Many of you know I enjoy reading vintage gay pulp fictions. This 1966 book is one of the big “classic” covers for obvious reasons. And who can resist an author named Paul Dickson? (Presuming to be an alias.)
So given the lurid cover and quote, it was fairly surprising to find out there’s actually very few sex scenes in this book at all! It’s mostly literary (though also very repetitious), and, especially through today’s lens, a commentary on abusive relationships and self worth. I’m not sure if that was the intention of the book when it was written, but it’s sort of hard to see it as anything otherwise. It’s not the most well-written book, but it’s also not just a porn movie in book form. This is definitely more plot-forward.
The story starts with our hero, Carl, in a confrontation with his “girlfriend” Amy. She doesn’t understand why he doesn’t seem to love her anymore. Carl reflects on a time when he was a kept boy, and Amy was his chance to prove to himself that he could go straight. In fact, they have sex. But he realizes he can’t tell her he doesn’t love her, so he puts her off, much to her confusion.
It’s difficult, because he also works with Amy at an office, and she continues to hound him there. Carl goes to his boss, Sidney Bender, to inform him he intends to quit. Bender confess to him that he suspects Carl is gay like him, and asks what he can do to stay. Carl is shocked to realize his boss is gay. Bender suggests another job being a personal assistant to a famous theater director, Adrian Thorpe. He implies the job will be more like Carl’s previous “kept boy” work, but Carl is happy to be away from Amy, and excited to meet such a prestigious man.
They do meet, and the demanding Adrian seems to take a liking to Carl. When Carl bathes Adrian, they have sex. Carl immediately finds himself hopelessly in love with Adrian. However, later, at a large industry party Adrian hosts at his home, Carl sees Adrian talking to some women, and seemingly hitting on them. Carl argues, but Adrian cruelly sends him away upstairs to to the library to await him. While awaiting Adrian, he hears a knock on the door… but it turns out to be Amy! She has crashed the party to continue to confront Carl. He finally tells her he is gay, but she is so upset, she claims she will hurt Carl as he hurt her. She leaves the room in a huff.
When she leaves, Carl explores the library more, and finds a draw with whips, belts, and chains. He decides to go up to his own room, undress, and wait for Adrian to make it up to him. He waits so long, he falls asleep, but awakes to hear noises. He explores their source, and is horrified to peek through a door and see Adrian and Amy having sex! After a confrontation, Adrian says he never loved Carl.
Carl contemplates suicide, but runs away first, only to run into Sidney Bender on the street. Sidney takes him in and they talk. Bender is sorry he now introduced Carl to Adrian. They eventually have sex, but after, Carl realizes he still loves Adrian. He runs back to him, only to discover Adrian, thought Amy was hot, confesses his bisexualtiy, and has already procured another “personal assistant” in a very blond twink named Peter. Carl, devastated, runs away again, and ends up being picked up on the street by Henry. Carl realizes he’s likely entering another life of being a kept boy, but he feels he has no other choice, and Henry seems kind.
Henry has a surprisingly nice apartment. He says he’s a hairdresser, and they have sex. Afterwards, he also confesses he’s a pimp, and that Carl would be a great addition. Carl is nearly tempted, but realizes he doesn’t want that lifestyle again.
He runs out again, and coincidentally runs into Amy on the street. She asks him why he didn’t come out to her earlier, and that she loved him. Flustered, he doesn’t know how to respond, She asks him again how he feels about her, and when he replies he doesn’t know, she says, “Do you want to find out?” And shockingly, she seduces him and he goes along with it–but ultimately, he can’t get it up. Amy reluctantly accepts this at last, but still advises Carl to get over Adrian. Carl realizes she’s right, and he heads back to Henry for a life of a sex worker.
Things are going well for Carl, and he’s a popular rent boy. But one day, Henry sets him up with Adrian. Shocked, he goes through with it expectantly, wanting to please him. But as they begin to make out, Carl finally comes to a realization that Adrian never had treated him well, and was just using him. He ultimately walks out on him and into his car, driving away, not knowing where he’s going, but happy to know that he’s finally free.
That, unbelievably enough, is the end. Definitely not nearly as lurid as the cover suggests. The majority of it is Carl’s own misguided passion for Adrian. While I was happy he finally realized Adrian wasn’t treating him well, the scene is still a bit out of nowhere. And having not one, but two straight sex scenes, is a bit unusual. An odd little book, but an interesting read.