Erotic Book Review
The Pleasure Dial: An Erotocomedic Novel of Old-Time Radio by Jeremy Edwards
Review by Joshua Gage
Jeremy Edwards’s libidinous literary efforts are well represented at many of the erotica scene’s high-quality online venues (Clean Sheets, Erotic Woman, Fishnet, Good Vibrations, Oysters & Chocolate), and his stories have appeared in over fifty anthologies offered by Cleis Press, Xcite Books, and other publishers. His work was selected for The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica, vols. 7, 8, and 9, and he has been featured in the literary showcase of the Seattle Erotic Art Festival. Out on the newsstand, he has contributed frequently to Scarlet and Forum (Foreplay) magazines. A popular guest on the Web circuit, Jeremy has been seen or heard such places as Erotica Readers & Writers Association, Lust Bites, LoveHoney, Dr. Dick’s Sex Advice, and Cult of Gracie Radio. In the nonvirtual world, he has read his work at the In the Flesh series in New York, the Erotic Literary Salon in Philadelphia, and (via telephone) In the Flesh: L.A. His most recent contribution to the erotic genre is The Pleasure Dial: An Erotocomedic Novel of Old-Time Radio.
The Pleasure Dial is a erotic comedy set in 1930's Hollywood. Artie Plask is a comedy writer in New York who has the opportunity to move and work for The Sid Heffy Show, a radio comedy show in California. The opening scene of the novel sets the tone of the book immediately--Artie is consulting his favorite confidant, the pantiless crotch of a Macy's mannequin he's named Trixie. When he moves to California, he meets the writing team, including head writer Mariel Fenton. He also meets Elyse Heffermen, Sid Heffy's daughter, who lounges around her father's pool in the nude, enticing and encouraging the writing team. The next day, however, they're all fired, as Sid Heffy decides to pursue his passion of radio drama instead of comedy, and Artie and Mariel are left trying to invent careers for themselves while undermining Sid Heffy's plans.
The Pleasure Dial is a fun and witty read, and Edwards uses comedy to excellent effect. Much like the Screwball Comedies of the 1930s and 40s, tension is built between characters in witty repartee, indicating an underlying desire. Artie Plask is a young Cary Grant to the Rosalind Russel or Katherine Hepburne that is Elyse Heffermen or Mariel Fenton, both of whom litter their speech with witticisms and double entendres to pique the interest of any reader.
Fortunately for readers, the Hays Code, while technically still in effect in the setting of the novel, does not affect the novel itself. There is sex aplenty. Almost as soon as Artie gets to Hollywood, he's introduced to the libidinous celebration that readers can only hope happens somewhere in the world. The scenes are juicy and raw, and while Artie is a cautious lover ever ready with a condom, the sex itself is urgent and unbridled. The characters in this book have sex anywhere, anytime, whether it be in a public park, the back stage of a movie set, or even in the middle of a massage session with the masseuse looking on jealously.
What makes the sex in the novel even more enjoyable is the lack of seriousness with which Edwards treats the story in general. It is clearly a comedy, with contrived twists and conveniences furthering the plot, and it is clearly meant to be. This lack of seriousness allows the reader to open themselves to the blaring hedonism within these pages. Edwards plays with his characters, consciously and deliberately, and he wants the readers to relax and play, too. The Pleasure Dial is a fast, exciting read with lots of laughs and lots of sex that readers are sure to enjoy.
The Pleasure Dial: An Erotocomedic Novel of Old-Time Radio is available in eBook formats from OC Press
Copyright November 2011, Joshua Gage
Published with permission from author on OystersandChocolate.com. Copying or reprinting this work in part or in whole without permission is illegal.
This product was provided free of charge to the reviewer. This review is in compliance with the FTC guidelines.