Acquired Tastes LXIII: Gay Pulp Fiction - Part Four: Adult Book

Acquired Tastes LXIII: Gay Pulp Fiction

Part Four: Adult Book

Today's post marks the end of our dive into the Adult Book imprint.  We've now covered all the gay-oriented titles associated. These seven are credited to authors who only wrote a single novel for the series. Let's take a look at who they are and have a little fun at their expense.

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Julian Mark is none other than best-selling mystery writer Vincent Lardo. Writing gay pulp fiction is how he got started in the business. He has a total of six gay pulp novels under his belt, before moving on to mysteries and then taking over the McNally series, after Archy McNally's death. He returned to this genre in 2013 with The Jock Strap Murders.

Bath Boy

Author: Julian Mark

Cover Art: Darrell Millsap

"In Rome, they did as the Greeks did!"

As, the Greeks did? So, are we talking about yogurt? I sure hope neither of them is lactose intolerant. Illustrator Darrell Millsap, Adult Books go-to guy for a majority of the imprint, sure gets married to some strange color combinations. Also, this illustration reminds me of Catholic catechism literature from the time. And what's with the posies? Did one of them post an ad on whatever passed for Craigslist at the time and declare, "I will be the one smelling a magenta flower. You bring one, too. Oh, and wear a jock strap." ? 

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This is the only title written by Allan James (Peter Harnes) for this imprint. He did write an additional five gay-oriented titles for various publishers as Allan James and two short story collections, under the name Peter Harnes, as part of Frenchy's Gay Line at Global Press.

Belle of the Boat

Author: Allan James

Cover Art: Darrell Millsap

"On seas of pent up passion, he was the..."

The Belle of the Boat? Oh my, I hope there's a hoop skirt that comes with that title! One can only imagine what goes on between two virile men trapped mid-sea on a ship.  Though blondie there seems dressed more for a weekend on Fire Island than swabbing the decks. Swabbing the decks? More like slobbing the dicks! 

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David Lynn wrote two books for this imprint: Bull Nuts, the hetero 'swap' novel, Let's Trade Wives and The Sex Cannibals. In addition, he wrote three other hetero-oriented titles for other imprints: One Man's Harem, The Sex Spy and The Lust Assassin. 

Bull Nuts

Author: David Lynn

Cover Art: Darrell Millsap

"He was hard as nails... and as gay as they came!"

As gay as they came? Huh. Screw bullets, I've been with guys who shot so hard they could've put an eye out!  And what's with the flat-chested drag queen in a cheap wife-beater sporting a shotgun? Looks like Willam on an off-day. Something tells me firearms are not the only 'guns' these two are used to handling.

Willam, in the film
'Dead Don't Die in Dallas'

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Tony Calvano is actually Thomas J. Ramirez. He also wrote three hetero 'swap' novels for this imprint under the name Gage Carlin. As Tony Calvano he is credited with sixteen novels, mostly hetero-oriented, but including Companion Book's The Fairy Goddess, and the bisexual Late-Hour Library Book: Roll Call in Sodom.

Under Five Fags

Author: Tony Calvano (Thomas P. Ramirez)

Cover Art: Darrell Millsap

"Any price, any device to stay gay!"

Any device to stay gay? So, this is a sort of an anti gay therapy conversion tome? Hmmm. Just look how relaxed Mr. Executive Hair looks on his curved melon-orange sofa. Pretty inviting. I'm thinking the other guy isn't exactly leaning forward to grab that pack of Winston's or take a sip of that gimlet. No, I'm thinking he's looking to take a big gulp of something else!

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Author Gene North has over a dozen titles published on several imprints to his credit. I can confirm that six of those titles are part of this genre. The others vary between hetero swing/swap novels and those pseudo-psychological texts that were popular in the day; porn masquerading as social studies. It should be noted that the cover illustration, by Darrell Millsap, marks a bit of a departure from his usual style and is unique for this imprint.

Good-bye, Gay Love

Author: Gene North

Cover Art: Darrell Millsap

Don't you hate it when you show up somewhere and someone is wearing the same thing you are? Or do you think they called each other ahead of time; "Hey, wanna go rock climbing? Cool. Wear your generic white g-string. See you in a bit." I do admire that bush of pubes sticking out of the top. And so, apparently, does his climbing companion. I bet rocks aren't the only thing he'll be climbing that afternoon. 

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L. J. Brown is a pseudonym for James L. Brown. He wrote one other title for the imprint, a hetero sex romp entitled, Gringo Going Down.

The Queens are in the Parlor

Author: L.J. Brown

Cover Art: Darrell Millsap

"He posed in the altogether gay!"

Well, how else would a proper queen pose? I'm all for nudity. And so is J. Jonah Jameson, there. Just look at those arched eyebrows and that white sports coat. He's got my spidey senses tingling, alrighty.  That poor naked queen doesn't stand a chance. Maybe Spiderman will come to his rescue?

J. Jonah Jameson

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Lance Lester is a pseudonym for the prolific George Davies, a writer at Disney. He wrote 47 gay pulp novels  for a variety of imprints, including the Blueboy Library series. He also wrote under the names Thumper Johnson, O.R. Wells, Clay Caldwell, and Ricardo Armory.

Gay Vista

Author: Lance Lester

Cover Art: Darrell Millsap

"Mike was the cop who mopped up..."

Just look at Ms. Thang, there! Platinum locks, white-rimmed cat-eye sunglasses, a pretty-in-pink blouse unbuttoned all the way down-to-there, tight white sans-a-belt slacks and a cigarette holder that Tallulah Bankhead herself would kill for! Who does this bitch think she is? Well, fortunately for the good people of Vista Del Gay, the fashion police are on the beat. Hmmm. I wonder how Ms. Thang is gonna get her ass out of this one? Based on Officer Mike's stance? I believe we have our answer.

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We'll learn more about Len Harrington, later. Len, or Marcus, or Alan... whatever his name is.  You'll see what I mean...

His Kind of Love 

Author: Len Harrington

Cover Art: Darrell Millsap

Hmm. His kind of love apparently does not include trips to the gym. He's got some child-bearing hips there! Must be all those free buffets in Vegas. And check out Ms. Backstage Thang, hanging out, hand-on-hip, all determined to keep her big paycheck coming in. "What do you mean you're sad? Get out there and sing! Mama needs a new Grecian-inspired blouse." And Darrell... really? This color combo? Sigh. Queen... you dare!

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That does it for the gay pulp novels published under the Adult Book imprint. Of course, there is plenty to come; the more I research, the more I find. I had no idea of the breadth and depth of this genre. 

Did I miss something? Like what you see? Let me know in the comments section. 

This Boy is a Bottom - Willam 

feat. Vicky Vox & Detox Icunt

Love You like a Big Schlong - Willam