Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 220
Power Force Series
Part 1 of 6
Today we take a first look at the Power Force Series.
The Power Force Series was an imprint published by Arena Publications, who operated out of a facility at 12011 Sherman Road in North Hollywood, California, 91605. They published a total of 64 titles under this imprint between 1983 and 1986.
Arena Publications motto should have been "Everything old is new again." You'll see why in a moment.
The book covers feature either dreamy, idealized artwork or, later in the imprint's history, photos from porn magazines. The background is a solid color with a white 'sash' near the top featuring the title in all-caps and the imprint's name, also in all-caps, floating above it. The author's name appears in the body of the sash in smaller print just below the title. Now, if the artwork looks familiar that's because you have seen it all before... when we took a look at the Blueboy Library imprint. And that's not the only thing borrowed. The books themselves are reprints from other imprints. And this is not the only imprint that Arena would use to republish these titles. Some of these books have been published under as many as four imprints, using different artwork for the cover. You'll see some examples below.
Here are the first ten titles...
This book was originally published as part of The Blueboy Library imprint as, BB-80082 and would be republished again by Arena Publications as GAY-101.
This book was originally published as part of the HIS69 imprint as, HIS69-163 and would be republished again by Arena Publications as GAY-105. 
BB-80027
This book was originally published as part of the Stud Series imprint as, SS-021.
This book was originally published as part of the Stud Series imprint as, SS-022 and would be republished again by Arena Publications as part of their Driveshaft Library imprint, DS-182.
The book covers feature either dreamy, idealized artwork or, later in the imprint's history, photos from porn magazines. The background is a solid color with a white 'sash' near the top featuring the title in all-caps and the imprint's name, also in all-caps, floating above it. The author's name appears in the body of the sash in smaller print just below the title. Now, if the artwork looks familiar that's because you have seen it all before... when we took a look at the Blueboy Library imprint. And that's not the only thing borrowed. The books themselves are reprints from other imprints. And this is not the only imprint that Arena would use to republish these titles. Some of these books have been published under as many as four imprints, using different artwork for the cover. You'll see some examples below.
My hunch is that Arena bought the rights to a bunch of previously published titles from imprints (The Blueboy Library, HIS69) on the wane or going out of business. They then maximized profits by republishing the books under several different imprints. Fortunately, they are upfront about this recycling; some of the other imprint books carry a 'sash' in the lower right corner warning the buyer that this contains previously published material.
Given that, imagine the frustration of the average buyer. Most people do not want to be in a dirty bookstore. And when they are, they want to grab something and get out as soon as possible. Let's say they don't bother to read the fine print. Imagine they get home and get ready to indulge in a bit of reading, only to discover it's a book they have already read or own? Now imagine that happening more that once. After a point... who isn't going to be buying books at dirty bookstores? Did this 'republishing' play a role in the extinction of paperbacks in dirty bookstores?
Here are the first ten titles...
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Gary’s Gay Odyssey
Author: Gary Dayton
Power Force Series
1983
PF-101
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Under Cover Gays
Author: Mitch Stone
Power Force Series
1983
PF-102
This book was originally published as part of The Blueboy Library imprint as, BB-80080 and would be republished again by Arena Publications as GAY-103.
GAY-103
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Hard Hat Boss
Author: Raymond Marston
Power Force Series
1983
PF-103
This book was originally published as part of the Stud Series imprint as, SS-044 and would be republished again by Arena Publications as GAY-104.
GAY-104
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Eager Hot Butt
Author: David Sampson
Power Force Series
1983
PF-104
This book was originally published as part of the Stud Series imprint as, SS-043.
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Big House Pluggers
Author: Raymond Marston
Power Force Series
1983
PF-105
GAY-105
And, as I mentioned, the books were not the only things being republished multiple times. Notice the appropriation of the artwork (credited to Adam, I believe). It was originally used for The Blueboy Library title Top Man by Clay Caldwell.
And would be used yet again as a part of this series... PF-106. In fact, every Adam drawing used by the Power Force Series can be traced back to a Blueboy Library title.
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Hunky Jock
Author: David Sampson
Power Force Series
1983
PF-106
This book was originally published as part of the HIS69 imprint as, HIS69-164 and would be republished again by Arena Publications as GAY-106.
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Hunky Sailor
Author: Raymond Marston
Power Force Series
1983
PF-107
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Hot Houseboy
Author: David Sampson
Power Force Series
1983
PF-108
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Hunky Cruiser
Author: Raymond Marston
Power Force Series
1983
PF-109
This book was originally published as part of the HIS69 imprint as, HIS69-161 and would be republished again by Arena Publications as GAY-111
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Reaming the Team
Author: David Sampson
Power Force Series
1983
PF-110
This book was originally published as part of the HIS69 imprint as, HIS69-162.
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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And that's all for now.
Next up: ten more tantalizing titles from the Power Force Series imprint.
Until then...
Thanks for reading!
Undercover Of The Night - The Rolling Stones
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