Thread by @PulpLibrarian

Let me introduce you to one of the most prolific pulp spies of the 1960s and '70s: Rod Damon - The Coxeman! #SundayMotivation

Rod Damon is both a super-spy and a Professor of Sociology, proving that academics can have a real world impact if they try.

He also spent three years in the military as an intelligence officer, before returning to civilian life to pursue his research in more depth.

As part of his sociological studies Rod set up L.S.D., the League for Sexual Dynamics. However his life of research often has to come second to his other job...

Rod was recruited by the Thaddeus X. Coxe Foundation, a cover for an ultra-secret intelligence outfit led by a mysterious man known only as 'Walrus-Moustache'.

Thus Rod Damon became 'The Coxeman' - a lone agent battling against sinister - but sexy - forces worldwide.

Actually Rod Damon was one of the many pulp heroes cashing in on the popularity of James Bond. This genre, known as sexpionage novels, was a bookstore staple for many a year.

Troy Conway was a joint alias used by a range of writers working on the series: Michael Avallone , Johannes L. Bouma, Gardner Fox , Charles E. Fritch and Paul J. Gilette.

And from 1967 to 1973 these writers turned out 34 Coxeman' novels, some of which were also translated into German.

Are they any good? Surprisingly they do stand up! Avallone and Fox are solid pulp writers and the stories just about hang together, in a somewhat ridiculous way.

Sadly Rod never made it to the big screen, but the books remained in print up until the 1980s.

So here's to Rod Damon: The Coxeman! He made sociology sexy and sexpionage swinging. We will never see his like again.

More pulp heroes another time...