presents a more controversial aspect of Gorgik’s life as he acquires a young boy for sexual purposes. In "The Tale of Potters and Dragons," Norema and the young man Bayle undertake commercial missions, only to have their fates misrepresented, which prevents external interference in their society. Lastly, "The Tale of Dragons and Dreamers" depicts Gorgik and Sarg's efforts to liberate slaves, showcasing their commitment to freedom and justice. Collectively, these tales offer rich insights into the moral dilemmas and societal structures prevalent in the world of Nevèrÿon.
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Subject Terms
Tales of Nevèrÿon
First published: 1979
Type of work: Stories
Type of plot: Fantasy—heroic fantasy
Time of work: Prehistory, no later than 4000-5000 b.c.e.
Locale: Nevèrÿon, a fictional place probably in Western Asia
The Plot
The five interconnected stories in Tales of Nevèrÿon deal with aspects of the beginning of civilization. “The Tale of Gorgik” recounts the early years of a native of the city of Kolhari. Enslaved, he is rescued by a jaded noblewoman to attend to her sexual needs. He spends some months at court, makes the acquaintance of the Child Empress, learns the rudiments of military arts, and then becomes an officer and ultimately a successful merchant.
“The Tale of Old Venn” describes the education of the girl Norema, mostly through stories told by the old woman Venn, in the roles of women in various Nevèrÿon societies. In “The Tale of Small Sarg,” Gorgik buys a barbarian boy for sexual purposes. “The Tale of Potters and Dragons” tells how Norema and the young man Bayle are sent on commercial missions from Kolhari to (the nonexistent) Lord Aldamir, on a ship also carrying the masked storytelling woman Raven. Norema’s and Bayle’s fates are reported home inaccurately in writing and commerce is broken off, thus keeping the followers of the fictional lord safe from intrusion. In “The Tale of Dragons and Dreamers,” Sarg and Gorgik attack castles to free their slaves. One poses as a free man, approaches a castle openly, demands that the slaves be freed, and is imprisoned; the other, posing as a slave, then infiltrates and starts freeing the slaves. Sarg and Gorgik encounter Norema and Raven, who go about freeing enslaved women.
Bibliography
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Broderick, Damien. Reading by Starlight: Postmodern Science Fiction. New York: Routledge, 1995.
Dornemann, Rudi, and Eric Lorberer. “A Silent Interview with Samuel R. Delany.” Rain Taxi Review of Books 5, no. 4 (2000).
Fox, Robert Elliot. Conscientious Sorcerers: The Black Postmodernist Fiction of Leroi Jones, Amiri Baraka, Ishmael Reed, and Samuel R. Delany. New York: Greenwood Press, 1987.
Sallis, James. Ash of Stars: On the Writing of Samuel R. Delany. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1996.
Tucker, Jeffrey Allen. A Sense of Wonder: Samuel R. Delany, Race, Identity, and Difference. Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press, 2004.
Tucker, Jeffrey Allen. “Studying the Works of Samuel R. Delany.” Ohio University College of Arts and Sciences Forum 15 (Spring, 1998).