Paperback 274: Man Divided / Dean Douglas (Gold Medal 407)

Paperback 274: Gold Medal 407 (PBO, 1954)

Title: Man Divided
Author: Dean Douglas
Cover artist: Barye Phillips

Yours for: SOLD! (Aug '09)


Best things about this cover:

• In case it's not clear, "half world" = gay gay gay. See also "twilight world."
• "He had to choose — a half world or a world of woman's love" — if his posture's any indication, that decision has already been made.
• The guy in the chair displays the classic "Sucker Slouch" (TM). It's common on noir/hardboiled covers. We will see a variation of this pose again on Sunday.
• You can almost hear the guy deflate: "ohhhh ... fuck." He can't even look at ... her? Wait, how do I know the seated guy is the "Man Divided" in this scenario? Why do I have a feeling that the "woman" in the pale green has a voice like Jack Palance?

Best things about this back cover:

• See, I told you. "Twilight world." Right on cue.
• "Then the contest began." I hope it's a baton-twirling contest. I love a good baton-twirling novel.
• "The problems of our times" = worst euphemism for homosexuality ever. I'll take outright offensive over this hazy blandness. Hell, I'd take "baton twirling" over this.

Page 123~

The next morning there was the mute evidence on the floor, the broken glasses and the pool of water from the melted ice cubes. Cromer had been furious about something. She had not asked. She had waited curiously to see.

Bi-curiously, that is.

~RP

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Paperback 236: A Chosen World / Carl Corley (GSN PL524)

Paperback 236: GSN PL 524 (PBO, 1966)

Title: A Chosen World
Author: Carl Corley
Cover artist: uncredited

Yours for: $75 (you heard me!)


Best things about this cover:

• What the hell is GSN? Gay Studies Network? Good Sex News? I have been over this book inside and out, and I can't find the publisher info. They must have been really afraid of hate mail or something.
• Looking around on-line, I see that the publisher is "Pad Library" — that name is not nearly as satisfying as my "GSN" guesses, above.
  
• I love (and I mean love) that their logo is a guy riding bareback. Or maybe there's a saddle on there. Who can tell? Either way, ride 'em, cowboy!
• "Twilight world" — my favorite code word for gay land
• In case you were wondering if homosexuality is a choice — now you know. Definitively. Thanks, "Carl."

Best things about this back cover:

• Yes, I believe that that guy is gay. And has had a lot of work done on his face. And possibly is genetically related to lizards.
• "Hmmm, let's see, what's another word for 'throbbing'...?"
• "He bares the hidden recesses of..." - oh dear lord stop right there.
• I want that typewriter. For real.
• Aside from some general, low-grade fading and scuffing, this "classic tome" is in !@#ing perfect condition.

Page 123~

Then I went to the house, my mind whirling like a treadmill's, my ambitions soaring.

Treadmills being notorious for their whirling minds.

~RP