The Palace of Varieties (Paperback)

by James Lear (Author) "1934: I turn eighteen....." (more)
Key Phrases: stiff prick, The Palace of Varieties, James Lear, Albert Abbott (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"James Lear's novels have dominated gay erotic fiction charts since publication...Just a few pages in, the secret of Lear's success becomes blindingly apparent. Practically every page is graced with an abundance, a pornucopia if you will, of graphic bonking...but it's not just the sex that keeps you reading. Lear's prose is vibrant and colourful...This isn't porn accompanied by a wah-wah guitar, this is porn to the strains of Beethoven's 'Ode To Joy', each vividly realised ejaculation accompanied by a fanfare and the crashing of cymbals." -- Time Out London--June 2008

Product Description

This extremely graphic novel brims with male sex from the sordid to the sublime, in every position, place, and variety. Watch and enjoy as Paul Lemoyne leaves his humble home to begin a new life as a music hall stagehand, but soon discovers there are richer pickings to be had from the stage-door johnnies who haunt the Palace of Varieties Music Hall. And thus ensues our rake's progress from low-life prostitution to the salons and studios of Mayfair, from the bath-houses of Bermondsey to the rarefied circles of modern art. All the while behind each of Paul's outrageous sexual adventures lurks the mysterious figure of Albert Abbott, his lover, corrupter, and Svengali.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Cleis Press (April 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157344314X
• ISBN-13: 978-1573443142
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #338,994 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Graphic Sex, May 14, 2008

By	Amos Lassen (Little Rock, Arkansas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

It is 1930 London and Paul Lemoyne is an eighteen year old who has just moved there from the country. He begins his new life as music hall stagehand and soon discovers the seamy gay side of the city. Such is the idea of James Lear's ("The Back Passage") new novel, "The Palace of Varieties".
The book is very graphic and very well written. Again Lear captures us with his ability to tell a good story. However, this time the story is lost in the sexual escapades of our main character.
Lear knows how to create characters and his Paul is a gay rent boy and sociopath who just never learns from his own mistakes and failings. He manages to ruin everything he comes into contact with in his quest for absolute sexual pleasure. He has talents and good qualities that he ignores so that he can degrade himself completely. Lacking a moral backbone and with no values, he is a plain and simple sex addict. He deserves what he gets and the reader has no sympathy for him whatsoever.
The storyline of the book is secondary to the sexual exploits of our "hero" and I use that term loosely. He is a man with no morals nor feelings and he has so much sex that he comes across as quite a depraved character that does not have any qualities worth identifying with. He is just a hedonist and it seems to me that it is a shame for an author like Lear who can write beautifully to waste so much time on sexual acts that are disgusting to a degree.
The storyline could have been developed into an interesting read if some of the sex was pushed to the side. In reality, the book is as close to pornography as possible and what a pity. I am sure there is an audience for books like this but I, myself, would have more enjoyed less sex and more story.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This book goes nowhere, May 1, 2008

By	Jem (MD, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I really enjoyed Lear's The Back Passage. It was a fun romp that naturally spoofed an Agatha Christie-type mystery, and the characters were engaging - and it had lots of explicit sex. So, I eagerly searched out more by the author. Only, I wish I had never found this one. It is NOT an M/M romance.

Paul Lemoyne begins work as a stage hand, but almost immediately realizes he can make a lot more money as a prostitute. This book centers on his "exploits" and the depths to which he falls in his quest for money and lust. He spends his money as fast as he earns it, sometimes faster. He has an agent of sorts, Albert, whom readers are supposed to believe Paul has feelings for. But Albert rarely appears, and there is no plot. Paul goes from one sexual encounter to the next. I have read stories about prostitutes before, that's not a problem. But, Paul is not a likeable character and he has no purpose: no one he persues out of love, no ambition to become or obtain something (respect, a job, anything!) He just exists. At first he comes across as naive, but quickly degenerates into a leach on society. And Lear never reveals enough about Albert for him to develop into a fully realized character. The entire book is Paul.

I enjoy M/M erotica, even porn. I usually like a lot of sex in books regardless of genre, whether M/M or het. But, I want some emotion in it. The characters need not be in love, but at least care. However, this book completely turned me off. Paul had no feelings for any of the men he coupled with. It wasn't erotic, it was an exercise in depravity. Some of the "sexual" acts described were outright disgusting to me (involving bodily functions/fluids I'd rather not remember) and there was no other storyline to provide a break from it. I've read books with disturbing acts/scenes (rape, murder, abuse) but they were used to enhance or propel a story. There is no story here. Even in "Back Passage" there was a mystery (of a sorts) to unravel. Perhaps the worst part of all, the ending was unfinished and the left the reader hanging on a possible romance that never happens.

Overall, this book was a huge disappoinment. Skip this, and read Lear's other work instead.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well Written! Lots ofVarieties!!, October 17, 2006

By	Jane (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Palace of Varieties (Paperback)

Great story that moves along smoothly. Well-developed characters with lots of variety of sex. Just the right splash of emotions an angst of lead character who is 18 at time of story. Very easy to read with lots of gay sex! Lear captures the emotions and changing situations of our hero and has interesting characters that come along for the ride. "Excuse the pun!" I wasn't disppointed.