Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 164: Gaytimes Book Club, Part 10

Acquired Tastes XLIII:

Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 164

Gaytimes Book Club, Part 10

Today, we take a final look at New Male's Gaytimes Book Club imprint.

Unsurprisingly, very little is available in the way of information regarding the imprint's history.

The books were distributed by Star Distributors, LTD., which held a P.O. Box (#362) at the Canal Street Station in New York, NY, zip code 10013,

The imprint published 208 titles during its run from 1979 to 1992, all credited to Anonymous.

Publisher's Page

The covers went through four distinct cover changes. Initially they displayed facial or upper torso with face portraits of masculine gay archetypes presented in a stylistic manner all done by the same artist. The publisher chose to switch cover designs starting around book #60 in 1983. At that point the portraits, typically of a single figure - although there were exceptions - featured a three-quarter portrait of a male, usually clothed. The drawings, all done in a comic book-like style by the same artist, appear somewhat amateurish, though colored nicely in an array of flat, solid colors. A third style would be introduced, featuring a black background, creating a domed frame with an amateurish colored drawing. By that point the books were under the heading of New Male, with the Gaytimes Book Club name not mentioned at all. Near the tail end of the imprint's history, they would feature a colored drawing with a bit more artistic merit, minus any framing device or background. 

Examples of the back covers. The first example was used for books #1-60. After that, the back covers were used to advertise the most recent offerings from Star Distributer's Rough Trade imprint.

But the covers were not the only thing to change. The books now advertised ten pages of personal ads and an assortment of sexual enhancement products. Below is a partial description of such a book from Gay's The Word Bookshop, "the UK's oldest LGBT+ bookshop, opening in January 1979 at 66 Marchmont Street."

"Very rare pulp paperback published in 1984 by the GayTimes Book Club (New York). Read and worn, with creasing to spine and on lower cover, but intact with no loss and in solid condition. Yellow sticker on upper cover showing "R" rating: "(a) not to be sold or exhibited to minors, (b) Not to be available for perusal by minors, (c) Not to be displayed in any place to which minors have access, (d) Not to be advertised." With advertisements for "Stallion Slo-Cum Spray" and "Anal Ecstasy" on inside covers, personal advertisements in the final pages ("TEN pages of ads from people who want to meet you!"), and a further catalog of gay erotica available from Star Distributors."

Books #1-60 also feature ads, about nine pages worth, at the back of book - things like subscriptions to The Gaytimes News (12 issues for $18), payment to be sent to P.O. Box 101, Murray Hill Station, New York, NY 10016; Rough Trade, Male Photo, and Stud Series books; and an assortment of 'Butt Tinglers', 'Pocket Pussies', and alarming-looking dildoes.

Oddly, the book's catalog number does not appear on the cover of the book (only on the spine), nor do the words 'New Male' appear anywhere on this first batch of covers, yet that brand name is later associated with the books.

As previously mentioned, I'm not sure how many of the 208 covers I will be able to track down, but here are the next nine covers I could find.  

--- ---

 

 Biker Bait

Author: Anonymous

 1988 

NM-163

--- ---

Locker Room Hunks

 Author: Anonymous 

 1989 

NM-179

--- ---

 Brute Bikers

Author: Anonymous

  1989 

NM-180 

Previously published as NM-032.

--- ---

 Forest Boys

Author: Anonymous

  1989 

NM-181

--- ---

 Terry

 Author: Anonymous 

 1989 

NM-182

--- ---

 New Guinea Sex Cult

 Author: Anonymous 

 1989 

NM-183

--- ---

 Stud Wrangler

 Author: Anonymous 

 1989 

NM-184 

Previously published as NM-045.

--- ---

 Deep Sea Men

 Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-185

--- ---

 Jock on the Make

 Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-186

--- ---

 Bowling Night

 Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-187

--- ---

 Bad Ass Biker

Author: Anonymous

 1990 

NM-188 

Previously published as NM-043.

--- ---

 Tommy

 Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-189

Republished as GE-207 by the Gay Erotica imprint.

It was also 'copied' by the Hard Throbs imprint as HT 137 with the title changed to New York Chicken. 

--- ---

 Johnny’s Friend

 Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-190

--- ---

 Sophomore Stud

 Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-191

--- ---

 Stud Squad

 Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-192 

Republished as MB-11 for the Macho Books imprint.

--- ---

 Burning Desire

 Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-193

--- ---

 Dean of Discipline

  Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-194

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

So this represents a rather temporary change of direction for the imprint's cover illustrations. The three-quarter figure in the foreground with various smaller scenes depicted in the mid-ground on a gradated solid-colored background only lasted but a few titles. The book's spine would feature the tagline: New Male... a gay romance for adults only. The cover art is still being done by Craig Esposito.

--- ---

 Bad Medicine

 Author: Anonymous  

1990 

NM-195

--- ---

 Black Recruit

 Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-196 

Republished as CB-132 for the Combat Books imprint.

--- ---

Bridegroom's Cherry 

Author: Kincaid Jeff 

1991 

NM-197

This actually represents what the covers would look like for the brief remainder of the imprint's lifespan with the artwork still being done by Craig Esposito. The tagline: 'New Male... a gay romance for adults only' now appears on the cover just below the title.

This one is also notable, for it is the only title to be attributed to an 'author'. Kincaid also wrote for the Manhard  and Stud Series imprints.

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

 Richard

 Author: Anonymous 

 1990 

NM-198

--- ---

 Kristen in Rio

 Author: Anonymous 

 1991 

NM-199

This one was recently offered up on eBay complete with a few peeks between the covers. These books continue to go for between $25 to $125. 

--- ---

 Carnival Rowdies

 Author: Anonymous 

 1991 

NM-200 

Republished as FIN-095 for the Finland imprint.

--- ---

 Raw Recruit

Author: Anonymous

 1987

NM-201

Previously published as NM-141.

--- ---

I Like It Rough

Author: Anonymous

 1987 

NM-202

Previously published as NM-142.

--- ---

Hawaiian Lay

Author: Anonymous

 1987 

NM-203

Previously published as NM-143.

--- ---

Super Meat

Author: Anonymous

 1987 

NM-204

Previously published as NM-144.

--- ---

 Billy Tries the Boys

 Author: Anonymous 

 1992 

NM-205

--- ---

 Hard On Freshman

 Author: Anonymous 

 1992 

NM-206

--- ---

 Sex Slave

 Author: Anonymous 

 1992 

NM-207

--- ---

 Hard Punks

 Author: Anonymous 

 1992 

NM-208

Previously published as NM-102.

--- ---

And that's it for New Male's Gaytimes Book Club / New Male series.

Next week: sexy covers from another great vintage gay pulp fiction imprint.

Until then...

Thanks for reading.

Does She Like It Rough - FLAVIA