Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 185 - Pendulum Books

Acquired Tastes XLIII

Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 185

Pendulum Books

This week we take a look at the gay titles offered by Pendulum Books.

As is typical of this type of publisher, very little is known about Pendulum Books. 

Pendulum Books, Inc. operated out of  Atlanta, Georgia, in an office at 123 Simpson Street N.W.

The bulk of their output was heterosexual smut running the usual gamut - incest, swapping, hustlers and prostitutes, bondage, S&M, etc., with at least one known lesbian novel and ten gay male titles. 

The books we'll be taking a look at were published from 1968 to 1970, which very well may be the lifespan of the imprint. During its lifetime, Pendulum Books published 500 titles.

During that time, the paperback covers would go through four distinct design periods: colorful block optic graphics, then a pink and black frame design featuring an overexposed art photo, then a black background with a color photo, and finally, a distinctive white frame on a black background featuring a traditional color illustration. All four styles are represented among the ten titles we'll take a look at today and all four include the distinctive banner in the up right corner which declared "Positively Adults Only!"

The last few pages of the books were reserved for ads offering readers the opportunity to purchase other books the imprint offered. 

Of the ten gay titles, I was only able to find seven covers. 

Let's take a look...

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The Coming Race

Author: E. S. Moore

  1970 

Pendulum Books

PND-087 

Described as: The saga of a modern-day Don Juan, whose acts of sex and violence, as in a Greek tragedy, ultimately bring retribution upon him - but he certainly lives his dissolute life to the fullest. 

192 pages. Found a copy for $9 at AbeBooks (plus $4.50 shipping).

Back Cover

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I Homosexual

Author: Adrian James

1968

Pendulum Books 

PND-088

Described as: A trip around the world was all it took to show the youth that straight sex was not for him - the happiness lay only in the arms of another man. 

Found two copies: one for $99 at Kayo Books or one for $45.50 at AbeBooks.

Back Cover

Table Of Contents

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Holding My Own
Author: William S. Kiowa

1969
Pedulum Books
PND-1-122

Found a copy for $25 at Hommi Publishing.

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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The Gay Sucker

Author: Michael Hunt

 1969 

Pendulum Books

PND-412

Cover not found.

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Come Gay

Author: Ben Stark

 1969 

Pendulum Books

PND-417

Cover not found.

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 Size Queen

Author: Ben Stark

 1970 

Pendulum Books 

PND-421

This one includes an introduction by Carl Driver.

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Lonely Man

Author: Jean Paul

 1970 

Pendulum Books

PND-422

Cover not found.

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Made with Clay

Author: Carl Driver

 1970 

Pendulum Books

PND-431

Carl Driver has written books for many of the vintage gay pulp imprints we've taken a look at as part of this series.

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Extra Man

 Author: Gene North

 1970 

Pendulum Books

PND-443

Gene North is another name that keeps popping up. He wrote a number of titles for Greenleaf Classics.

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Trade Secret

Author: James Insley

 1970 

Pendulum Books

PND-445

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And that's all we have for Pendulum Books.

Next week: another set  of titillating titles from another vintage gay pulp fiction imprint.

Until then...

Thanks for reading.

Size Queen - DJ Inox feat. Adam Joseph