Sin-A-Rama front cover

Edited by  Brittany A. Daley, Hedi El Kholti, Earl Kemp, Miriam Linna, and Adam Parfrey
Published in 2005 by Feral House

Subtitled “Sleaze Sex Paperbacks of the Sixties,” the bulk of the coverage in Sin-A-Rama is concerned with the sex paperbacks published in the early to mid-1960s, before the relaxation of obscenity laws.

The first section consists essays by and about many of the people responsible for creating the sex paperback industry.  Highlights of this section include Robert Silverberg’s “My Life as a Pornographer”, Stephen Gertz’s “West Coast Blue”, and Brittany Daley’s “The Lost Artists.” Unfortunately, the essays are scattershot and fail to construct a clear narrative.

The second section consists of cover galleries divided into various themes.  The covers are wonderfully reproduced in bright colors on bright paper.

The final section of the book is a bibliography of publishers including their active years, cover artists, authors, and sample titles.  There is also a listing of  various authors and their pseudonyms.   Despite its short length, this section is the jewel of the book for paperback collectors.

As a devoted fan of sex paperbacks from the 60s, I had high expectations for Sin-A-Rama.  While I was disappointed with the first section’s lack of cohesiveness, the cover galleries and reference materials in the back make this book an indispensible reference that I will consult for years to come.