Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 21 - Pleasure Reader/Phase IV

Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 21

Pleasure Reader/Phase IV

Today, we pick up where we left off with nine more of the 36 books published by Greenleaf Classics' Pleasure Reader imprint bearing cover designs from Phase IV of their rebranding efforts. Most of these covers were done by Greenleaf Classics' die-hard illustrator, Robert Bonfils, who still seems to be finding his footing (and a consistent design scheme) with this new style. The cover art remains 'softer', with an emphasis on a single figure in the foreground - typically captured in a headshot (head and shoulders). 

These books appear in the opposite order they were published, because that is how Blogger wanted them to appear, despite my best efforts.

Let's dig in...

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Chad Stuart (not to be confused with the Chad Stuart of Chad and Jeremy fame) has 18 credits in the genre. He was published by a number of imprints, including: HIS69, RAM-10, and Golden Boy Books.

Mountain Men

Author: Chad Stuart

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

My preferred title for this one? Mounting Men.

It would seem this cover has a lot in common with Robert Bonfils first Phase IV cover (for I Am Dying, Egypt); the eyes are closed, the head cocked to the side and that same garish skin tone (with the pink lips and ears, it only looks even more so). Also, the softness that typifies this phase is not present. As for the subject material... well, what card-carrying gay guy hasn't hooked up with a couple of studs while on an afternoon hike? 

What? Just me? Naw...

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Ah, Frederick Raborg. We learned a whole lot about him, here. And you can see more examples of his work, here.

Jail Rape

Author: Frederick Raborg

Cover Art: Unknown

You'd think, with that title, they could have come up with something a little more provocative for the cover. It's one of the few illustrations to stray from the conventions of Phase IV branding by featuring a full torso - not a very interesting one - but,  yes, a full upper torso. Something tells me this was done by a different unknown artist than ones previously. As for the apparent subject matter of the book, once again, Raborg remains fearless, tackling almost any gay porn niche.

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Larry Townsend is back with two in a row. If you remember (from a previous post) Townsend was one of the writers who chafed against the standards set by Greenleaf Classic's dedicated editor, Ginger Sisson. Ginger, a rare female editor in the industry, actively sought out and desired to publish high-quality gay literature. Her quality demands were so strict that she actually drove several writers, including Larry Townsend, to seek out other publishers. Both Larry and Dean Goodman cite her as a major influence during this time period.

Leather Ad, Volume 2, S

Author: Larry Townsend

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

Activist/author Larry Townsend has been featured previously. Learn more here.

Leather Ad, Volume 1, M

Author: Larry Townsend

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

Townsend became world renowned and celebrated. He was also quite the showman. Here's a snippet from Jack Fritscher's remembrance of Townsend, entitled Spill a Drop for Lost Brothers... "In San Francisco, late in his life... he could pack a crowd into A Different Light Bookstore at 18th and Castro. In 1996, the audience loved seeing him make an entrance into that bookstore with a nearly naked young leather slave on one leash, and his Doberman dog on another. When both slave and dog 'sat' at his stern command, he brought down the house."

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Dallas Kovar has five novels in the genre. They include a trilogy of westerns: One to Share, Two to Show, and Three to Trade.

Blood Brothers

Author: Dallas Kovar

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

Last week, we had Purple Feather by Frederick Raborg and now this. Not sure what to think of the sub-genre. I couldn't find any information about Dallas Kovar, but unless he is a Native American, I am not at all comfortable with this. I know it is a piece of history... but I don't know what it is an example of; classic gay pulp fiction or textbook cultural insensitivity. 

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Lyle Forbes has two titles in the genre. The other can be found, here.

Colt For Hire

Author: Lyle Forbes

Cover Art: Unknown

Again, this cover reminds me of the cover Robert Bonfils did for I Am Dying, Egypt, except, he didn't do this one! When cataloging their output, Greenleaf Classics made a point of sitting down with the famed illustrator. There were many covers they thought he'd done, but he only claimed certain ones, insisting that he had no hand in the others. But, do compare the two and see what I mean. 

Ah, farm boys, am I right? Love them. Sigh. Though this farmhand has definitely put his 'boy' days behind him. I wonder what else he might like to put 'behind' him? 

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This is the only book credited to Gordon Daniels.

Black Angel

Author: Gordon Daniels

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

Well, nice to see a black man on the cover for a change. Only thing that spoils it is that the title needs to call attention to it. And what bridge is that supposed to be? The Golden Gate isn't that pointy. And it's not the Manhattan Bridge. Nope, drawing a blank. I even did a Google search. But that fog... ah, I bet he left his heart in San Francisco. 

Umm. Who approved this cover?

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See more from Peter Tuesday Hughes  here, here, and here.

Alien

Author: Peter Tuesday Hughes

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

Loving the alien, indeed! Not with that skin tone. Oh, no, no, no. He looks like he just drank a bottle of absinth (or maybe Nyquil). I haven't seen anything that green since Kate Gosselin tried to cut a rug on Dancing With The Stars. Well, at least Bonfils got the eyes right. Ummm, right??

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Ah, the always reliable Lance Lester. Learn more about him, here, and here.

Waco's Boy

Author: Lance Lester

Cover Art: Robert Bonfils

Is this supposed to be the wild west? I assume we are talking Waco, TX. Given the vintage look of that there hotel in the background, I am assuming we are looking at the 1860's. And is his name Clem? Clem doesn't look none too smart, but I bet he makes up for it in other departments. See those ears? 

Yeah, that hat ain't the only thing pulling 'em forward. Wink, wink. 

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Well, that takes us up to book number 18 in this series, so halfway there. 

Did you like what you see? Did I get something wrong, or have you something to add? Let me know... just drop me a line via the comments section.

That's all for now. Until next week... enjoy!

S&M - Rihanna

Loving the Alien - David Bowie