Some days when I'm down in the dumps, I like to pull this book off the shelf and imagine John Martin's reaction when receiving it.
Because Bukowski had written a brief intro, it was custom for Martin to require a copy be sent to him. I can imagine him carefully using his letter opener to retieve the book and flipping through the first pages before coming to Wilson's inclription:
"T0 JOHN MARTIN -- THIS SATANIC CATECHISM AND BLACK SWALLOW (GULP... YUCK!)
S.CLAY WILSON 1985."
Then turing a few pages more, he may have spotted Bukowski's contribution:
"A blasting collaboration here, action enough, life enough, and... certainly enough cum to satisfy almost anybody..."
Whether he made it to the cum-laden drawings is anyone's guess, but next I imagine the Christian Scientist feverishly washing his hands while fighting the gag reflex.
