Blowing Taps

The homoerotic component of military life, not to say outright homosexual conduct (for which there actually should be a medal), has been a given since the beginning of time-or at least since the Greeks. The following books aptly reflect that imagery and reality, no matter what the U.S. military might lead you to believe. I, myself, for example, have participated in quite a few group gropes within the hollowed walls of the Pentagon itself. One involved a married Major, two enlisted boys from the Old Guard unit at Fort Myers, and lots of lubrication-but enough of my sordid past for now, I hope you enjoy the following books.

Collins, Gary. The Sergeant (Gay pulp fiction) Enterprise, 1968 Fine in fine paper wraps, 91 p. Norman listing 1521. $45

Driver, Carl. Once a Knight. (Gay pulp fiction) San Diego, Greenleaf, 1969. Large format, fine in fine paper wraps. Inscribed by Driver "for Steven Arthur may the title be your motto. " Norman listing 1814. $125

Driver, Carl. The Soldier Boys (Gay pulp fiction) Greenleaf, 1972. Fine in fine paper wraps, 170 p. Young 1067* and Norman listing 1817. $50

Edelson, Stuart. Black Glass. Salem Oregon, Dimi, 1993. Advance review copy, stamped "Not for sale," with publisher's slip laid in. Mint, 385 p., 1,000 copies issued. Summers $75

Evans, Jack. All The Studs At Sea (Gay pulp fiction) Road House Classic, 1971. Illustrated. Stain to lower front cover and first few pages, else fine in fine paper wraps, 159 p. Young 1176* and Norman listing 1904. $40

Evans, Jack. Marine Meat Eater (Gay pulp fiction) Club, 1974. Fine in fine paper wraps, 198 p. Norman listing 1918. $20

Gaellis, Jackson. Uniform Rape (Gay pulp fiction) Stud, 1976. Fine in fine paper wraps, 188 p. Norman listing 2046. $20

Grand, Alex. Boot Camp Trick (Gay pulp fiction) Surree, 1977. Fine in fine paper wraps, 186 p. Norman listing 2145.$20

Green, G.F. The Power Of Sergeant Streater. London, McMillan, 1972. First English edition. Fine in fine DJ, 224 p. Young listing 1575*. $75

Hipper, Mike. Matlovich The Good Solider. Boston, Alyson, 1989. First American edition. Fine in fine DJ, 176 p. "They gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one." Hipper's first book. $45

James, Burton. Sailor For Sale Or Rent (Gay pulp fiction) Guild Press, 1968. Fine in fine paper wraps, 66 p. Young 1996* and Norman listing 2536. $50

LeFarge, Jacques. The Naked Sword man to man on the high seas(Gay pulp fiction) 1976 Blueboy, 1976. Fine in fine paper wraps, 186 p. Norman listing 2804. $25

Lewis, Barton. The Brig Boys (Gay pulp fiction) Greenleaf , 1981. Fine in fine paper wraps, 149 p. Norman listing 2832. $10

Llosa, Mario Vargas. The Time Of The Hero. NY, Grove Press, 1966. First American edition. Fine in fine DJ, 409 p. What young cadets in military academies really study. This work won the Bibliotec Breve Prize (best new work in Spanish) and so upset the West Point of Peru that 1,000 copies were torched in the plaza of the Leoncio Prado Military Academy. Llosa moved to France, later returned to Peru as a Presidential candidate and lost. 1967 British edition is Young 3902. $100

Lowry, Robert. Casualty. NY, New Directions, 1948. DJ chips, boards spotted 153 p. First American edition. World War II story set in Italy featuring a effeminate Lt. Pinkman. Not in Young and dropped from lists of Lowry's works in later novels. $75

Marks, Damon. Hungry For Seamen (Gay pulp fiction) 1976 Greenleaf, 1976. Fine in fine paper wraps, 157 p. Norman listing 3031. $15

Martin, Andrew. Seafood Platter(Gay pulp fiction) Surey, 1987. Fine in fine paper wraps, 154 p. Norman listing 3052. $10

Musil, Robert. Young Torless. London, Secher & Warburg, 1955. First English edition. Fine in fine DJ, 217 p. First published in 1906 as The Confessions of Young Torless. The story of a young military cadet doing lots of about faces and pushups. Young 2825*. $150

Nelson, Charles. The Boy Who Picked The Bullets Up. NY, Morrow, 1981. First American edition. Advanced review copy with publisher's slip laid in. Fine in fine DJ, 420 p. $75

Powell, Brad. Humpin' Jump Master (Gay pulp fiction) Trojan, 1972. Fine in fine paper wraps, 188 p. Norman listing 3417. $25

Richarson, Major-General Frank M. Mars Without Venus A Study Of Some Homosexual Generals. Edinburgh, William Blackwood, 1981. First edition. DJ slightly yellowed, else fine, 188 p. An examination of gay or bi-sexual military guys through the ages including Napoleon, Frederick The Great, Hitler etc. with a focus on "organ inferiority." (or does size count?) $125

Schaeffer, Parker. Hank's Navy Buddies (Gay pulp fiction) Spade, 1973. Fine in fine paper wraps, 189 p. Norman listing 3745. $25

Stuart, Chad. G.I. Jock (Gay pulp fiction) Greenleaf, 1973. Fine in fine paper wraps, 155 p. Norman listing 3996. $15

Wahl, Loren. (pseudo of Lorenzo Madalena) The Invisible Glass. Washington, DC, Guild Press, 1965. Reprinted of the 1950 Greenburg edition, but still important as it was one of the six "serious" novels published by Guild Press in the mid-1960s. Fine in fine DJ, 230 p. Set in Italy during WW II, the story revolves around a young white U.S. army lieutenant who has a crush on his black jeep driver while being pursued himself by an Italian who is the brother of his Captain's mistress. $125

Wilson, George. Boot Camp (Gay pulp fiction) Stud, 1976. Fine in fine paper wraps, 180 p. Norman listing 4388. $15

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