Read on Twitter
I think we all need some distracting Twitter content, so I’m starting a thread of my pulp science fiction erotica collection, which I will add to throughout the week. Will have a few mildly NSFW items, so mute if that’s not for you. If it is for you, follow hashtag #SinInSpace.
First, one of my favorites: Earth Sex in the 21st Century by John V. Ception (definitely a real name), published in 1970.
This one is sort of a novel but also meant to be genuine predictions. Bring on the 4D sex cinema and identity exchange with animals. Abolition of war okay too. #SinInSpace
Time Trap by Rog Philips (1949). Probably no actual erotic content here but a rather saucy cover. In answer to all your questions: I don’t know. #SinInSpace
Cover artist on Time Trap is Malcolm H. Smith, who was a pulp master.
There will be a lot of Philip Jose Farmer in this thread. “The Lovers” is a major milestone in the history of sex in science fiction. #SinInSpace
Here’s some pics of the original 1952 publication from the Lilly’s collection. #SinInSpace https://twitter.com/arkhamlibrarian/status/1144991565523365888
Two different covers for Strange Relations, which is actually a pretty good collection of human-alien sex stories. I especially love that Panther edition, but...
Nothing quite tops the insanity of the Baen edition. I don’t actually own this one but I will pick up a copy eventually. #SinInSpace
I read Riverworld at a rather tender young age and just about the ONLY thing I remember about it is that in the afterlife, all the women are re-virginized and hairless. Excuse me while I pick my eyeballs up from where they rolled out of my head. 
#SinInSpace
#SinInSpace
I have horribly jealous of these! Queen of Blood is legendary, and I’ve never seen Martian Sexpot! https://twitter.com/jwomack/status/1323644143692926981
Today we’ll look at the Beacon Galaxy line, started in 1959. Some of these titles were reprints of sf classics that had some sex-adjacent content, like Olaf Stapledon’s Odd John.
Sin in Space is part of this line. Beacon Books was developed by Universal Publishing and Distribution Corp, in anticipation of the death of the “digest” magazine. It took advantage existing distribution networks to market erotic fiction in paperback form.
Galaxy, a digest magazine, had been doing a series of digest novels called Galaxy Novels. They moved that line to Beacon and rebranded them as “prize selection.” Prize for what?? #SinInSpace
Some of the Beacon Galaxy novels were what we call PBOs—paperback originals, never previously published. This is the case for Farmer’s “Flesh,” which is probably my favorite cover in this series. I just like his lil horns.
Others, such as Sam Merwin’s The Sex War, were enlarged from previously published stories. I think that more sexy content was added but I haven’t gotten around to comparing the two versions.
Some of the covers really de-emphasized the sf and emphasized the sleaze—especially of the man-threatening-helpless-woman variety.
The Beacon Galaxy line is a series I’ve been able to collect in full—they are out there and often not expensive. I even have some duplicates and there MAY even be a giveaway whenever this thread comes to an end.
The most special Beacon I have is this, which includes an amazing inscription (“slobber slobber”) from Brian Aldiss to author and bibliophile John Baxter and a much later post-it from John back to Brian.
Best thing about this thread so far (aside from the much-needed distraction) is seeing other folks’ collections. Jim always has books that make me (to quote Aldiss in the previous tweet) “slobber slobber.” https://twitter.com/jastokesnj/status/1323685661866627074
As I was saying... https://twitter.com/jastokesnj/status/1323688512613470208
And another friend with a magnificent collection and deep knowledge of all things weird: https://twitter.com/ancient0history/status/1323657602568511490
