Acquired Tastes LXIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 18 - Pleasure Reader / Phase III cont.

Acquired Tastes LXIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 18

Pleasure Reader / Phase III cont.

For today's post, we take yet another look at Greenleaf Classic's Pleasure Reader imprint. These books are a part of the 108 titles that featured black ink or black and white illustrations. Most of the art you see was created by an unknown/unaccredited artist, although there are several done by pulp fiction die hard illustrator Robert Bonfils, some done by illustrator Harry Bremmer, and those done by an artist known only as Savage. 

I am sharing a larger number of covers for this post in an effort to get through these more quickly. That way we can move on to other imprints. Many of the authors listed will be familiar to those of you who have read my past posts regarding this imprint. Enjoy!

--- ---

Lance Lester. Learn about him, here. and here.

Learn more about Felix Lance Falkon, here. Quite prolific and the first in a certain class. Nine easy pieces? Hmmm... upgraded from five!

If William J. Lambert III dives the way he writes, he'd be all over the road. Read more about him here, , here, and most recently, here. This is a sequel to his Demon's Stalk.

Here's a synopsis: "Machinations continue as Anaroth recruits beautiful people for his New Hell and attempts tying up the loose ends still remaining. The story begins eighteen years after the final page of Demon's Stalk. The twins, result of the incestuous union of brother and sister, Serge and Jeni, have been born, one long-since sacrificed as key part of the demon's coronation.

Can Anthony, growing old and impotent, his powerful adversaries with the advantage of youthful immortality, still derail the demon's long-term plans - even though Anthony knows his penchant for attractive young men and the likelihood that Anaroth will, for not the first time, use that and the enticement of renewed sexual vigor against him? Not bloody likely!"

Peter Tuesday Hughes. More about him, here.

This book cover certainly reminds me of a time in my life. Like a sexual lighthouse, that glow behind the mens room door... how many has it beckoned?

This is the only title credited to Eric Asher. 

No doubt what's about to happen here, is there? Sometimes you can tell a book by it's cover!

The only title credited to Eric Jason.

Billy Peale is credited with three titles. We've seen another one of his, here.

'

Another one from Mr. Lambert. Note the name change: WM. J. Lambert III.

Based on the cover, I am not sure I would want to be associated with this either. Very not PC. Ah, the 1970's. Going where no gay should go... ever.  

Jack Spar. His only credit. Yet another... you can tell a book by it's cover! Eek. Little boy! If the old guy offers to show you some of his etchings... run!

James Insley has two novels in the genre. This offering from Greenleaf Classics and Trade Secret published by Pendulum. 

W.W. Wayne has two books to his credit. This, and Snowbound in Sodom.

This homage is by the prolific William J. Lambert III. 

The concept of wife swapping was all the rage among suburbanites during the late 1960's and early 1970's. Even Hollywood got involved by 1969, with the progressively, sexually-liberated Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice, starring Natalie Wood, Elliott Gould, Dyan Cannon, and Robert Culp. So, small wonder that it translated over into the gay world via this form.

Rod Sawyers is the author of six books, for a variety of publishers, in the genre, including the Icecapades-inspired Gay Blades.

Another from Lance Lester. Interesting title. And that illustration with the pool boy? Rather timely, wouldn't you say... Jerry?

A synopsis: "Greg Lane had a sweet setup: a modern house with a pool in Palm Springs; a place where he could bring occasional pickups. A place for trysts with Johnny Kraft, his boss and sometime lover. All Greg had to do in return was take care of the house and run a few errands for the Organization. His safety was assured by Johnny. What he didn't realize was he'd been set up to play the role of Judas Goat; to lure young men from the surrounding area into the house so Johnny could get them hooked on drugs and set up his own turf."

Mr. Douglas Dean... an absolute favorite of mine. Read all about him, here. Dean was frequently criticized for having a rather old-fashioned idea of what being gay was all about. He tended to adhere to what he grew up with during the 1950's. For him, to be gay meant tragedy, not liberation, something to be ashamed of, not celebrated. This put him at odds with the times - which were all about seeking acceptance and taking stake in society. I think Tennessee Williams suffered from the same conceptions. I would say misconceptions, but you have to consider the time in which they grew up. Their work is a reflection of their time. So, while Suddenly Last Summer could almost be played for laughs these days (almost), it is actually a time capsule of what it meant to gay back then. And that, my friends, is what recording history is all about. And a reason that books, such as these, are an important part of gay history.

George Delacourt has four books in the genre to his credit.

Another from Peter Tuesday Hughes. I love the idea of this book - based on its cover. I can never walk into a mens room without searching the stalls for graffiti. It's an odd thrill to stumble upon some... akin to finding cave drawings. Sort of a gay 'Kilroy was here', thing. I like to imagine the energy that sat in that stall and all the possible going-ons that might have taken place there. It's like reliving another person's history; a psychological gay porno, if you will.

The creepy C.J. Bradbury Robinson. Hmm... given the illustration, I guess the publisher did not shy away from the subject material. Read more about Mr. Perv, here. Eek!

Yet another from Lance Lester.

A Synopsis: "Guilt: Guilt because one of the men had committed rape. Guilt because one of them had killed a man in the ring. Guilt because one of them was homosexual in a straight society. Guilt for the experiences they all had drove the nine members of MacNeil's Raiders to band together and become the toughest fighting force in this grisly war between brothers and neighbors."

So sort of a The Magnificent Seven or The A-Team? But with lots of butt fucking?

The first of two short story compilations by Douglas Dean.

This one contains the stories: Naked Walk The Angels, Windows: The Brass Ring / Stolen Minutes, and Flowers for the Living.

The second short story compilation by Douglas Dean.

This one contains: What Love Demands, Mirrors: To Go With The Wave / Something Else, Confused Alarms and Return Engagement.

Another from George Delacourt. Nice ass. The cover reminds me of Gay Paragon

--- ---

Well, that's all for today, kids. We have one more post detailing the last books in this phase of Pleasure Reader's graphic evolution, and then we get to move on to something more colorful.  

Did you like what you see? Did I get something wrong? Leave your thoughts in the comments section. I love hearing from you. Thanks for reading.

Windows of the World - The Pretenders

from the film 1969