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'''Idabel''' is a city in [[McCurtain County, Oklahoma|McCurtain County]], [[Oklahoma]], [[United States]]. The population was 6,952 at the 2000 census. It is the [[county seat]] of [[McCurtain County, Oklahoma|McCurtain County]]{{GR|6}}.
'''John Norman''' (born [[June 3|3 June]] [[1931]]) is a [[controversial book|controversial]] [[reactionary]] [[philosopher]] and [[utopia|utopian]]/[[soft science fiction]] [[novelist]] best known for his “Chronicles of [[Gor]]” and its male [[dominant]]/female [[submissive]] [[BDSM]] content. Former students say that “John Norman” is a pseudonym of philosophy [[professor]] John F. Lange of [[City University of New York|CUNY]]. Followers of Norman’s philosophy are termed [[Goreans]].
The city was first named Pernell, then renamed for the daughters, Ida and Belle, of a Choctaw citizen on whose land the town was built.
==Books==
Science fiction:
* “Chronicles of [[Gor]],” also “Chronicles of [[Counter-Earth]]” ([[1967]]-[[2001]])
* “[[The Telnarian Chronicles]]” ([[1991]]-[[1993]])
==Geography==
Historical fiction:
[[Image:OKMap-doton-Idabel.PNG|right|Location of Idabel, Oklahoma]]
* <i> [[Time Slave]] </i> ([[1975]])
Idabel is located at {{coor dms|33|53|47|N|94|49|45|W|city}} (33.896299, -94.829238){{GR|1}}.
* <i> [[Ghost Dance]] </i> ([[1979]])
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 41.3 [[km²]] (15.9 [[square mile|mi²]]). 41.3 km² (15.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.06% is water.
Nonfiction:
* <i> [[Imaginative Sex]] </i> ([[1974]])
==Demographics==
Norman is a protégé of [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]], and his influential [[Gor]] series bears parallels to Burroughs’ [[John Carter of Mars]]. His novels include lengthy philosophical and [[sociology|sociological]] dissertations contrasting the malaise of modern society (everything from common dishonesty to [[nuclear warfare|nuclear holocaust]]) with the remedial beauty of [[nature|natural]] society. Placing emphasis on living in accordance with a [[Friedrich Nietzsche|Nietzsche-esque natural order]], he sponsors a hierarchy of talent.
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 6,952 people, 2,735 households, and 1,785 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 168.5/km² (436.3/mi²). There were 3,129 housing units at an average density of 75.8/km² (196.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.99% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 24.45% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 10.44% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.30% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.37% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.43% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.96% of the population.
There were 2,735 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.08.
From this hierarchy and his use of [[evolutionary psychology]] to analyze [[gender role|gender differences]], he then suggests that [[woman]] is the [[submissive]] natural helper, and figurative [[slave]], of [[dominant]] [[man]]. His work often, but not always, takes this observation literally: heroes enslave heroines who, upon being enslaved, revel in the discovery of their natural place. Norman and [[Goreans]] have been criticized for this tenant of what they consider honoring nature.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
==Personal Views==
<i>[[Imaginative Sex]]</i> indicates that Norman is not a [[misogynist]] but rather a pioneer in [[human sexual behavior]] firmly entrenched in [[BDSM]]’s fantasy and [[safe, sane and consensual]] elements.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,496, and the median income for a family was $24,189. Males had a median income of $24,182 versus $16,958 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,241. About 28.7% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 42.5% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
Norman, also a political activist, modified his alignment from [[conservative]] to [[libertarian]] during his effective [[censorship]]. The extent to which he himself is Gorean is unclear.
==CareerExternal links==
*[http://www.idabel.lib.ok.us/ Idabel Public Library]
Norman’s career as a philosopher/writer underwent three stages:
# [[1960s]]-[[1970s]]: Norman becomes wildly popular, rivaling fellow author [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]] with sales of the first third of the [[Gor]] series. His rise may be attributed to the willingness of rebellious or disaffected [[United States|American]]s during this period to consider his social alternatives.
# [[1980s]]-mid [[1990s]]: Increasing [[political correctness]], especially [[feminism]], prompted [[consumer]]s and [[special interest|interest groups]] to take action against the sale of Norman’s books, including petitioning retailers. Norman’s books were removed from bookstores and libraries, and Norman accused [[publisher]]s for [[blacklisting]] him.
# Late [[1990s]]-present: Acceptance of [[BDSM]] and growth of the [[Internet]] allowed the resurgence of Norman’s ideas without the consent of normal publishing channels. [[Goreans]] assembled on the Internet and in real life while smaller publishers attempted, with limited success, to “bring back Norman.”
{{Mapit-US-cityscale|33.896299|-94.829238}}
==External Links==
* [http://www.worldofgor.com John Norman’s current publisher]
{{Oklahoma}}
* [http://www.locusmag.com/2001/Departments/Letters10Norman.html Recent open letter by Norman noting his discrimination and expressing his libertarianism]
* [[Usenet]] group discussing Norman’s work: alt.books.gor
[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:McCurtain County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:County seats in Oklahoma]]
[[io:Idabel, Oklahoma]]
[[lmo:Idabel, Oklahoma]]
[[vo:Idabel]]
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