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Prisoner of X: 20 Years in the Hole at Hustler Magazine
Prisoner of 20 Years in the Hole at Hustler Magazine is a savagely funny odyssey through the bizarro world of Larry Flynt’s cracker-rich X-rated empire. During his tenure in the Hustler trenches, punk-rock dropout Allan MacDonell ascends from entry-level comma-catcher to editorial overlord of the unseemly offerings at Larry Flynt Publications. Here’s the inside story of running America’s most influential porn domain. A professional career of evaluating countless skin photos, taking XXX field trips, mastering “fully erect” film criticism and enduring creepy interoffice schemers suddenly launches MacDonell into national politics when Larry Flynt opens his wallet to impact the impeachment proceedings against President William Jefferson Clinton. MacDonell reveals the backside of his prominent role in tricking right-wing Speaker-elect Bob Livingston into resigning from Congress. Prisoner of X is a wildly entertaining memoir about life climbing the bent and fearsome masthead of an infamous magazine, and the bittersweet reward of publicly crossing its hillbilly Caesar. Aside from being the most prolific writer in the history of Larry Flynt Publications, Allan MacDonell contributed to the archetypal punk magazine Slash and the underground anthology Apocalypse Culture . Freelance pieces have appeared in venues as diverse as Gambling Times magazine, MrSkin.com and the L.A. Weekly . Mr. MacDonell lives in California's Hollywood Hills with two dogs, his wife Theresa, and a clear conscience.
312 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
6 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 12, 2009
I wrote this wickedly manipulative book, and was there for much of the action described; so don't expect impartiality from me.
Many people who are experts in such things have praised Prisoner of X.
Some people who know me and like me couldn't stomach this book, despite it being all about me and by me.
The fact that they freely told me so somehow makes me even happier that I wrote the thing!
But I don't need to hear any more of that.
If you read Prisoner of X, I hope you have some laughs, and don't worry if they're at the narrator's expense. He knows the joke he has made of himself.
Believe me, he knows.
Many people who are experts in such things have praised Prisoner of X.
Some people who know me and like me couldn't stomach this book, despite it being all about me and by me.
The fact that they freely told me so somehow makes me even happier that I wrote the thing!
But I don't need to hear any more of that.
If you read Prisoner of X, I hope you have some laughs, and don't worry if they're at the narrator's expense. He knows the joke he has made of himself.
Believe me, he knows.
April 30, 2018
An enjoyable read that actually left me wanting more (I will be reading his other book at some point). He is an excellent writer, with an easy style that accommodates humorous observation, wry introspection, and well-curated wonder at what he experienced and did.
I'm not familiar enough with the porn industry universe to be able to decode some of the pseudonyms he gave some of the people he wanted to filet (and a few he wanted to protect), but the anecdotes are no less entertaining (or appalling, depending) for that, and they must be delicious to those in the know. Life with Hustler & Larry Flynt sound like they were about what you'd expect, but the details were never less than interesting, and sometimes considerably more than that (I'll never see Jane Fonda the same way again…and I hope I never see Ted Turner…ever).
I suppose it's inevitable that we learn more about his disastrous early relationships than we do about his later marriage, though it would've been nice to have a little more about what changed for him. If it threatens early on to be the most scurrilous & semen-caked Bildungsroman since Genet, that trajectory comes to a halt with the arrival of his sobriety. I can't believe I'm writing this, but I actually wanted to learn a bit more about how he was able to achieve and maintain it (I'm not an addict and I generally find sobriety narratives uniformly uninteresting in their earnest uplift; I'm glad that people are better, but I usually don't want to read about it. All happy families…).
Lastly, it was a kick to learn that I'd read a lot of his early work without knowing it; Basho Macko (MacDonell) & Kickboy (Claude Bessy) were my two favorite writers at Slash, all those years ago. It was good to 'meet' him again.
I'm not familiar enough with the porn industry universe to be able to decode some of the pseudonyms he gave some of the people he wanted to filet (and a few he wanted to protect), but the anecdotes are no less entertaining (or appalling, depending) for that, and they must be delicious to those in the know. Life with Hustler & Larry Flynt sound like they were about what you'd expect, but the details were never less than interesting, and sometimes considerably more than that (I'll never see Jane Fonda the same way again…and I hope I never see Ted Turner…ever).
I suppose it's inevitable that we learn more about his disastrous early relationships than we do about his later marriage, though it would've been nice to have a little more about what changed for him. If it threatens early on to be the most scurrilous & semen-caked Bildungsroman since Genet, that trajectory comes to a halt with the arrival of his sobriety. I can't believe I'm writing this, but I actually wanted to learn a bit more about how he was able to achieve and maintain it (I'm not an addict and I generally find sobriety narratives uniformly uninteresting in their earnest uplift; I'm glad that people are better, but I usually don't want to read about it. All happy families…).
Lastly, it was a kick to learn that I'd read a lot of his early work without knowing it; Basho Macko (MacDonell) & Kickboy (Claude Bessy) were my two favorite writers at Slash, all those years ago. It was good to 'meet' him again.
March 10, 2009
Really cruised through this, skimming most of it. It's repetitive and mostly sad. Flynt was clearly insane and most of the staff wandered through the day in a drug-induced haze. I was hoping to find more information on the Larry Flynt/Jerry Falwell libel case that set some new standards for First Amendment issues. Very disappointing and really rates a negative star. It didn't even appeal to my prurient side.
September 30, 2021
The problem with this memoir, ironically, was that it was all about the author.
He comes across as very unlikable - a condescending, know-it-all douchebag, to be more specific.
Given that he was writing about his 20 years as a Hustler employee, I was surprised at how uninteresting a lot of it was.
He comes across as very unlikable - a condescending, know-it-all douchebag, to be more specific.
Given that he was writing about his 20 years as a Hustler employee, I was surprised at how uninteresting a lot of it was.
March 1, 2015
I thought this was great. I like books about the burgeoning LA punk scene back in the day, I like drug memoirs, and I like porn tell-alls. PRISONER OF X appealed to all of those proclivities and more. Humorous, honest, and humble in tone.
January 25, 2013
Although not to all tastes due to the subject matter, this is a brilliantly written and compulsively readable gonzo-autobiography.
November 5, 2022
I regret thinking this would be interesting insight into the publication of a porn magazine that had a crazed owner who claimed to be a free speech advocate. Instead it's a disgusting, gleeful celebration of the man who edited Hustler, bragging about his drug usage, sexual conquests, anti-Christian bigotry, and many lies told in order to expose others through false "journalism."
There was nothing professional about the way MacDonell operates the trashy magazine because Larry Flynt was a non-professional boss and the author was hired without any real journalistic experience. His qualifications seemed to be that he didn't always get erections when selecting naked women for the publication and that he was able to make up fake sexual letters on the spot to meet a deadline. The book should have been more about the actual publication and its owner instead of the lame writer.
The only section remotely interesting is when they offered up to a million dollars for women to report on Republican Congressmen that were having affairs, in order to head off the impeachment of Bill Clinton. It's even reported in the book that Clinton himself used Hustler and Larry Flynt in order to "get" his enemies. Hustler was free speech? Maybe. But it was unethical, filled with lies from the fake journalists and outright false propaganda when one Congressman was forced to leave office due to rumors that Hustler had the goods on him (the magazine didn't).
It's all very gross, making the reader feel dirty, and you conclude that Flynt was actually anti-free speech by using a type of hate speech and malice against public figures he didn't like. The First Amendment provides the right for any American to publish what they want, but the Supreme Court has ruled that such speech can suffer the consequences of failing to meet community standards of prurience and malicious intent. Flynt should have been jailed for most of his life because Hustler, of any of the major nude publications, was the least sensitive to community standards and also the least ethical in what it did. Flynt should not be a hero for anyone; he was the devil using the system to hold power over others from his gold wheelchair.
The author found that out the hard way when he was unceremoniously fired after being forced to participate in a Flynt roast. Larry did like what MacDonnell said, so the editor no longer had a job. So much for free speech! Add to that the other employees who were threatened when they leaked details of projects. I guess the Hustler version of the First Amendment only applied to them using the publication to expose conservatives they didn't like; within the offices Flynt ruled like a dictator that banned true free speech.
If you get off on stories of gross drug usages or catching sexually transmitted diseases, then this may be the book for you. Otherwise X out any thought of reading Prisoner of X.
There was nothing professional about the way MacDonell operates the trashy magazine because Larry Flynt was a non-professional boss and the author was hired without any real journalistic experience. His qualifications seemed to be that he didn't always get erections when selecting naked women for the publication and that he was able to make up fake sexual letters on the spot to meet a deadline. The book should have been more about the actual publication and its owner instead of the lame writer.
The only section remotely interesting is when they offered up to a million dollars for women to report on Republican Congressmen that were having affairs, in order to head off the impeachment of Bill Clinton. It's even reported in the book that Clinton himself used Hustler and Larry Flynt in order to "get" his enemies. Hustler was free speech? Maybe. But it was unethical, filled with lies from the fake journalists and outright false propaganda when one Congressman was forced to leave office due to rumors that Hustler had the goods on him (the magazine didn't).
It's all very gross, making the reader feel dirty, and you conclude that Flynt was actually anti-free speech by using a type of hate speech and malice against public figures he didn't like. The First Amendment provides the right for any American to publish what they want, but the Supreme Court has ruled that such speech can suffer the consequences of failing to meet community standards of prurience and malicious intent. Flynt should have been jailed for most of his life because Hustler, of any of the major nude publications, was the least sensitive to community standards and also the least ethical in what it did. Flynt should not be a hero for anyone; he was the devil using the system to hold power over others from his gold wheelchair.
The author found that out the hard way when he was unceremoniously fired after being forced to participate in a Flynt roast. Larry did like what MacDonnell said, so the editor no longer had a job. So much for free speech! Add to that the other employees who were threatened when they leaked details of projects. I guess the Hustler version of the First Amendment only applied to them using the publication to expose conservatives they didn't like; within the offices Flynt ruled like a dictator that banned true free speech.
If you get off on stories of gross drug usages or catching sexually transmitted diseases, then this may be the book for you. Otherwise X out any thought of reading Prisoner of X.
May 21, 2024
I started reading this to reassure myself that I did not, in fact, once hold the worst job in publishing, but the further I got into the book, the more I enjoyed it for its own sake. MacDonnell is an excellent writer, and his memories of two decades working for Larry Flynt are alterately horrifying and hilarious for reasons I'm not about to explain here.
Let's just say Flynt, the late hillbilly smut tycoon, was (between the drugs, the megalomania and the sadism) a demanding boss, while his underlings were a degenerate yet creative bunch whose intra-office pranks deserve a book of their own. Highlights include tales of several leading lights at the company, from Flynt's fourth wife, Althea, to cartoonist Dwaine Tinsley, creator of Chester the Molester (it was Tinsley whose sensitive depiction of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's home life launched the libel case portrayed in "The People Vs. Larry Flynt"), and an account of a porn festival held on the French Riviera to coincide with the somewhat better-known affair at Cannes.
MacDonnell was not a lonely champion of culture and gentility in the smut mill, and doesn't try to present himself as one. In fact, he he has a knack for fairly brutal self-deprecation, dissecting himself as entertainingly as his colleagues. You'll look in vain on Glassdoor.com, or anywhere else, for a better portrait of a workplace.
Let's just say Flynt, the late hillbilly smut tycoon, was (between the drugs, the megalomania and the sadism) a demanding boss, while his underlings were a degenerate yet creative bunch whose intra-office pranks deserve a book of their own. Highlights include tales of several leading lights at the company, from Flynt's fourth wife, Althea, to cartoonist Dwaine Tinsley, creator of Chester the Molester (it was Tinsley whose sensitive depiction of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's home life launched the libel case portrayed in "The People Vs. Larry Flynt"), and an account of a porn festival held on the French Riviera to coincide with the somewhat better-known affair at Cannes.
MacDonnell was not a lonely champion of culture and gentility in the smut mill, and doesn't try to present himself as one. In fact, he he has a knack for fairly brutal self-deprecation, dissecting himself as entertainingly as his colleagues. You'll look in vain on Glassdoor.com, or anywhere else, for a better portrait of a workplace.
January 20, 2026
If you ever wondered what it was like working for Larry Flynt for a couple of decades, wonder no more. MacDonell's recollections of his 20-year stint at Hustler magazine is the expected jumble of sleaze, irony and unexpectedly trenchant social commentary, and best of all, he doesn't even bother changing the names to protect the (not so) innocent. I'm not going to spoil it for you here, but the passage about Ted Turner's (alleged and video-taped) exploits is reason enough to check out this book, as far as I'm concerned. The book is a little slow in the beginning and the last chapter or two feel a little flat, but everything in between is quite entertaining and, in the weirdest way possible, *almost* enlightening. As long as you don't mind a lot of sordid details (and there are PLENTY in here), I think you'll enjoy it.
March 26, 2024
What can you say about a tell-all about Larry Flynt and his business? It’s not like it’s a shock that he’s a hot mess with bad interpersonal skills. And being there for twenty years really has taken the shine off the author. His descriptions flatten people more than fill them out. Still, some amazing details and stories in there. The Ted and Jane one will never be far from my conscious mind for the foreseeable future.
September 27, 2020
The book was an interesting read, but the author liked to show off his vocabulary skills and, as I find common in autobiographies, makes everything he says and does sound like he is superior to those in his orbit
April 20, 2022
Started out with some promise, but jumped back and forth timewise, it was hard to keep people straight and little bang (pardon the pun) to it.
July 14, 2012
Prior to read Prisoner of X by Allan MacDonell, my only exposure to Hustler magazine and Larry Flynt was through the Milos Forman movie People vs. Larry Flynt. I sort of knew that it was at the lower rungs of taste as far as porn goes, but until reading this book, I never realized the depths to which the magazine would go to attempt to titillate men. MacDonell discusses the graphic photo shoots and the far over the edge cartoons, as well as the apparently groundbreaking "cum shot".
However, aside from all the dirtiness, I also found that this was an interesting story of a man, very slowly, coming to confront his humanity and determining to exactly what lengths he was willing to stretch his morals before he just couldn't take any more. In addition, I must admit that I took a certain pleasure in reading about how Flynt and Hustler magazine were instrumental in exposing some of the key Republican players in the Clinton impeachment as true hypocrites. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of the publishing industry or to anyone who really hates their job and wonders just how bad it could get.
However, aside from all the dirtiness, I also found that this was an interesting story of a man, very slowly, coming to confront his humanity and determining to exactly what lengths he was willing to stretch his morals before he just couldn't take any more. In addition, I must admit that I took a certain pleasure in reading about how Flynt and Hustler magazine were instrumental in exposing some of the key Republican players in the Clinton impeachment as true hypocrites. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of the publishing industry or to anyone who really hates their job and wonders just how bad it could get.
January 24, 2012
It took me a while to work up the stomach to tackle "Prisoner of X," chiefly as my own stretch as a Hustler employer left some rather hefty emotional scars. Thus, it's hard to review this book objectively, but MacDonell can, and does, tell you way more than I ever could about his two decades working for Larry Flynt, from fledgling copy editor (my old job) and moving all the way up the ranks to running Flynt's flagship magazine. The writing, to my tastes, is a bit sloppy and slovenly, but, having been in the belly of the beast for four years myself, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Still, there are some interesting tales about interviewing such notorious notables as Night Stalker Richard Ramirez behind bars.
If you got nothing better to do...I suppose give it a whirl, especially if you're into seedy tales of sex and drugs.
Or rather, just come talk to me instead.
If you got nothing better to do...I suppose give it a whirl, especially if you're into seedy tales of sex and drugs.
Or rather, just come talk to me instead.
January 2, 2020
Read it and laugh. This is a fascinating behind the scenes account of working on the staff of a major and controversial men's magazine. Personalities upon personalities here. Larry, Althea (wife), porn performers, all of Allan's co-workers throughout his long tenure, Stories about human inter-relations insightful, in detail. Heavy big-time office politics.You will respect Allan MacDonell when you read this. He was in the thick of it, And he's a heck of a snazzy dresser. The rise and rise of Allan Macdonell. He can write his ass off too.
November 24, 2013
Well written and full of self-loathing (along with loathing for everyone who employed the author), this could have been entertaining, but just ran on too long. Maybe if I were interested in pornography or porn stars it would have kept my attention more, but really I just wanted to hear bizarre tales about working someplace insane. It became a chore to keep returning to it and finally I gave up on it entirely.
December 31, 2008
Exactly the sort of degenerate fluff I'm not supposed to be reading anymore but it was a Christmas present from a friend. Surprisingly well-written although the topic is pretty void of relevance or interest. Its pretty much an account of the office politics of a magazine -- just a very sleazy one.
August 4, 2007
This book appealed to all my inner dirty thoughts. I learned more about Hustler and the porn industry than I ever thought I would know.
August 25, 2007
Good account of the inner workings of Hustler magazine, including some details that one would be surprised by.
November 8, 2007
not really as sordid as I was hoping
March 19, 2008
PORN PORN PORN!!!!!!! It ain't the "dream job" that you think it is...
March 3, 2010
A funny story of the behind the scenes view of Larry Flynt's sleaze empire.
May 21, 2010
I was surprised that the business of pornography was so...regular. Not mundane, but regular.
February 7, 2011
it was ok. as i currently work at Hustler Magazine, it was an illuminating read. not sure that it would hold up for people unfamiliar with the working environment there. a quick read.
Want to read
June 24, 2007I suppose I'll read this. I met him at the Times book fair and he seemed nice.
July 13, 2011
Pretty boring not what I expected.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews