Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 184 - Parisian Press, Part 1 of 4

Acquired Tastes XLIII

Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 184

Parisian Press

Part 1 of 4

Today, we take the first of four looks at Parisian Press (not to be confused with Gay Parisian Press - which are related to these and preceded them - or the leaflet-like adult offerings of Parisian Press published during the 1940s, 30s, and 40's in France.

Parisian Press published 45 gay titles during the years 1971 and 1972, running the typical gamut of gay subjects, including: incest, coaches, teachers, brothers, coming out, truckers, military, hustlers, and interracial. In addition, they published a 400 series devoted to heterosexual fare. All titles were printed in the US and were published in San Francisco.

The covers are typically a single color background with a white line drawing (sort of like an x-ray) - unless the solid color is white. In that instance the drawing appears in black ink.  

The books were written by a number of well-established writers, typically using a pseudonym. 

In the back of the book, mail order ads offering these books, gay skin magazines, their Gay Parisian Press titles, and a selection of heterosexual books and magazines. The mail order business operated as Le Salon Mail Order House, Inc. at 1118 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Depending on condition, these books run from $18-76 at on-line bookstores, or, frequently, much more on eBay. 

Here are the first 11 titles! This week, I found all 11 covers.

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Night of the Sadist

Author: Paul Laurie  

 Parisian Press

 1971 

P-200 

According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is a "mystery" novel. It was selected by 120 Days Books for republishing in 2018, with the following description: "Journalist Tom Maxon's investigation into his brother Bob's brutal murder takes him deep into the underworld of BDSM clubs and parties in this Agatha Christie-style mystery with a twist: Can Tom unmask the vicious killer before he strikes again?"

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Pool Boy

Author: Mike Carey

Parisian Press

1971 

P-201

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Robbie 

Author: Carl Driver

Parisian Press

 1971 

P-202

Carl Driver was a pseudonym used by Philip H. Lee. As Carl Driver, he was an well-established author in the genre, with books published by P.E.C. French Line, Green Leaf Classics's Pleasure Reader imprint, Cameo Library, and Barclay House, among others.

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My Teacher My Lover 

Author: David L.  Rinker 

Parisian Press

1971 

P-203

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Gay Blades

 Author: Rod Sawyers 

Parisian Press 

1971 

P-204

Rod Sawyers has six titles in the genre to his credit. His work has been published by Beacon Books, Greenleaf Classics, Trojan Classics, and Greenleaf Classics's Pleasure Reader imprint.

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Fathers, Sons, and Lovers 

 Author: David Wilder

Parisian Press

1971 

P-205

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

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Come, Killer, Come 

Author: Paul Laurie 

Parisian Press

1972 

P-206

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

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My Dark Lover 

 Larry  Crane

Parisian Press

1972 

P-207

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Jimmy

 Author: W. Esbee 

Parisian Press

1972 

P-208 

According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is about " sexual exploits of a teenager at the induction center and military school." It also claims that W. Esbee is "possibly a pseudonym of William S. Burroughs." W. Esbee has two credits in the genre, this and Gay Way's 1973 title, Prickly Heat.

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A Sailor Coming Out 

Author: Billy Farout  

Parisian Press

1972 

P-209

Billy Farout is the pseudonym of poet William Barber. As Billy Farout, he wrote four titles for this imprint.

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

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From Steve with Love

  Author: John  Jackson

Parisian Press

 1972 

P-210

John Jackson is credited with five titles for this imprint.

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And that's all for  now.

Until next time...

Thanks for reading!

Jimmy - M.I.A.