Mike Mazza's notes on "Slashed to Ribbons"

Thanks once again to Mike Mazza for these notes on the first set of short stories in Felice Picano's Slashed to Ribbons: In Defense of Love and Other Stories, which we'll discuss on Nov. 19. (I'll share Mike's notes on the second half of the collection in March, when we'll read those stories.) Note: The citations (e.g., loc 44, 1%, etc.) below refer to the Kindle edition, not the paperback.

Felice Picano, _Slashed to Ribbons in Defense of Love and Other Stories_. Foreword by Eric Andrews-Katz. ReQueered Tales, 2022.

—note that the stories are copyright 1975-1982.

Why did I nominate this book for the book club?

—I had not previously read this book; in fact, I had not read any of Picano’s books. But I was aware of his status as a prolific and important figure in gay literature. I have been wanting to read something of his for some time.

—I chose to nominate this book specifically because of the time frame of the stories. I believe that 1975-1982 time frame to be especially significant in gay history, and I suspected that the collection could be a valuable time capsule of that era.

My overall assessment of the collection: an excellent group of stories. Very well written, with memorable characters and very vivid descriptions.

—A book that really focuses on the gay male experience, with an emphasis on romantic relationships and sexual activity, as well as the literary and artistic culture of gay men. The geographic heart of this collection is New York City, with forays into Fire Island and a New England writers’ colony.

—Satiric at times, the book is also unflinchingly naturalistic; Picano writes with confidence about aspects of gay male life that some might find controversial, shocking, or distasteful. There is a freshness and an honesty to both his subject matter choices and his mode of exploring the chosen material.

Foreword: p 9; loc 44; 1%.

—Andrews-Katz places these stories in context without spoiling them; a good foreword.

—Picano’s groundbreaking work as a novelist: 10.

—notes Picano’s role as a founding member of the Violet Quill group: p 12.

“Spinning”: p 15; loc 87; 2%. 1st story in collection.

—opens in a dance club. Narrator, Billy, is DJ.

—narrator notices a new face at the club; discusses “the number” with Butchie, the light effects operator.

—Billy finally recognizes the number as Pat Remington, a model who later branched out into music and record production: p 19.

—note sensory details about his experience as a DJ, especially p 22.

—note the many specific songs mentioned.

—Billy hopes that Par is listening to his set, and imagines being asked by Pat to collaborate with him: 24.

—he imagines a future of success and affluence.

—interesting details about the art of both the DJ and light effects operator.

—“the gay national anthem”: 25.

—Irony; Butchie reveals that the number is not Pat Remington, but rather Jos, an old number of Billy’s; Butchie gives Billy a note from the number.

—Billy recovers from the shock of the revelation and DJs on.

My assessment: a really fun, slice-of-life, character-driven story that vividly evokes 70s/80s gay nightclub scene. Funny and ironic, with an irrepressible protagonist/narrator This collection is off to a strong and vibrant start.

“The Interrupted Recital”: p 29; loc 305; 8%. 2nd story in collection.

— introduces character of Ken Kaufman, a classical musician (violoncello).

—Narrator: attended Kaufman’s last recital.

—part 2 of story: p 31.

—Narrator recalls being invited by Ken to his recital, and first having dinner with him; the two had a history.

— they recall their time as students together.

—during dinner, Ken discusses his current lover, Davey. Apparently a “sugar daddy” type relationship.

—narrator names the kept boy archetype as Macon, Georgia.

—my note: this story reminds me of Rechy’s City of Night.

—Ken tries to convince the narrator that his Davey is different from the typical hustler type: 36.

—part 3 of story: p 36.

—before the recital’s start, narrator gets a taste of the “cult of Kaufman.”

—note the picturesque description of the small concert hall—like something from the era of Maria Theresa.

—a concert goer recalls Kaufman’s eccentric behavior.

—late in concert Davey dramatically bursts in holding a gun.

—Kaufman suffers an accidental fall during the chaos in the concert hall.

—part 4 of story: p 41.

—Narrator visits the recovering Kaufman in the hospital following the concert hall incident.

—Kaufman suffering from paralysis. He says he can no longer play his instrument.

— My note: story has a bit of a Henry James meets Saki flavor; I like the satire of the elite culture vulture class.

—Narrator berates Davey in the hospital.

—part 5: p 44.

—Conclusion reveals that Davey has become a classical musician.

My assessment: a wonderfully ironic story; Kaufman is a delightfully eccentric gay character.

“Shy”: p 47; loc 573; 14%. 3rd story in collection.

—great opening line.

—evocative New York City setting.

—Narrator sets up a story of his sexual encounter with Robertson Webb, a famous person whose name he has changed for the story.

—Webb picks up the narrator on the street and invites him home for a drink. Although Webb is an actor, the narrator doesn’t recognize him.

—note the expertly written, poetic, surreal sex scene: 54.

—after the sex act, narrator sees an old photo that reveals Webb’s identity.

—irony: narrator had idolized Webb but hadn’t recognized him.

My assessment: very well written story with a feel like John Rechy’s City of Night.

“Teddy—The Hook”: p 59; loc 752; 19%. 4th story in collection.

—set-up: a letter received from a military service member after the fall of Saigon (Vietnam War).

—my note: rank given is “Lt. Corporal”; maybe author meant Lance Corporal.

—Narrator receives photos of Teddy Kincannon, a soldier reported killed in Vietnam.

—Narrator reveals that Teddy had been his lover; backtracks to tell their story: p 60.

—Teddy had been a new truck driver employee of export business of narrator’s father: 61.

—Teddy’s physical beauty.

—Narrator backtracks further to describe a same sex junior high crush: 62.

—Narrator and Teddy go to a party after dinner.

—they find marijuana at the party house, and flee as the cops begin a raid: 67.

— they hide in backyard as raid occurs. They kiss and caress.

—Teddy receives his draft letter: 71.

—Narrator moves into a NY city apartment.

—Teddy visits narrator while on military leave. They have sex.

—Teddy visits again after time in Vietnam.

—Ted tells narrator how he had sex with a chaplain after the chaplain explained that his unusually curved penis was ideal for anally pleasuring male partners: 78. —Ted reveals he has re-enlisted.

—ends with description of Ted’s ornately designed bomber jacket that pays tribute to his own “hook”.

My assessment: a vivid tale, both comic and tragic; a bit of an outrageous satire. Ted’s sexual deformity causes him to be rejected by women, but embraced by men who enjoy receiving anal sex.

—compare to the great gay Vietnam war novel _The Boy Who Picked the Bullets Up_.

“Mr. World Buns: A Story Without a Moral”: p 81; loc 1093; 27%. 5th story in collection.

—introduces characters Larry and Howard.

—bartender Howard tries to convince his lover, psychiatric social worker Larry, to enter a beautiful “buns” contest in order to win money and a vacation. —note Colorado setting.

—Larry displays his asset at the contest—funny scene: loc 1159.

—Larry wins the contest.

—Larry and Howard go to Manhattan for the next level of the contest: 1185.

—Larry meets Hal Sykes, fellow contestant.

—Larry and Hal play poker: 1278. Turns into strip poker. Then sex, despite Hal allegedly being straight.

—Larry argues with Howard.

—Hal wins the contest, with Larry 1st runner up: 1329.

—Larry goes on the Rio prize vacation with Hal.

My assessment: a fun comic tale that gently satirizes urban gay life.

—Also takes on the issue of sexual orientation: is Hal straight? Heteroflexible? Bicurious? Closeted gay? None/all of the above?

“And Baby Makes Three”: p 97; loc 1357; 33%. 6th story in the collection.

—opens by setting story at Fire Island Pines.

—geography, economics, transportation infrastructure, and culture of setting.

—Narrator is on vacation there with partner Aram.

—Aran: older; divorced with 2 daughters.

—Dancer/choreographer Buddy Duvall arrives on the island: 100. He and Aram have a history.

—Buddy’s companion: a younger man named Lee, aka Baby.

—note vivid descriptions: ex. p 101.

—a butterfly lands on Baby; narrator ponders a symbolic meaning.

Part 2 of story: p 103; loc 1455; 36%.

—Aram tells narrator that Buddy has literally known Baby since he was a baby.

—Aram recalls his own friendship with Baby’s mother, Debbie, a NYC wife. Story backtracks to those days.

—Buddy and Lee (Baby) seem smitten with each other from first meeting: 107.

—Aram recalls staying with Buddy at the Long Island summer home of Baby’s family with the family.

—Buddy tells Aram that astrologer Alina declared he and the baby Baby to be a good fit.

—Debbie tells Aram of her decision to divorce her unfaithful husband Jock, and then move out to California with Buddy and her children: 111.

—Buddy’s career flourishes in California; he marries Debbie.

—Buddy returns to NYC and achieves Broadway success.

—Buddy reveals his amicable divorce from Debbie.

—Buddy and Baby are reunited when Baby arrives to attend Columbia: 116. Baby comes out as gay to Buddy.

—Buddy admits he planned and waited 20 years and now wants Baby to be his lover: 117.

Part 3 of story: p 117; loc 1690; 42%.

—Narrator, attracted to Baby, resents Aram having shared the story.

—The characters visit the Sandpiper shipboard dance club.

—Baby a sensation among Sandpiper guests.

—Narrator encounters Baby on dock.

—despite renouncing his interest in Baby, narrator keeps running into him: 121.

—Narrator tries to convince Aram to go with him to Oakleyville, where a friend, Billy. has a rustic house they can use.

—after arguing, narrator decides to go to Oakleyville alone.

—After hiking alone to Billy’s house, narrator finds Baby there: 127.

—Narrator gives in to temptation and has 6 days of sex with Baby.

—Baby gives a totally different version of the story of when and how he and Buddy came to know each other.

—Baby speculates that Aram lied to narrator.

—Baby convinces an angry narrator to forgive Aram.

—When the foursome reunites in the Pines, Aram accepts the idea of narrator seeing more of Baby.

Part 4 of story: p 132; loc 1925; 47%.

—This section introduces a ne character, Tim, to whom narrator has apparently told the story of Aram and narrator.

—Narrator had stayed with Aram until he died, and met Tim after Aram’s death.

—story ends with narrator sending out his Burton translation to be freshly bound, and reflecting on the idea of a story within a story.

My assessment: an expertly written longer form story. Excellent use of the Fire Island setting, with attention paid to both its geography and culture.

—great twist when we discover that Aram’s version of Baby’s story is a cleverly designed fiction.

—Interesting portrayal of age difference in gay male relationships.

—I like how this story really pushes against the limits of good taste; Aram’s “tale within the tale” takes on the toxic, defamatory stereotype of the gay man “grooming” a male child into the gay “lifestyle.” But Picano skillfully handles the potentially offensive subject matter in a cleverly disorienting way—he makes the story-within-the-story almost like a surreal fable or fairy tale.