This is yet another example of my recent hypothesis that the short story is indeed the artistic and cultural vehicle best suited to the gay community at the beginning of the new millennium. Men on Men 4 is a collection of 18 stories written around 1992, which contributed to what was then seen as a sub-genre of general literature…gay literature or more affectionately, “gay litter.” Reading these stories was both enjoyable and historically instructive (the AIDS epidemic was at its peak psychologically if not numerically) reflecting the times’ urban gay mood of horror, fear, withdrawal and death. No witty amusement here. Good writing yes…perceptive insights into the human condition, yes…but humor? No! The era, confronted with legions of our sick and dying brethren seemed to have neither time nor inclination for anything lighthearted.
Nearly all the stories are infused with a sense of sadness, dread, fear and genuine tragedy. Most are “gay litter”…the themes speak not so much of the human condition as of the shattered gay communities in New York and California where AIDS was both socially and personally devastating. Viewed from the safe distance of 2005 I found the stories depressing. Imagine how they were received in 1992! I count my blessings that the decimation of my community is no longer occurring. Today I see among my HIV+ friends not the inert paralysis brought on by fear, but a new found resolve, a life focus, not present then.
“Inside” by David Vernon is a hopeless tale of self-imposed isolation which occurred as men with AIDS began to lose weight and take on that wasted look so common then in the NYC streets. The narrator, Hal, is able to have all his needs delivered to his apartment…everything except human contact. He has alienated his friend, Bradley, who had gently pressured Hal to get out and become re-connected with life. Supportive material, self-help books, videos all work to annoy and frighten rather than help Hal focus and rekindle his will to live. He becomes increasingly irritable, causing the pizza place to refuse deliveries. He made the delivery boys nervous…probably frightened is the better explanation. The story ends with Hal completely in-focused and shut down. Sad stuff.
“If a Man Answers” is an equally dreary story of two men living together. Once lovers and companions, both are now isolated and emotionally dead. They recognize that their relationship is over yet neither is willing to admit it to themselves or to each other. Phone sex is the outlet…neither can, because of the climate of the times, cruise the bars and clubs. They each rely on a sort of dispassionate telephonic eroticism. At one point Ken wonders if using the phone to enhance a masturbatory fantasy is “cheating” on his partner. Finally he resolves to leave his partner in spite of the health crisis…he’ll leave “tomorrow”. Or not…relationship inertia being what it is.
“New Year” by Jack Slater is the beautifully written work about an HIV+ young artist who’d sold everything to move to Mexico to write a novel. He receives a call that his father, from whom he’d been estranged, has died. The story is less about being HIV+ and more about the relationship of a gay son to his family. This story more than most of the collection addresses all of us and can well be considered mainstream writing.
“Opening the Door” by Paul Russell is a wonderful, depressing, story of a handsome, exuberant HIV+ guy who meets then insinuates himself into the narrator’s life. Of course love follows followed within months by hospitalization and death.
These four stories alone made the book worth owning. There are others worth reading as well. A few are undirected ramblings and one “Everyman”, by poet, Robert Gluck, is so obscure that I have no idea what it’s about.
This book is probably out of print so seeking it out might be an effort. If you stumble on a copy at a used book store or yard sale grab it. You’ll like some of the writing and you’ll learn a helluva lot about the impact of AIDS in the early ‘90s.