Warlord of Kor

"Warlord of Kor" by Terry Carr, is a science fiction story set on the planet Hirlaj, about an Earthman named Lee Rynason working with a survey team as he gets to know the Hirlaji race and their telepathic abilities. The novel explores the history of the Hirlaji through Rynason's conversations with a Hirlaji named Horng, who tells him about their traditions and the mysterious, god-like figure known as Kor. They discuss a past historical figure named Tebron and how he changed Hirlaj into a peaceful society. The story reveals Kor might be a machine that holds the lost history of the Hirlaji. As the ambitious Manning, the head of Rynason's team, threatens the calm world of the Hirlaji, the book looks at themes of peace, knowledge, past versus future, and the danger that humans might bring.