Paperback 997: The Mask on a Wanton's Torso / John Reade (Venus VV104)

Paperback 997: Venus Books VV104 (PBO, 1964)

Title: The Mask on a Wanton's Torso*
Author: John Reade
Cover artist: a photographer in the anteroom of hell

Condition: 9/10
Estimated value: $20-ish

[newest addition to the Doug Peterson Collection]

Best things about this cover:

• Looking at this cover is about as close to watching a snuff film as I'll ever come. It's horrifying. I feel like the cameraman murdered her like five seconds after this shot was taken. Or else she was paid in heroin and sent back out into the snow dressed just like that. Most of my sleaze paperbacks are campy fun to look at. This one, no, not.
• If you burn that couch, hundreds of damned souls are unleashed into the world, to torture and haunt the living.
• "Here, put this on"—the world's most negligent art director
• Ah, the world of erotic nonsense phrases—so delicious. Lust game! Sin secret! Wanton's torso!?!?
• *You see how I put an asterisk by the title (up top)? That's because ... well, how to describe it? This book is unique, in my experience, in having a title on the cover that Does Not Match The Title On The Spine (which reads "The Mask *OF* the Wanton's Torso"(!?)). But it's uniqueness doesn't stop there. Forget two titles—this book .... Has Two Authors: WHO IS PHIL BOTNER?!

And the back cover:

Best things about this back cover:

• Stud Hunter! I think I own one of those.
• Shame event! Passion fling!  FLESH GAIETY!!! Beat that ... every other back cover sleaze copywriter.
• That's not how en dashes work.
• Yikes, even the line spacing on this is disgusting.

Page 123~ (brace yourself)

There was a door there. She could not remember how she had come upstairs. Frantically she opened it. There was only a tiny passageway, leading to another door. Frantically she thought it might be a back way down, down and out of this house.

Torn between laughing at Double Frantically and crying at the attempted poetry of that second "down,."

~RP

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Paperback 154: Over Night / Norman Bligh (Venus Books 106)

Paperback 154: Venus Books 106 (1st ptg, 1950)

Title: Over Night
Author: Norman Bligh
Cover artist: uncredited

Yours for: $30



Best things about this cover:

• I can't believe they scrapped "HARLOT IN HER HEART" for this crappy title - it doesn't even make sense. If that kid is going to stay "overnight" at this lady's apartment, then "overnight" should be one word. Unless her name is "Night" and he's about to position himself "Over" her, in which case, tell me more ...
• "Gee, Miss McGillicuddy, your hair sure looks ... stable."
• "Uh, Miss McGillicuddy, I think you've lit the divan on fire with your cigarette. Here, I'll just put out the smoldering fabric with my shoe."
• "Miss McGillicuddy, ma'am, I know my gray streaks are odd for a kid my age, but could you not stare at me like that ... it's making me feel all nauseous and sweaty."
• OK, back to the title - it's not a phrase! If you Google "Over Night" you will be asked if you meant "overnight" - "No, I meant the famous novel by the author of SIN CHILD." Stupid Google.

Best things about this back cover:

• Regular Venus, Electric Venus, Regular Venus, Electric Venus...

Page 123~

OK, first, I flipped this book open to page one and this is the first phrase I read: "The raw liquid slid down her throat..." - so we're off to a good start.

Second, this book has PHOTOS!!!! Why have I never bothered to open this book until just this second?? They are all rich, these photos, but this one has to be my favorite:


They let you dress like that in prison? And what is she doing with those bars? Trying to give herself more cleavage?

Now, where was I? Page 123, right. This page begins a bonus, very short story at the end of the book (?) entitled "Kisses of Passion" (!) by Viola Cornett (!?). Here is the opposite-page photo:


And the opening paragraph:

Margie Peterson stared at her best friend in sheer disgust, as Bruce Carter went back into his private office and closed the door behind him. She said, "You're plumb crazy! Working nights for that guy won't get you anything but - work. Oh, I know you're nuts about him. But he's just a walking briefcase with a handsome face. Besides, he's engaged to the boss' daughter, remember?"

Margie was still honing her metaphor skills - she needed practice if she was ever going to head out onto the competitive metaphoring circuit.

~RP