Repost By Request: Toga Trash Lists

Over the past week I’ve received emails from two different people asking if I could re-post my old toga trash Amazon lists, which I posted a link to here on the blog back in 2010…back in those naïve days when I didn’t realize that certain words would set off search filters.  And for that reason I will not link to that old post here...I mean things have gotten pretty Big Brother lately, so no need to set off any prudish AI bots.

Well anyway, it appears that friggin’ Amazon has deleted my Listmania lists (it looks like they’ve gotten rid of all Listmania lists, in fact), so the links on that old post no longer work. You can’t even find the old Amazon URLs on the Wayback Machine. Luckily in 2008, after creating the lists, I saved them as a Word doc, so here are the books I listed way back then as my top-recommended “toga trash” paperbacks: 

Swords, Sandals, Sex, and Sin: Good ‘N Trashy Historical Fiction 

A Listmania! list by Joe Kenney "buttergun" (Dallas, TX USA) 

The list author says: "Trashy in a good way -- no "detectives in togas," no poorly-written military fiction, no thinly-veiled Christian glurge. Just fiction that revels in the decadence, opulence, and violence of the ancient world. Click through for more info on each; I plan to eventually review them all. Drop me a line if you know of any similar titles!" 

1. The Way of the Gladiator by Daniel P. Mannix 

 

The list author says: "1958. Originally published as "Those About To Die." A novel in all but name, presented as a history book. Graphic depictions of the games; no doubt served as inspiration for many of the gladiator scenes which appear in the below books." 

2. Messalina by Jack Oleck 

The list author says: "1959. The story of Messalina, sadistic and adulterous wife of Claudius, the fourth emperor of Rome. Filled to the brim with sex and intrigue; don't let the early publication date fool you, as there's nothing "old fashioned" about this novel." 

3. Clodia by Robert Demaria 

The list author says: "1965. "The most popular lay of ancient Rome." -- So proclaims the cover blurb on the 1969 Sphere mass market paperback. The sexploitative saga of the lacscivious Clodia and how she seduces and crushes the once-innocent poet Catullus. Takes place during the final years of the Republic." 

4. Rogue Roman by Lance Horner 

The list author says: "1965. Graphically-descriptive tale of a mime-turned-gladiator-turned-Nero-impersonator in the mid-1st Century CE. Good and lurid historical trash fiction fun." 

5. The Last Nights of Pompeii by Martin Saul 

The list author says: "1966. Short novel about a doomed love which plays out around the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE. Features a strange subplot which just exudes misogyny." 

6. Child of the Sun by Kyle Onstott Lance Horner 

The list author says: "1966. The life and loves of 3rd Century CE emperor Elagabalus, who introduced a new religion to Rome, dressed like a woman, loved boys, and once accidentally smothered dinner guests with a shower of flower petals." 

7. The Gladiators by Martin Saul 

The list author says: "1966. Story of a gladiator during the reign of Nero, by the author of "Last Nights of Pompeii" (#5 above)." 

8. Theodora by Jack Oleck 

The list author says: "1971. Oleck's follow-up to "Messalina" (#2 above), this time recounting the equally-lascivious and sex-craved exploits of 6th Century CE empress Theodora, wife of Justinian." 

9. I, Cleopatra 

The list author says: "1977. Lurid, massive novel posing as Cleopatra's memoirs. Strangely, was written by a man!" 

10. The Empress by Robert Demaria 

The list author says: "1978. DeMaria's follow-up to "Clodia" (#3 above). The story of Agripinna, sister of Caligula and mother of Nero." 

11. Golden Voyager by Simon Finch 

The list author says: "1978. Book 1 of the Voyager trilogy, concerning the sexploits of Vesuvio in the early 2nd Century CE, during the reign of Trajan." 

12. The Lady Serena by Jeanne Duval 

The list author says: "1978. Story of a Vestal who breaks her sacred vow of virginity to be with her one true love. Features a hilarious cameo by a prancing Nero." 

13. Pagan Voyager by Simon Finch 

The list author says: "1979. Book 2 of the Voyager trilogy, published in the US as "The Pagan." The further sexploits of Vesuvio; mostly just a retread of Book 1, "Golden Voyager" (#11 above)." 

14. Calgaich the Swordsman by Gordon D. Shirreffs 

The list author says: "1980. British slave becomes famous gladiator in 5th Century CE, during the twilight years of the Roman Empire. Published by Playboy; accordingly sex-filled." 

15. The Ravishers by Duval 

The list author says: "1980. Follow-up to "The Lady Serena" (#12 above), a woman looks for true love shortly before Vesuvius's eruption. Features another cameo by a campy Nero." 

16. Voyager in Bondage by Simon Finch 

The list author says: "1981. Atrocious final volume of the Voyager trilogy. Never published in the US. See my review for a thorough skewering." 

17. Empress of Desire by Jack Mertes 

The list author says: "1982. Could almost be a sequel to Oleck's "Messalina" (#2 above) in that this is the story of Poppaea Sabina, the last wife of Nero, and how she extracts vengeance -- vengeance which was sired when Messalina had Poppaea's mother killed. A whole bunch of sex in this one." 

18. Raptor by Gary Jennings 

The list author says: "1992. Mammoth tale of a young hermaphrodite in the 6th Century CE, long after Christianity has destroyed the classical world. Filled with graphic sex and disturbing violence, as hero Thorn makes his/her way across the Eastern Roman Empire." 

19. Caligula: Divine Carnage: Atrocities of the Roman Emperors by Stephen Barber 

The list author says: "2001. Like #1 above, this is a novel in everything but name, though it's presented with less of a narrative drive. No, it's just an XXX-rated, incredibly violent fantasy about the reigns of Caligula, Commodus, and Elagabalus, with a chapter on gladiators that would probably even make Daniel Mannix blush." 

20. Den of Wolves (Empress of Rome) by Luke Devenish 

The list author says: "2008. A modern return to the genre; in fact, Devenish supplied the name for this list. This is Book 1 of the Empress Of Rome trilogy; this installment starts off in the final days of the Republic. So far only published in Australia, but a UK and (hopefully) US release is on the way." 

And here are ones I added to the list at some later point in time – according to my Word doc, in 2009.  In fact I think it was a separate Listmania list, titled More Swords, Sandals, Sex, and Sin.

Aphrodite by Pierre Louys 

The list author says: "1962. Louis Golomb's uncensored 1962 translation of this 1896 French novel is of a piece with the other books on this list -- it reads just like a piece of classy toga porn. The tale of a courtesan in Ptolemaic Alexandria." 

The Gladiators: Atilus the Slave by Edward Thomson 

The list author says: "1975. UK-published first book of the "Gladiators" series; pulp historical fiction. Edward Thomson a psuedonym of EC Tubb." 

Atilus the Gladiator (The gladiators) by Edward Thomson 

The list author says: "1975. Second and final installment of the UK-published "Gladiators" series. Atilus, a gladiator during the reign of Nero, manages a team of gladiatrixes." 

CLEOPATRA'S BLONDE SEX RIVAL by Walt Vickery 

The list author says: "1962. Vintage softcore porn trash fiction, about a Nordic beauty and her love for Caesar. The title alone is a stroke of genius -- I mean, she's not just ANY sex rival, she's Cleopatra's BLONDE sex rival!" 

The Pagan Empress by Kevin Mathews 

The list author says: "1964. Another Messalina tale, more trashy and decadent than Oleck's version. See Messalina seduce a man while she's dressed as a gladiatrix!" 

Satyricon: Memoirs of a Lusty Roman by Petronius Arbiter 

The list author says: "1965. Gillette's novel bears no relation to the Petronius classic other than the title. A "men's magazine" softcore romp through the Roman Empire...but not as good as that sounds." 

Aphrodite by Pierre Louys 

The list author says: "1972. Another translation of Louys's "Aphrodite." This one is by Robert Baldick and published by the UK imprint Panther. It's even better than Golomb's (#3 above), but it's hard to find." 

I, Sappho Of Lesbos : The Autobiography Of A Strange Woman by Michel (Editor) Darius 

The list author says: "1960. Fictional autobiography of Sappho, by "Beat Generation druggie" Alexander Trocchi. Subtitled "An Amorous Odyssey," which should give you some idea of the content." 

Salammbo (Penguin Classics) by Gustave Flaubert 

The list author says: "1977. Tredennick & Tarrant's translation for Penguin Classics is the best version in English of this sex and violence-soaked 1862 classic. Despite its age, it's still light-years beyond historical fiction of today." 

Alexander and the camp follower by Robert Payne 

The list author says: "1954. Cool but forgotten novel about Alexander the Great, narrated by his courtesan wife Thaissa. Moreso historical fantasy, with walk-ons from the gods Hecate and Ammnon. AKA Alexander the God." 

Nero by Frank Castle 

The list author says: "1961. Trashy take on Nero, by Frank Castle (the Punisher himself!). First-person account of a Praetor who begins to loathe the increasingly-insane Emperor." 

Assyrian by Nicholas Guild 

The list author says: "1987. Gary Jennings-esque tale of a spurned prince’s adventures in Biblical-era Assyria (ie 7th Century BCE). It’s rife with Assyrian religion, graphic violence, and sex." 

The Blood Star by Nicholas Guild 

The list author says: "1989. Sequel to The Assyrian (above). The hero/narrator of the previous novel finds himself chased by bounty hunters in a fight to the death. Incredibly rare and expensive." 

The Shattered Horse by S. P. Somtow 

The list author says: "1986. Historical fantasy reworking of the Aeneid, with Hector's son Astyanax replacing Aeneas, walk-ons from most of the Olympian gods, rites and rituals straight out of Frazer's Golden Bough, and the mummy of Pharoah Akenhaton." 

The Barbarian Princess by Florence King 

The list author says: "1978. Whacked-out, crazy, sexploitative, and hilarious picaresque about one woman's quest around the Roman Empire of the 6th Century CE. Published under the name Laura Buchanan, a psuedonym of popular romance author Florence King -- who claims she was drunk when she wrote this!" 

Cleopatra's Daughter by Andrea Ashton 

The list author says: "1979. Epic-length historical romance about Cleopatra's daughter, with all sorts of toga, chiton, and bodice-ripping." 

Turia by Priscilla Buckley 

The list author says: "1977. Sex and revenge during the end of the Republic, as Turia avenges the murder of her parents and engages in forbidden love with Alexis, a slave physician." 

Fire Within by Ann Combs

The list author says: "1978. By Ann Combs, psuedonym of Nina Combs Pylcare. A British girl in 61 CE goes from one lover to another, ends up with Nero, and is finally sent to a brothel when he tires of her. Will true love prevail?" 

The Emperor's Virgin by Sylvia Fraser 

The list author says: "1980. Sex-filled romp ("kinky sex of all types," in fact!) about Emperor Vespasian, his wife, and a Vestal Virgin."

And that is all I have in my old Word documents.  Not sure how comprehensive the above is, as I think there are some titles I failed to save later on.  For example, none of the Slaves Of The Empire books are listed here, but I am pretty sure they were at one point.  Also I recall having stated that The Barbarian Princess was the best book on the entire list (I mean to re-read it someday), but that is not shown in the writeup above...so again, looks like I failed to capture later updates to the lists for posterity.  Dammit!

UPDATE

A big thanks to Fred Blosser, whose comment (below) on Anthony Burgess’s Kindom Of The Wicked reminded me that this book was also once on the list, as were some others that suddenly popped in my head.  My only conclusion is that I was too lazy to save later versions of those Listmania lists, meaning that much of what I added to them has been lost.  Well, here are the ones I just remembered, and if I remember any others I will just keep updating this post!

Kingdom of the Wicked by Anthony Burgess

Neropolis by Hubert Monteilhet

Trax by R.L. S. Hawke 

The Lovers Of Pompeii by Theodore Pratt

Dark Priestess by Juanita Coulson

The Quest Of Ben Hur by Karl Tunberg (yes, a 1981 papberback original sequel to the movie version of Ben Hur…written by the screenwriter!)

Empress of Shame by Martin Saul

The Unconquered Sun by Ralph Dulin

Dawn Falcon by Ann Moray

The Maze Maker by Michael Ayrton

The Fall Of The Roman Empire by Harry Whittington (novelization of the film)
 
The Phoenician by Bruce Cassiday
 
Morituri by Barry Sadler

The Cleopatras by Philip Mackie (novelization of the forgotten 1983 BBC series)

YET ANOTHER UPDATE -- LINK TO THE COMPLETE LISTS!

Super big thanks to Johny Malone, who left a comment below that he had saved my old Listmania lists and posted them to Flickr.  The material above is what I wrote in the original versions of the lists in 2008 and 2009.  But here at this link you can read the final versions of each list, with all the updates I made to them.  Thanks again, Johny!