My Amazon Reviews: "The Slave Journals" Thom Magistar

Tales and Time Capsules
5 Out of 5 Stars

There was a time when there was no Facebook, AOL or even Drummer Classified. You couldn't pop on your I-Phone and do a locater for the closest hook-up, soul mate, or buddy. Not even a hankie-code. You had to depend on your instincts. The tell-tale clues. The direct questions posed to you by men who had learned through experience what to look for in you as you prowled the bars and streets, looking for something you just couldn't quite define, but felt burning in your heart.

"Sir, why was I brought here?
"You Willed it. It was yourself who brought you here, we merely took you in."

"The Slave Journals: And Other Tales of The Old Guard" is Thom Magistar's terrific collection of stories about The Centurions, a mythical leather club that has existed since the late 40's and continues recruitment into the present day. While the stories are fiction, it is easy to feel the heat of each coal of truth that the stories themselves contain. The seventeen Masters who recount their lives and times show how The Old Guard, as it were, began as men in need of a safe place to bond and be themselves. No pretense, no sense that they were doing something that would eventually become embellished legend. Just being the men they knew they were.

Self-awareness is key in many of these stories, even if The Centurions continuously emphasize honor, trust, dignity, loyalty and discipline. The integrity never changes, even as the years roll by and the world changes. The men, the club, they all change as well, but not that set of key elements. The stories are hot in the hard-handed reading division, yet a message that kinship can be a virtue that overrides lust is the message brought home throughout Magistar's writing. Seekers will always seek, it is what they find and ultimately keep - and then give back - that makes a club, group, tribe or family worth belonging to.


  

Happy and Home

Happy and home from a delightful weekend at MAL, DC. The guys from Grey Rose Video once again offered space at their booth to share, and the array of books was laid out. It's always nice to watch the ebb and flow of attendees scoot by, and since we were located in the hallway between the two main vendor rooms this year, everyone had to pass me at least once. The other fun thing is to see friends. The semi-well Mudcub and the hopefully germ free Thor across the popped by for a quick chat before utterly vanishing for the rest of the weekend. But not fast enough for me to hand off an hour's worth of obscure/out-of-print early 80's singles I'd burned for Mud, the track list of which was as follows:

She Sheila - The Producers LP: You Make the Heat 
Boardwalk Beauty - The Elektrics LP:  Current Events 
Suspicion - Scott Wilk + The Walls LP: Scott Wilk + The Walls  
Break Away - Big Pig  LP: Bonk  
She - Colourfield LP: Terry Hall: The Collection 
Bad Guy's Winnin' - D B Cooper  LP: Dangerorus Curves 
Girls! Girls! Girls! - The Cretones LP: Snap! Snap! 
Stuck In The Rain - Paul Hyde And The Payolas LP: Here's The World For Ya 
The Shapes Of Things To Come - The Headboys LP:  The Headboys  
Back of my Hand (US Single) - The Jags LP: The Best Of The Jags 
Waiting For The Night - The Pop LP: Go! 
Let Me Go - The Rings LP:  The Rings  
Christabelle - The Sorrows LP:  Love Too Late 
Takin' Her Back - Paul Warren LP: One Of The Kids 
Love Stealer - The Scooters LP: Blue Eyes 
Out In California - Yipes! LP: Yipes 
Out of Mind Out Of Sight - The Models LP: Out Of Mind Out Of Sight

And despite the fact that we'd crossed paths often enough, I got a neighborly formal introduction to the dapper wescobear and his travelling companion, Otter J. (who is as handsome as WB often describes). I am always happy to meet folks that actually live nearby, and it turns out the Otter and I grew up in realtive close proximity in Dutch country.

Had some nice meetings after the vendor mart with friends for two dinners, one at a steak club and the second at The Playbill. I am still eating cautiously in the aftermath of the surgery, but recovering nicely. I am headed back to work after giving up the tough-guy routine. I originally thought I could go back into the call center four days after the docs took a part of my backside out, but this was way more exhausting than I thought. After going to work Monday last week, I came home and got ill. Joel and my friend Dr Reeves leaned on me to call out for the week, and they didn't have to lean hard. And having a Dr Friend with a presecription pad helps get the medicines that really do the job, so to speak. Alas, as much as I wish I could zone out for a few more days, I've now shot half my year's vacation. Back to the grind. Here's a little New Wave to start to week.

Passings: Robert Maddox, Co-Founcer of Male Hide Leathers, Chicago

I was sent the message that Bob Maddox (on right, with partner Frank Gohey), the cofounder of Male Hide Leathers in Chicago, passed away suddenly Sunday, Oct 25th. His friend, David Boyer (manager of Touche and formerly The Cell Block), sent out a heartfelt notice, which says it better than I could have.

Greetings all,

Guess I have been putting this off the past couple of days, as this week I must begin on a very sad note. My dear friend and a giant of the leather community Bob Maddox, passsed away last Sunday. Bob and his partner Frank began making leather gear for guys way back before there was a Touché. They openned Male Hide Leathers on Illinois Street just around the corner from the old Gold Coast bar. This was where I got fitted for my first set of leather chaps and vest. Eventually Male Hide would move up to Lincoln Avenue to a location across the street from Touché.

As an owner of Male Hide, Bob was very supportive of Chicago's leather scene. I can't count the number of leather items and gift certificates given out at club nights at Touché over these many years. They set up shop at club runs and showed support by placing ads in programs for all kinds of events. Sure they were promoting their business, but this was at a time when guys were still hiding their leather gear in the trunk of their car. If gay guys were in the closet, leathermen were even deeper in that closet.

Bob and Frank were true pioneers of leather and kink. As I lived next to the old bar, we became neighbors and good friends. We consoled each other upon the loss of our life partners. We would hit the movies, get together for breakfast or just check up on each other over the years. I am sure going to miss Bob.I have already been asked about services for Bob. He is going to laid to rest next to Frank down in Kentucky this Friday. Plans for a memorial gathering for Bob are being made for the Thanksgiving weekend as some of Bob's family wish to join with his Chciago family in saying goodbye.

Bob was always very kind and supportive of my work, and often entertained me with wildly funny stories of his time in Chicago's early leather years. I got to know him on a limited basis during the publications of Rubber Rebel and Vulcan America, and while working on the early years of the Mister International Rubber contests.

Pick Up David Stein's New Books!

Shameless Commerce Dept: The covers will link directly to my website for those who'd like to own a copy of these books. They were a hit at both the Folsom Street Fair and at The MsC in Washington DC.

In 1996, in the 14th issue of the long gone Magazine "International Leatherman," David Stein guest edited and produced a volume that was strictly about real life Master and slave couples. Oddly enough, it was not one of the magazine's better selling volumes (frankly, no jo stories...), but it soon became a highly sought collector's issue. It laid out, in detail, that these folks not only existed, but they were RARELY similar.

Over 10 years later, David revisits this idea on "Ask The Man Who Owns Him." While the criterion for inclusion in this book is similar (gay male couples identifying as M/s in relationships for at least 3 years), the couples profiled are anything but. There's polyamory, monogamy, strict protocols, deep spirituality, deep division. They live together, they're separated by state lines. They self identify in all manner of 'title.' Some came into their relationships naturally, others evolved, some were seeming thrust into them. These pairings are everything but interchangeable.

Yet for so many fetish fantasists, all M/s relationships are invariable. Even David's own highly recommended Carried Away: An S/M Romance is still fiction. Such assorted hogwash as "Mr. Benson," "The Story of O," et al give distorted views that can't sustain a real world challenge. "Ask The Man Who Owns Him" does a great deal to dispel the mythology that has too long lingered around true practitioners of this life, who invited David Stein and David Schachter into their homes and personal worlds. This book is NOT someone telling you they know what you want and how to get it. This book reclaims the fringe that - in some circles - would portray these folk as outlaw sexualists.

Even as the men (and in a few cases here, women) would probably snort at that 'outlaw' description, there is one thing that "Ask The Man Who Owns Him" does show as a common denominator. Each of the men that have bonded in these relationships truly care about each other. Be their references Master, slave, owner, property or however they refer to themselves, they are all couples. They're all for real. It's the reality portrayed by "Ask The Man That Owns Him" that makes the book invaluable.

 In "Boots, Bondage and Beatings," David turns his atention to short stories in this burning collection. Each of the stories centers on one of more of the B's in the book's title, be it an erotic tale or a psychologically compelling one. My personal favorite was the slave trainer showing his young charge that it's not all about hot sex and searing sessions, it is about service and the mindset. There's even a pair of stories that serve as adjuncts to "Carried Away." Solid, thoughtful and arousing, a good book for the black leather bookshelf. David was kind enough to request a foreword from me, which I was honored to contribute.

Clicking on the covers will take you to my website, where those inclined can purchase these (and other) kinky titles.

Folsom Pictures with Gallery Link

Sept 2009

More pics here- 35 MORE! - and really? Not Safe For Work

Purple Passion needs Your Help

Reposting from Lolitasir and Nice-n-evil.

Hilton and his crew are great folks and have supported me often though the years.

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This is a repost from lolitasir 's live journal.  Please repost it to yours if you'd like.

It's about the possibility that Purple Passion might have to close! 
The owner, Hilton, is a BIG supporter of Leather/kink communities (in addition to other charities, such as holiday toy drives for needy children) and he has been for a long, long time - he is a big part of NYC's Leather History.  He has a great store with excellent staff, and he himself is a person of genuine and good character. 

If you have been thinking of buying any sort of sex toy, fetish garment or footwear, S/m implement, porn, BDSM-related book, etc., please do so NOW, and buy it from Hilton.  It would be a terrible loss for the Leather community - and for Hilton and his staff and their families - if there was no more Purple Passion.

Now here's the part I've copied from lolitasir 

Unfortunately, things are not great business-wise, so we are asking for your help. We’ve been very supportive of the community for many years and need to ask for your support now. We’re all aware of the economic situation, and it’s particularly hitting small businesses like ours very hard. We would like to continue to be part of the community, but frankly, things are very dire.

Please support us by shopping in our store and checking out our wonderful continually updated WEB Site.

We have finally resolved all our Google issues. Google has given our site a 100% secured rating meaning our site is 100% secure, safe and infection free.

Our prices are competitive and we have a great selection. Come see us or call us (212-807-0486) and we’ll have what you want or find it and have it at the right price. We REALLY need your business.

Check out our web site for an online discount shopping coupon at purplepassion.com

Special Sale !!
30% off all Men’s & Women’s leather clothing,
30% off leather corsets and Vanson Jackets.
20% off everything else.
In-store in stock only.

We appreciate your support and business
- Hilton
Purple Passion
211 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 807-0486
www.purplepassion.com
 

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PS - look in the books and you'll find a few of mine.