Acquired Tastes XLIII Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 90 HIS69, Part 19 of 44

Acquired Tastes XLIII

Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 90

HIS69, Part 19 of 44

The HIS69 imprint was active from 1971 thru 1988, delivering an astounding 531 titles. Surrey House, Inc. / Surree Ltd, Inc. of San Diego and Santee, California are responsible for this imprint which was distributed by the same company as Trojan Books, Manhard Books, Gay Books and Gay Way Books; the Zorro Distribution Company, also operating out of San Diego

It should be noted that many of these titles, with original artwork included, were simultaneously republished under the Gay Books imprint and then, later, minus the artwork, were also republished under the ManPower imprint.

The artwork for the HIS69 books would go through only two minor shifts with all the covers featuring ink drawings by various uncredited illustrators - artwork quite similar to what we saw with the Manhard imprint.

Here are a baker's dozen worth of titles. This week, once again, I was able to track down all of them.

Man-Made Stud

Author: Rex Montgomery

HIS69217

Huh. I wonder if this is a Dr. Frankenstein kind of story? I guess the bolt (or is it a cyst?) on the neck of the gentleman on the right would serve as confirmation. Aww. What young gay hasn't had this fantasy of controlling your own live sex doll? A rite of passage?

 

Bondage Boys

Author: Dick Stroth

HIS6918

This is a crappy way to introduce this change, but it's the best I could do. Yes, HIS69 would, on occasion, feature color photos on the cover. Their source is never credited and, like the illustrations, the photos rarely had anything to do with the actual story. I wonder if they kept track of which  - the illustrations or the photos - brought the best sales figures?  I suppose this was an attempt to modernize the brand, though, I much prefer the illustrations. I bet collectors feel the same way.

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Hollywood Call Boy

Author: Roy Lance

HIS69219

This particular call boy puts the 'hot' in 'hot line.' Look at that fly-away hair! Sigh. It was a sign of the times. I will never pay for it... never have (except emotionally.) But... to each their own.

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Leather Slaves

Author: Tom Hardy

HIS69220

Another by Tom Hardy (Gordon Hoban). Hit the link to learn more about him. 

BDSM. Not for me. Too many props. Too much staging. And, you know, it's frequently not about sex with those folks. It's more of a ritual, or something - not one that ends with everyone getting their cookies. So? Not for me. 

I like cookies.

And I'm not spending a minute in the kitchen unless I get to eat what I make.

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Farm Boys

Author: Ward Michaels

HIS69221

Adore this. Yes, they appear a little young - but this is fantasy and takes me back. Back in my high school days, I had the biggest crushes on some farm boys. And, had I not been so naïve and such a coward, maybe I could have actually acted on some of those fantasies... but it seemed, at the time, too great a risk. I think that's the purpose of books such as this one... to relive those fantasies we were too scared to act on at the time we were the age of those pictured and depicted within. Sort of a comfort in our old age? Bittersweet. 

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Hard Hat Master

Author: Michael Scott

HIS69222

Our second photo cover. And I do believe the sticker hiding 'the goods' is part of the design. Yes, by the time HIS69 books were brave enough to start showing peen, the censorship laws had relaxed a great deal. Still, I suppose, based on past experiences, publishers knew better than to risk possible product seizures and the government's steely gaze. Those court cases? Ate up a lot of time and were incredibly costly, though most defendants were able to line up sympathetic legal counsel. Still? Best business plan is one that avoids that whole drama. This was about making money, not setting precedents or pushing boundaries.  

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Boot-Camp Trick

Author: Alex Grand

HIS69223

Ah, a good old-fashioned military-themed fantasy. While I certainly have indulged in such thoughts, I can't imagine actually enlisting and having to endure all that young soldiers must go through. But, we all know someone who has and likes to share stories about such - our good friend, whkattk over at Big Whack Attack. I adore any mention of his time as an enlisted man. Of course, this novel probably delves into things and presents situations that are more fantasy than reality... but just the bits of reality people like whkattck has shared is enough to help those fantasies come alive.

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Trick Me Easy

Author: Samuel West

HIS69224

Hee, hee. Love the title. As one who used to be easily 'tricked,' I must say... there aren't many better ways to spend 20 minutes. Sigh. 

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Sea Sucker

Author: Dick Garfield

HIS69225

Ahoy! Meaty mateys! Also known as 'sea food.' Homo high jinks on the high seas. Yes, as we've all heard... it gets lonely out there, setting the stage for more than a few instances of strange bedfellows. A titillating situation, I am surprised there isn't a musical called Boys At Sea!

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Young Hunk

Author: Dick Stroth

HIS69226

Lots of semi-naked wrestling on these covers. And they seem fixated on the whole Starsky And Hutch look. Well, based on the curly-haired man's appearance, I must say that headlock is producing the desired results. 

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Animal Man

Author: Chad Stuart

HIS69227

Golden-aged porn can look so... awkward. I can't imagine what is pictured ever happening naturally. These photos frequently appear to be influenced by the work of Bob Mizer over at AMG. Still, I suppose it was enough to elicit the desired results... a sale (cha-ching!)

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Slave To Leather

Author: Bernard Sinclair

HIS6928

Does that outfit look comfortable to you? While I appreciate it's Barbarella/Zardoz vibe, I could never pull it off - or wear it at all. It looks like it might chafe or cause a yeast infection! On this model? Well, yes, it does work. A bit silly... but then, I've sexually fixated on much sillier fare. 

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My Sex Island

Author: Robie G. Smith

HIS69229

Another adolescent homo fantasy, I guess; owning your own island. 

Unless you're David Copperfield or Johnny Depp. 

Hmm. That may explain a few things... yes?

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And that's all for now.

Next week, twelve more tantalizing titles.

Until then... thanks for reading!

Sea Cruise - Frankie Ford