Deviant Propulsion: Poems [Paperback]

C. A. Conrad (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2005

In a world terrified of desire, "moving at the speed of deviants" is the only way to transform fear into action. These poems by C. A. Conrad vibrate with the vitality of unrepentant queer culture, where the right to act on basic needs can be a battleground, and everyday acts of love and devotion take the form of political defiance. This brilliant barrage of words was inspired by the work of the fast-moving "deviants" whose very existence changes society.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sexy and outrageous, Conrad's debut fuses the confidence of the beats and the casual demeanor of more recent downtown New York performance poetry into short lines, exclamations and admonishments. Conrad's sentences can include a whimsy bordering on randomness: "It's True I Tell Ya My Father Is a 50 Cent Party Balloon," one title insists. He can also turn suddenly profound: "all the/ death has a/ way of/ getting us/ the love." If the specter of HIV looms heavily, it does battle with the happier spirit of Stonewall: Conrad imagines a "transvestite boxer... willing to wear pink gloves with drawings of Judy Garland's face" punching out Mike Tyson, and portrays himself "in a bishop's robe bless[ing] rush hour traffic with one hand, with a sign in the other 'IGNORE THIS BLESSING YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED!' " Though he invokes celebrities and poetic mentors from Robert Creeley to Kevin Killian to Courtney Love, the best analogy for the Philadelphia-based Conrad is Allen Ginsberg, who also shocked America with his frankness, denounced hypocrisy in prose poems and in verse declamation, and who also hoped to embody the queer life of his times. (Jan.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: Soft Skull Press (July 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932360875
• ISBN-13: 978-1932360875
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,955,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring beyond belief!, April 11, 2006

By 

Linda McManus "Linda McManus" (Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deviant Propulsion: Poems (Paperback)

One of the best books of poetry I have read in years. Few books give such joy and strength. My favorite poem is called Celebrities I Have Seen Off Stage, which is very funny and also a powerful read on observing people better. The love poems are striking, including the one for president Bush, which will make you scream with delight by the end. There's a crazy edge to this book that rubs off on you. C.A. Conrad has this to say to us, "The only - failure - is no - love" And the science fiction giant Samuel Delany loves it which is good enough for me. "With a clarity of language that makes the bones sing, they sneak past our defenses and do things, directly, surprisingly, irreparably, to us."--Samuel Delany

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Survey and more, January 17, 2011

By 

Kenso - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deviant Propulsion: Poems (Paperback)

Without effort, CAConrad sprints across his poetic minefield crossing from concrete to abstract to minimalist to narrative. What most poets aim for and repeatedly fail at, CAConrad makes look easy. This collection is without a doubt one of the most progressive volumes published in a decade. For no other reason, read the book to find out if CA likes W.