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Post by dem bones on Dec 20, 2014 15:24:28 GMT
.... and speaking of stocking tops - small wonder the postman was whistling! Justin Marriott (ed) - The Sleazy Reader #1 (Dec. 2014) Sleazy Musings: Editorial Viceroy Books: The Descent To Hell Is Easy A Visual Guide To The Evolution Of Viceroy Books Viceroy Books And their Connection To Other Sleaze Imprints Pioneer Books: Sin City Sleaze Orgy Of The Ed: Ed Wood's Sleaze Paperbacks Scott Carlson - Collecting Ed Leo Eaton - Weird Sex & Horror Tales: Working At Pendulum With Ed Wood JR. Abnormal Cravings: Novel BooksBack with a 'review' - if still capable - after further investigation .....
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Post by severance on Dec 20, 2014 17:17:29 GMT
I heard something drop through my letterbox about an hour ago, and assumed it was an Xmas card from a neighbour, so ignored it. But, on remembering that I don't know any of them, had a look to see what it was and found Issue one of "The Sleazy Reader"on the doormat. What sort of mail organization delivers at 4pm? Like the big D, haven't read too much of it yet, but I have one observation to make. It doesn't close! Whether that's due to the thickness of the paper or the wretchedness of the staples, I wouldn't like to guess. The front cover is currently erect at an angle of about 45 degrees which, considering the subject matter, shouldn't be too surprising.
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Post by dem bones on Dec 20, 2014 17:48:50 GMT
As with Men Of Violence, so too The Sleazy Reader. You don't need prior familiarity with a single title showcased herein to enjoy reading about the books, their publishers, and the hacks responsible for keeping 'em coming. Prior ignorance of the form may even be to your advantage, as even the viceroy of vice himself, Dr. J. Fanatic, concedes they for the most part "unreadable." As is so often the case, the chief attraction is the cover artwork and equally lurid strap-lines - "He found a woman he loved and then he had to fight a strange cult of women to keep her" ( Super Dyke); "Who Would suspect a transvestite of murder?" ( Black Lace Drag)- promising so much more than the combined talents of Dan Postman, Norman Winski and Terry Handers - possibly not their real names - could ever hope to realise. Admittedly, Ed Wood jnr's Sex, Shrouds & Caskets and his alter-ego 'V. N. Jensen's The Love Of The Dead - which purports to explore "Undoubtedly the most bizarre sexual deviation known to mankind" (see also sex with dead people) - are likely best approached with caution (and a stolen credit card), but mercifully, there is very little here to frighten the horses. In truth, the big D would go so far as to suggest there have been sleazier issues of Paperback Fanatic .... Finally for now, if you're yet undecided on a Christmas destination, perhaps Mr. Pinocchio-face below can entice you to his holiday idyll ... Thank you Justin!
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Post by pulphack on Dec 20, 2014 19:08:44 GMT
My copy arrived yesterday, and mrs PH sniffed over it calling me a perv - so I'm fully expecting to enjoy it when I get to reading it!
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Post by dem bones on Dec 20, 2014 20:11:18 GMT
My copy arrived yesterday, and mrs PH sniffed over it calling me a perv - so I'm fully expecting to enjoy it when I get to reading it! Alas, we who pay homage at the chapel of Mr. Fanatic endure a common, tragic burden, Mr. Hack. "For the thousandth time, young lady, we are serious bibliophiles, diligently and, if I may be so bold, selflessly exploring every avenue of our rich literary heritage! Its just we decided to visit all the dodgy ones first ..."
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Dec 21, 2014 0:39:10 GMT
My copy arrived yesterday, and mrs PH sniffed over it calling me a perv - so I'm fully expecting to enjoy it when I get to reading it! The Sleazy Reader looks top class. I spend hours poring over good titles for a story but why bother when genius has already led the way. I'd give my right arm to have been brainstorming at the Sleazy desk. Must have been a riot.
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Post by pulphack on Dec 21, 2014 16:08:31 GMT
And of course, those of us who choose to explore the environs of the less salubrious end of publishing do so purely in the interests of academic research, Mr Demonik. Not to mention that those ladies who sniff at our tedious tasks tend to look at the tools of research BEFORE we can get our hands on them... and at great length.
Anyway, with the words 'oh, so you're reading your dirty book, then' ringing in my ears, I spent the morning post-Xmas shopping immersed. I wouldn't say reading exactly, as there isn't that much text in ratio to illustration. Which is an echo, conscious or otherwise, of how these publications originally worked. I confess to having penned a fair few items for Fiesta a couple of decades back, and like Leo Eaton at Pendulum I wrote very little about sex as you could get away with it - mostly horror movies and Victoriana, as it goes. Allegedly the editor before the one I worked for (who had started his career as obituaries editor on People's Friend, the DC Thompson mag for grannies - honest!) had been reprimanded for the number of articles about sailing he'd published, the volume of which had eventually attracted attention. The fact they were written by his father-in-law was a coincidence, of course...
Which, in a roundabout way, brings me to the highlight of the mag text-wise, which was Mr Eaton's recollections of working at Pendulum and with Ed Wood. It was really quite sad and touching, and I'm glad Justin unearthed that reminiscence. The piece on Pioneer was also amusing - the idea of porno publishers pirating themselves to screw the authors even more was somehow fitting.
Of course, the cover scans are the stars, but there was enough about the people behind the lurid straplines to make it seem more human. Way back in an early PF there was a Bob Trallins interview which gave some insights, and I read another interview many years back (in a borrowed book of sci-fi writers being interviewed about their work) in which Robert Silverberg talked of his days divided between sleaze and sci-fi. If Justin can unearth some more material like this (which can't be easy, but then he has a good track record for this), Sleazy Reader could go from strength to strength.
I also have to congratulate Justin and the chaps who have contributed to his research for their bibliographic endeavours - sleaze books are like the porn movie industry: a lot of interesting names moonlight there early in their careers for cash and experience, and they like to keep it quiet. The men behind the business have their own reasons for keeping schtum. Combined, this makes any kind of accurate record almost an impossibility, and to have the dedication and sheer bloody mindedness to get this much out into the open is commendable!
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Post by dem bones on Dec 22, 2014 15:49:25 GMT
And of course, those of us who choose to explore the environs of the less salubrious end of publishing do so purely in the interests of academic research, Mr Demonik. Not to mention that those ladies who sniff at our tedious tasks tend to look at the tools of research BEFORE we can get our hands on them... and at great length. This is so true! And, as I'm sure you can confirm, the sleazier the publication in question, the lengthier it's "mysterious disappearance" from the shelves of shame. It's political correctness gone mad! Nighmare of Ecstasy is a big personal favourite, made that bit more special because it was the master of the macabre himself, Franklin Marsh, gifted me a copy during a lunchtime pub crawl Vault executive committee meeting at what was then the Princess Alice in Spitalfields (it's recently been renovated as some trendy restaurant pub). Should Rudolph Grey's masterpiece see a reprint, it is to be hoped Mr Eaton's reminiscences can be incorporated into the text. Incidentally, for the adventurous, OR books recently published the collected short stories of Ed Wood jnr as Blood Splatters Quickly. Love your post, Mr. Hack. Surely the definitive "Sleazy Reader" review. The Sleazy Reader looks top class. I spend hours poring over good titles for a story but why bother when genius has already led the way. I'd give my right arm to have been brainstorming at the Sleazy desk. Must have been a riot. As with the weird menace's, the best sleaze titles and strap-lines qualify as superior flash fiction in their own right, even before you take into account the cover artwork. I rest my case.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Dec 22, 2014 17:32:15 GMT
And of course, those of us who choose to explore the environs of the less salubrious end of publishing do so purely in the interests of academic research, Mr Demonik. Not to mention that those ladies who sniff at our tedious tasks tend to look at the tools of research BEFORE we can get our hands on them... and at great length. This is so true! And, as I'm sure you can confirm, the sleazier the publication in question, the lengthier it's "mysterious disappearance" from the shelves of shame. It's political correctness gone mad! Nighmare of Ecstasy is a big personal favourite, made that bit more special because it was the master of the macabre himself, Franklin Marsh, gifted me a copy during a lunchtime pub crawl Vault executive committee meeting at what was then the Princess Alice in Spitalfields (it's recently renovated as some trendy restaurant pub). Should Rudolph Grey's masterpiece see a reprint, it is to be hoped Mr Eaton's reminiscences can be incorporated into the text. Incidentally, for the adventurous, OR books recently published the collected short stories of Ed Wood jnr as Blood Splatters Quickly. Love your post, Mr. Hack. Surely the definitive "Sleazy Reader" review. The Sleazy Reader looks top class. I spend hours poring over good titles for a story but why bother when genius has already led the way. I'd give my right arm to have been brainstorming at the Sleazy desk. Must have been a riot. As with the weird menace's, the best sleaze titles and strap-lines qualify as superior flash fiction in their own right, even before you take into account the cover artwork. I rest my case. Guilty. 'Purple Thighs'? Could have spent several life times in hell and never thought of that. Great insights from the remarkable Pulphack. If any man can unravel the authors - perhaps from careful study of the sentence structure and forensics - it will be Justine.
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