Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 145 Adam's Gay Readers: Part 2 of 10

Acquired Tastes XLIII:

Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 145

Adam's Gay Readers: Part 2 of 10

This week we continue our ten-part series of posts dedicated to Adam's Gay Reader's.

Adam's Gay Reader's were released under the Surey Books banner, and published from 1983-1991. Whether this imprint is related to other Surrey publications remains to be seen.

The books were distributed by Star Distributors, which operated out of a P.O. Box  (P.O. Box 36) at the Canal Street Station in New York City, NY.  

A total of 155 titles were published, all featuring distinctively soft, but gay-erotic illustrations, all in a watercolor-like style.

Described by The Book Merchant Jenkins as:

"One of the many gay erotic pulp novels produced in the mid to late 20th century. These short sexually explicit stories, many of which were formulaic and published in easily recognizable series with graphically illustrated covers and titillating titles each targeting a specific sexual niche, demonstrate the breadth of sexual fantasy, occupation, desire, and deviance of the emerging homosexual culture."

 And... so far, that's all I have learned about this imprint. If you have any info, leave it in the comments section or contact me via blogger.

This week: I found only 7 out of 15 covers.

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Rub a Big Stud

 Author: Van Damm Dirk 

1983

AGR-116

So, these books do exist. I just couldn't find the covers. Found this photo on an auction site (not eBay), and decided to include it if the title was listed. Currently these books are selling for between $40 and $99 each - a little surprising, because they are from the 1980's. Those prices used to be reserved for anything from the 60's and the early 70's.

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 Backroom Hunk

Author:   Dearing Mark

 1984 

AGR-117

True backrooms are typically incredibly dicey and very, very dark. That's probably why our illustrator decided to go with this glory hole scene instead - it's much more picturesque.

Check out those demin cut-offs on the stud at the urinal. Seems some things never go out of style. You know... like glory holes and tearoom sex!

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Soaking up the Sun

 Author: Ward Michaels

 1984

AGR-118

So this? This looks like a backroom scene, although everybody has on way too much clothing. Given the title, I would have expected a beach scene.  And, again, with the denim! Though I do like the piping on that t-shirt the man in the foreground is wearing. But, honestly? White? In a backroom? No, no... it's simply not done. You wear white in the backroom - what with the various stains you're sure to soon be wearing - you might as well walk out of that place with a billboard across your chest that  says 'I'm a dirty slut.' 

Decorum, my dears. Above all else, decorum. That's why all the boys in the backroom wear leather. 

It absorbs any fluid it comes in contact with. 

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New Bath in Town

Author: Jay Michael

1984

AGR-119

Bathhouse fun! I was once at the opening night of a bathhouse. It was a riot. I could not get over the number of guys. It was like running with the bulls. We were all shoulder to shoulder. It felt like that scene in Day Of The Locusts, where Karen Black gets swept up in the crowd (I may not be remembering that correctly, though.)

To be honest? Unless you are beautiful and young, one will spend at least 75% of his time feeling underappreciated or worse. It's still like fishing. And even though the pond is stocked and your odds of snagging something are good, but you have to be patient. That said, you also have to be careful - for your odds of 'catching' something are also pretty high!

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Riding the Rods

Author: Bolt Tanner

1984

AGR-120

Backseat love! Sigh.

Okay, on occasion, I still fool around in a car. I know... at my age! Imagine. But sometimes neither party can host. Blow jobs in the front seat of a vehicle? Easy-peasy. If you're smart and limber enough, you, the sucker, simply hunkers down in the passenger side wheel well. Works well, even if there's a gear knob (and there's always a gear knob.) Anything else? Again, depends upon how limber you are. If you're a bottom who likes being on top of things? Can work like a charm, but you have to have the knees and thigh muscles for it.

As for not getting caught? Well - we're not talking more than twenty minutes, so that is in your favor. Anything longer and you're risking discovery for sure. Bottom line, it's like real estate - location, location, location. Play it smart, play it safe. Avoid cruisy parking lots, especially if you know the cops are aware of the activities that take place there. Your best shot will always be to find some unexpected alcove or turnabout. Under railroad bridges are good - just be prepared to wave hello to any passing engineer. Who knows? Maybe he'll blow his horn for you!

This one is available as a PDF or ebook download at Hommi Publishing.

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Back Stage Studs

 Author: Mark Andrews

1985

AGR-121

Mark Andrews is credited with 20 titles in this genre, published by this imprint, the HIS69 series, and the Just Us Boys series. In addition, he wrote one serious horror novel, Satan's Manor.

So, I will be trying to find one of his books in order to see what kind of quality he brings to the table!

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Beef Cakes

Author: Roland Graeme

1985

ARG-122

Naked photo shoot, anyone?

I don't know if it sounds fun, but if the photographer shooting my session showed up wearing those tiny athletic shorts... well, I'd be the one truly 'inspired'. You can keep Mr. Beef Cake. As pictured, with that little porn stache? I would be telling that little cutie where to point and click.

Besides, jocks bore me. A man in the arts, on the other hand? Well, if not his muse, perhaps his patron?

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 Eurostud Holiday

Author: Ward Michaels

1985

AGR-123

Ward Michaels is credited with 39 titles in this genre. His work was published by this imprint, the HIS69 series, and the Surrey Stud Series.

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Night Shift Apprentice

Author: Mark Deering

1985

AGR-124

Mark Deering wrote Choosing The Best for the HIS69 series.

 

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Stars in Their Eyes

Author: David Chaney

1985

AGR-125

David Chaney is responsible for a pair of titles published by the HIS69 series.

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Guided Tour

Author: Ward Michaels

1985

AGR-126

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Hunk o’ the Month

Author: Mark Andrews

1985

AGR-127

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Fireman in Heat

Author: Frank Stare

1985

AGR-128

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Handful of Men

Author: Michael Scott 

1985

AGR-129

Hot stuff. A couple of cute butt-boys in an industrial setting, with one of them bound to a pipe and sporting a what's left of a flannel sleeveless shirt. Oh, to be a fly on that wall.

I find it odd that the perv in me is all excited about this set-up given that it's a drawing. If I saw this in a porn, I might watch for a minute, but I'd move on pretty quickly. And if I walked in on such a thing?

Why, I'd want to join, of course. Sigh.

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Class Reunion

Author:  Jon Hartley 

1985

AGR-130

A class reunion? Have you ever?

I can't imagine going to one of mine... especially at this late date. Everyone would be bloated and unrecognizable, save my arch-nemesis, who was one of six gays I went to school with. He's so vain, he's probably had work done. Although, given how much pride he used to take in his hair, I'm sure being as bald as I am has driven him mad. I'd walk right up to him and rub his head for luck!

As for all my high school crushes, I do know that one of them has kept up his bod. He was a gym bunny before the term even existed. I always thought of him as a fresh-faced Robert Redford to my ugly-duckling Streisand. I waited and waited for him to declare his love for me, but, alas, he was too busy being quarterback, class president, and track star to notice little old me.

I would go and bare my torch for him, but something tells me he always knew. Kind of hard not to notice the knuckle-dragger following behind you from class to class. So, in this instance, unlike so much of my life, I'll show a little class - and skip those reunions altogether.

Yes, children shouldn't play with dead things.

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And that's all for now.

Next time: more Adam's Gay Readers magic.

Until then...

Thanks for reading.

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

from Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion