Stephen Boyer reads from their new novel Parasite on Publication Studios’ Fellow Traveller’s Series. The launch event will include Ariel Goldberg and a music performance. Stephen Boyer reads from their new novel Parasite on Publication Studios’ Fellow Traveller’s Series. The launch event will include Ariel Goldberg and a music performance by M. Lamar.
‘Publication Studio’s Fellow Travelers series extends the pioneering work of Paris-based Olympia Press’s Traveller’s Companion series of the 1950s and ’60s, which published work that had been banned or censored through moralistic prohibition. Our series presents great new work that has been effectively “censored” by the market. In our day, the market is the definitive censor. The Fellow Travelers series proudly presents great work that the market has not endorsed, but that we believe in.’ — Publication Studio
Parasite Blurbs:
Alvin Orloff: If you’re looking for a raw and slightly surreal missive from the land of poetic hustlers (and, really, who isn’t?) Parasite is your book. Josh, the protagonist, is a queer teen with tranny tendencies and a psychedelic sensibility. As he puts it: “Life is quite simply a stream of cut-ups and the state of being alive is kaledeidoscopic.” Fleeing his repressive Christian family, Josh runs off to San Francisco to become a sex worker (“the job of lower class kings”) and winds up as the kept boy of “Mr. Old Cock.” It’s a rotten situation, one that might demoralize or embitter a lesser soul. Fortunately, Josh finds solace and direction by venerating musicians, writers, and creativity. Simultaneously, though, Josh gets swept up in whirlwind of drugs, clubs, tricks, and casual sex. This new life is risky; Josh’s luck eventually runs out and the story veers off in directions both unexpected and unforgettable.
Kevin Killian: Stephen Boyer’s novel Parasite is exciting, well-crafted and so utterly alive, you half expect it to shake you off and fly away as you turn its pages. Its hero flees his repressive, religious family coop and winds up in one adolescent hell after another in beautiful San Francisco. Adventures burst into being: virtual slavery to an older guy; a career in fetish porn; fast friendships that go south under pressure; slow lessons in the miseries of capitalism; unrequited love, self-medication—and presently, travel to distant planets in the future. (Yes, it’s kind of Doris Lessing.) Josh is the sort of boy who experiences nearly everything through his ass, so he’s not your usual sort of narrator, but if you’ve ever sat on anything weird, or anything splendid, this book will get to you just as it got to me.
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Ariel Goldberg is a writer and artist. Recent publications include
Picture Cameras (NoNo Press), The Photographer without a Camera (Trafficker Press), and The Estrangement Principle, selections of which appear in Aufgabe 11.
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M. Lamar is a countertenor, pianist and composer whose work draws heavily from African American Spirituals, Opera, late 20th century avant-garde music, as well as popular forms like blues and rock. Lamar’s work has been presented internationally most recently at Performatorum, Regina Canada, The International Theater Festival Donzdorf, Germany, Cathedral of St. John the Divine New York, and The African American Arts and Culture Complex San Francisco. Lamar has also presented work at PS122, Dixon Place, Joe’s Pub, Abrons Art Center, The Chocolate Factory, Galapagos Art Space, Center for Performance Research, and Washington Center for Performing Arts among others. In 2008 Lamar’s work was presented along side world renowned performance artist Ron Athey in the Biennale d’art performatif de Rouyn-Noranda in Quebec, Canada. Also, 2008 found Lamar as featured performer in Tony-nominated performance artist Justin Bonds award-winning show Lustre at P.S.122 and Abrons Arts Center.
M. Lamar holds a B. F. A. from the San Francisco Art institue and attended the Yale School of Art in the sculture program before dropping out to pursue music.
Lamar has had many many years of classical vocal study with Ira Siff among others.
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Stephen Boyer is the author of Parasite (Publication Studios 2012), GHOSTS (bent boy books 2010), and they compiled “The Occupy Wall Street Poetry Anthology.” Their work has been published in many anthologies, zines and art galleries: 2nd Floor Projects, “Madder Love: Queer Men and the Precincts of Surrealism” (Rebel Satori Press 2008), Poets Theater in San Francisco, Shampoo Poetry, and Try. This past fall they’ve also helped curate GRRRLS ON FILM! and they maintain the blog minorprogression.com.
