Ted Mark (1928–2004)

Ted Mark was quite a prolific writer whose many works included including a 1960s/ 70s era series of satirical paperbacks that tapped into the James Bond/ Man from Uncle/ Maxwell Smart craze. His titles included "The Man from O.R.G.Y.," "The Nude Wore Black," "Room at the Topless," "The Girl from Pussycat," and "Dr. Nyet." Imagine a combination of secret agents, mini-skirted beauties, bachelor pads, rock and roll, and unbridled (soft core) sexual innuendo, and you'll have the idea. These were pulp fiction at its pulpiest, and Marks (who later became an ardent supporter of feminist causes) lived to feel chagrin at his sexploitation of the gender stereotypes. To enjoy his cheaper works today takes suspension of sociopolitical judgments that few adult readers are likely to find possible.

As for "I Was a Teeny Bopper for the CIA", given its hilarious title and cover illustration, you'd think this might be far removed from anything like a timeless work. And you'd be right. When I read it decades ago, it appealed to my love of irreverence and the outrageous flouting of traditional mores. But having tried it again recently, I was sad to find it unreadable. Reading it felt like stepping into a time machine. However, the time when this sort of thing pushed the envelope in the humorous direction has gone the way of beehive hairdos, swing clubs, and the twist. It was fun while it lasted, but this book is for nostalgia fans only.… (mais)