LAMBDA RISING BOOK REPORT - 2
F e a tu re s
TELLING ST O R IE S.................................................................... 1
by John Preston
CONTRASTS: Joe Orton & Denton W elch............................. 1
by David Bergman
WOMEN IN THE ARTS..............................................................3
B est W ishes for U s All
"Review of Books” or at least "Book
Review.”
That is my only criticism. I passionately
support your project. I admire your energy
and ambition. I would love to contribute to
the Report.
Businesses like Lambda Rising are
what keeps lesbian and gay writers alive. In
doing so, you sustain and nourish our whole
culture. My good wishes for you are my
wishes for all of us...
LEE LYNCH
Sunny Valley, Oregon
7b the LRBR:
I ’ve looked over your packet and am
impressed. I must honestly say that I would
not have chosen the title “ Book Report”...but
then I suppose it might be a common and
humorous reference. In any case, I would
have gone for the more stately title of
Ed. 's Note:
We thank Ms. Lynch for her wishes. For
a response to her comment on the name of
this pub., please see Publisher’s Perspective
on pg. 6. Also, please see At Press Time,
below--Ms. Lynch has given voice to editorial
policy.
A Crisp Send-off
7b the LRBR:
Best wishes on the publication of the
Lambda Rising Book Report. Do it with
style!
QUENTIN CRISP
New York, New York
by Tee Corinne
OVER THE EDGE: Kellerman’s Latest Thriller.................... 3
by Jack Garman
THE GIRLS: John Bowen Writes a Lesbian Mystery . . . .4
by Laura Markowitz
THE HUMAN SEASON: Catcher R evisited........................... 4
by David Perry
CHILLING WORDS FROM FIERY DWORKIN..................5
by Jane Troxell
PUTTING THE SQUEEZE ON A I D S ....................................5
by Kent Fordyce
PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE................................................6
by L. Page Maccubbin
BOOKS ON CASSETTE.............................................................. 9
It is very late. Tomorrow-no,
by Robert Dirmeyer
later this morning-the art director, Jim,
will be struggling with me and last min
ute snafus before he hurries the lay outs
D e p a rtm e n ts
for this rag to the lab, so we can get stats
AT PRESS TIME: From the E ditor.......................................... 2 to the printer. “A.S.A.P.” will be scraw
BEST SELLERS: Lambda Rising’s M o v e r s........................... 6 led in red ink all over the order.
After having read all the
BIRTH WRITES: Authors & Their B ir th d a y s......................6
words which comprise this thing, to
BOOK BRIEFS: Reading the Jack ets......................................11 draw the whole publication together, to
BOOK MARKS: Browsing the Stacks....................................... 7 establish a theme or set a tone, I figured
would be the last bit written each
COMMENTS & QUERIES: We Get L etters........................... 2 this
time we put the BOOK REPORT to
LAUGHING STOCK: Cartoon by David Brady....................13 bed-hence, this piece’s title. I just didn’t
PINCKNEY’S PUZZLE: M eccas.............................................. 13 expect writing it with the bonfire breath
of an art director, a publisher, and a
printer melting down my neck. As you
PROTOTYPE ED IT IO N , MAY, 1987 - COPYRIGHT 1987
can probably guess, I’ve missed dead
THE LAMBDA RISING BOOK REPORT IS PUBLISHED B Y LAMBDA RISING, INC.,
lines. I will be amazed, as you are read
1625 CONNECTICUT AVE., N.W., WASHINGTON, DC. 20009. REPRODUCTION IN
ing this, that you are reading this.
WHOLE OR IN PART B Y A N Y TECHNOLOGY IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT W RITTEN
Welcome to the LAMBDA
CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHER. "LAMBDA RISIN G BOOK REPORT" AND
“LAMBDA RISIN G " A R E REGISTERED TRAD EM ARKS AND/OR PROTECTED B Y RISING BOOK REPORT. I believe we
are the only publication which focuses
COPYRIGHT. A LL RIG H TS RESERVED.
exclusively on the review of literature of
ED ITO R IA L POLICY
interest to both lesbians and gay men.
As you will see, the theme of this issue
The LAMBDA RISING BOOK REPORT is a gay and lesbian book review journal which is not
is
quite general, we have not scrutinized
restricted to any one viewpoint regarding gay and lesbian issues. The BOOK REPORT will
seek to represent as wide a spectrum as possible of gay and lesbian perspectives, in the books any one genre, nor have we hitched up
chosen for review, within the reviews themselves, as well as in the various articles. Since all with any fad, or political shenanigans, or
o f our thinking and writing takes place in different social contexts, we believe no individual or season (only two, while I was expecting
party can speak for all gay men and lesbians, their families and friends. We aim to reflect and the lot, of my reviewers mentioned
nurture the diversity of the community. Sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise
“great beach reading”--small blessings).
discriminatory writing will not be published in the BOOK REPORT. Views expressed
represent the opinion of the individual authors. Publication of names, photographs or I foresee this sweeping approach hap
likenesses of any person, organization, event or business should not be taken as indication of pening often in the future; but, from
sexual orientation. The LAMBDA RISING BOOK REPORT cannot be responsible for time to time we will glue our reading
unsolicited manuscripts, art or photographs.
eyes onto certain types of books, or we
will grasp certain themes which will
A D V E R T ISIN G POLICY
encompass a variety of types of books.
The LAMBDA RISING BOOK REPORT will not accept advertising which is inappropriate
As with any first publication,
to the goals of a gay and lesbian publication, which is sexually explicit, or fails to meet our this one is flawed. I think I know what
design standards. Publication of an advertisement does not represent endorsement by the they are; and I have given, at least, some
LAMBDA RISIN G BOOK REPORT of the goods, services, or claims made by the advertiser.
tooth-brushing or walking-to-work time
to plan strategy for their eradication.
ST A FF
Since I ’m discussing flaws,
Publisher:
let’s
immediately
focus on the “Comm
Editorial Staff:
L. PAGE "DEACON" MACCUBBIN
ents & Queries” department just above.
R. KENT FORDYCE
I want you to use it. Comment on any
Editor:
aspect of this journal. Comment on any
JANE TROXELL
ROBERT DIRMEYER
aspect of the literary scene. Don’t think
ANTHONY DEAN
that only lauds will be printed. We want
Art Director:
Advertising: ROBERT DIRMEYER
to consider any and all thinking, and if
JIM BLAKESLEE
necessary change our ways, in order to
Distribution: PAUL WEBB
make this paper more comfortable, more
PAGE/BENNETT ASSOCIATES
useful for you, the reader of books. Also,
authors and researchers, use that col
umn to query our readers for informa
GAY AND LESBIAN
tion which may help you round out (or
PRESS ASSOCIATION
completely disintegrate) your work.
I want to be a good host, esp
ecially now since it’s your first visit; but
I don’t want to be a bore. There is noth
ing here arcane or obscure; in fact, the
whole idea of the BOOK REPORT is so
simple that I risk getting caught in some
confounded, unendable sentence or par
agraph trying to prove it. So, here is my
introduction to you: Let the table of con
tents guide you through the various
“Departments.” Hopefully, I ’ve been
descriptive enough in the “ Features”
section of the contents that you’ll be able
to home in on the stuff you like.
Be sure to read the advert
ising and editorial policies-they’re over
there just to your left (my right). We feel
these policies are pretty gayforward; but
let me add a smidge more. Lee Lynch (see
letter excerpt above), though she was a
continent away and we’ve never met,
managed to draw my nebular thinking
about a certain aspect of editorial policy
into a compact and shiny star. She articu
lated my thought as well, or better, than
I could have;
“ ...on
the
matter of
reviewing. Though I make
criticisms where I find
them necessary, and though
I have written at least one
’’bad“ review because I felt
the book to be dangerous to
gay people, for the most
part
my
reviewing
philosophy
is
simple:
matching readers with
books. We writers know our
weaknesses. All too much
criticism in our presses is
actually trashing or even,
I’m sorry to say, sour
grapes. I try to review
books about which I feel
primarily positive and will
seek out the positive points
both, as I say, to reach
potential readers, and to
help nurture an artistic
population which suffers
enough at other hands.”
So be it.
And so be the end of this until
next time. The BOOK REPORT has
come out. It was just a little less arduous
than explaining to my military officer
father that I was queer (I exagerate). We
hope you enjoy. If you do not, we hope
you will tell us why not.
- r. dirmeyer