Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 24 - Pleasure Reader/Phase V

Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 24

Pleasure Reader/Phase V

Today we say good-bye to Greenleaf Classics' Pleasure Reader imprint. These are the final eight books published and they all have one thing in common - a new attempt at rebranding. Retaining the softer style of Phase IV branding, Phase V incorporates a red title block near the top of cover, bleeding in from the right, with white all-caps lettering. Gone is the emphasis on the single figure in the foreground captured in a headshot. These all feature three-quarter body shots, with the final three dabbling in a color background. 

The cover art is done by an unknown artist or an illustrator who went by the name Savage. Notice how Savage actually begins to sign his cover art near the end of the imprint's life. 

I'm unsure why a given imprint is discontinued, but I am sure it has to do with waning sales and market trends. For whatever reason, Pleasure Reader ceased the publication of new titles in February of 1973 with an impressive 297 titles to its credit - 180 of which were gay-oriented.

Let's take a look at their last hurrah... 

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Patrick Doyle is a familiar name. We've seen his works, here, here, here, here, here and here. He has sixteen novels to his credit. And I can't seem to get a lead on him at all, which seems odd, given his output. 

One Man's Meat

Author: Patrick Doyle

Cover Art: Unknown

I must say, right from the get-go, I like these new covers. There's more of a story to the illustrations. I adore the flirty look in the young sailor's eyes, as his superior peeks in on him smoking a cig and lounging in his skivvies. I don't believe those are Navy issue! But they do fit nicely. Yes, this one looks ripe for the reading. And check out that treasure trail! 

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This is the only novel published under the name (no doubt a pseudonym) Berry Wayne.

Stud House

Berry Wayne

Cover Art: Unknown

Hmm. I am assuming this is rush week at the frat house. Well, it is the 'Greek' way. Though, typically, isn't it the older, established house members that 'force' the young pledge to, ummm... service them? Seems the appetites of this particular house are well established. Again, another lively illustration. Looks good enough to eat! Hee hee. 

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Another offering from one of Greenleaf Classics' many established writers. You'll remember him from, here, here, here, here, here, and here. A brief refresher: Hughes is responsible for 33 novels in two genre's: gay pulp fiction (gay gothic) and science fiction. His writing was frequently criticized for its pessimistic tone. 

A Boy In The Night

Author: Peter Tuesday Hughes

Cover Art: Unknown

What have we here? An little art theft? A painting heist. I can see a little (little?) something I wouldn't mind lifting! Check out the bulge of his mesh bikini undergear! Woot, woot. Jackpot. That's all the treasure I want to plunder.  The plunder down under?

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Frederick Raborg. I must say, he really did traffic in a variety of subgenres. We learned a whole lot about him, here. And you can see more examples of his work, here and here.

Houseboy

Author: Frederick Raborg

Cover Art: Unknown

I don't know what to think here... well, I do, actually. I don't like this at all. It feels very exploitational.  First, there's the houseboy thing - an implied power imbalance - which, if we were dealing with a same race situation, maybe I would give it a pass. But it's not. This cover  brings to mind the term 'rice queen', which is a term I have never been comfortable with. First, the term 'rice', refers to race, second, queen refers to gay - and it has a negative connotation. 

Now, I know a few men with a preference for Asian men and they use the term when referring to themselves. I have even heard it used on television (Family Guy). I don't like it. And I think it's time, if were to have honest discussions about race, that we start talking about this term and its use in our community. This is a kind of casual racism that I cannot abide. In this instance, there is an implied power imbalance and in the example on Family Guy, there was implied imperialism.

Am I wrong? Is this a generational interpretation? 

I would really love to hear your thoughts on this.

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Eric Thomas has at least seven sexual pulp fiction novels to his name. 'Strip for Murder', with it's Liz Taylor-like cover art, is one of my favorites. 

Ten-Inch Stud

Author: Eric Thomas

Cover Art: Savage

Given the title... I don't know about you, but I 'expected' more. Still... it does look promising. And he's certainly handsome enough. Just a few... strategic... tugs on those strings? And I think we'd have what we're looking for!

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This is the only gay pulp fiction novel credited to Marshall Rogers. 

That said... and I am unsure about this, but according to LibraryThing, this was actually written by famed Batman illustrator/writer Marshall Rogers. 

Now, I have an email into the owner of a Marshall Rogers fan site to ask for verification. After reading Rogers' Wikipedia page, I noted that the timeline makes it possible. Rogers would have been a struggling, 23 year-old illustrator/writer at the time this novel was published, in February of 1973.  He admits, that to earn a living, he did illustrations for men's magazines that he described as "real low-grade schlock sleazo magazines that had illustrations to precede the stories". His career as a comic book illustrator took off in the next year. 

He never married and his only child, a son, was adopted. 

Rogers died on March 24, 2007, at his home in Fremont, California, at the age of 57 - an apparent heart attack.

So, why am I on the fence? Because you never run with a story with only a single source. And I am reticent to do that here. So... take this info for what it is... somewhat unsubstantiated.  

The Unwilling Rape

Author: Marshall Rogers

Cover Art: Savage

A little uncomfortable with this topic, as I don't think rape (outside of consensual role play with safe words in place) is sexy. So, let's concentrate on the cover. The blonde is certainly highly androgynous, given his fly-away flip - although the bulge in his tighty whities would seem to check one box over the other (are those supposed to be blonde pubes coming out of the top of his drawers?). As for his decidedly sun-kissed companion... just what the hell is he doing? So, kudos on the color and the quality of the artwork, but thumbs down on the the content and subject material.

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John Sutherland has two novels to his name. Here's one. The other can be found here.

Paul's Coming Out

Author: John Sutherland

Cover Art: Savage

Paul's coming out, alright! Out of those tight white jeans once his fans get him backstage! Love those pubes sprouting out of the top of his pants. Pretty boy pop singers were all the rage in 1973. I'm amazed there was never a gay porn based on a David Cassidy-like singer. 

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This is the only novel credited Connor McHugh.

Young Boy Rape

Author: Connor McHugh

Cover Art: Savage

The less said the better? I dunno. Jailhouse sex is hot in theory (in porn), but - as I said before - rape is not sexy.  That title? What, did Pleasure Reader's editing staff just give it up?

Though, I do admire the hang of those tighty whities. And that furry chest. And those arms. And that hair... and he's so pretty. Sigh.

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And that is it, folks. For this imprint, at least - 180 covers. We are now moving on to another.

Did you like what you see? Did I get something wrong? Let me know. Leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments section. I love hearing what you think.

Tune in next week. 

Until then...

Thanks for reading.

One Man's Meat - Deep Purple