Queer PAPI Porn: Gay Asian Erotica [Paperback]

Joel Tan (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

While stereotypical depictions of Asian men as feminine, flowering "china dolls" predominate in American gay culture, this collection dispels those images with exciting new ones of gay Asian sexuality. From Chinese bodybuilders to Samoan giants, from hand-holding Viet Cong to drag queens at the Peking Opera, "Queer PAPI Porn" breaks all boundaries of sex, race, and desire.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Gay male erotica--or, more forthrightly, porn--used to be defined largely by sloppy writing, homogenized fantasies, and a lack of cultural and racial diversity. The quality of erotica is getting better (check out the Best Gay Erotica series by Cleis Press for proof), and there's a wealth of new diversity out there as well. Joel Tan's Queer PAPI Porn is a groundbreaking anthology of contemporary porn written by men of Philippine, Asian, and Pacific Island decent (PAPI) that stimulates our libido, invigorates our sense of art, and challenges our notions of what porn and literature might be. Tan has collected stories by 19 of the most noted gay PAPI writers--including Lawrence Chua, Justin Chin, R. Zamora Linmark, and Allen de Souza--to produce an anthology shockingly good and always sexually stimulating. Not one piece here trades on cliché or formula, with originality showing throughout. Jason Guillermo Luz's "Scherzo for Cunanan" is a meditation on cross-country killer Andrew Cunanan that explores a fantasy sexual and national connection between the author and the killer. "Bite," by Justin Chin, is a surrealistic sex-speed rap that shocks with its explicit coprophiliac images as it examines how gender and race are constructed in sex and desire. Nino Alvarez's "True Love" is a lovely, troubling, and hypnotic story of a Chinese American gay man who dotes on his 300-pound African American lover as they both work to increase his weight to 600 pounds. Surprising and masterfully written, Queer PAPI Porn is one of the best literary and erotic books in years. --Michael Bronski

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Cleis Press; 1st edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573440388
• ISBN-13: 978-1573440387
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,342,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine poetry; vivid images raw and aching, September 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Queer PAPI Porn: Gay Asian Erotica (Paperback)

That Joel's compilation is a stroke of mastery is the message of my review. Joel promises a presentation of good stroke fiction about queer men from diverse communities and experiences. What do you get? All that AND a stimulating, nay intoxicating collection of vivid images and tangible moments. (Come on Mr. Tan, brag a little).

Some of my thoughts on the individual pieces of work- "True Love" immediately evokes thoughts of Williams and the story about the masseur who broke his clients bones and eventually ate him. Total consumption of desire... I hate it when people compare smut to art (skill in fact) when there is no resemblance at all. This is not the case with QPP. There are stories of raw libido and sex, rife with symbolism while others are tame reflections of an erotic innocence. There are Vidal like glimpses of time, space, and light and total control of rhythm with a bit of Mamet or Rabe tingeing the moody edges. Then there's Justin Chin, with no environment, seemingly at all. He just punks you and pushses you around with themes and images. My mind was racing so that I was paranoid. I just love when Chin takes control- he's compelling to say the least; I love his writing and can't wait to get more. What about Chua with King Rubber (presumably a building block for Gold by the Inch?). The story is a journey, but the bus driver has no clue where he is going (he thinks he knows and there all the difference lies). And I very much enjoyed, "So That's What Girls Do" I haven't seen in that closet 'till now. Looks pretty much like mine! Joel Tan can lay down an honest heart rendering story without letting confrontation and blame in the way. His work feels mature and authentic.

Fantasy. While reading, I experienced fantastic pleasures pushing and pulling my libido against these PAPI men. Not only did I get exited while reading, but I genuinely enjoy the quality and heft of the stories. Is the quality uneven? Sure it is. That makes it a rare good read because you can feel the contours and topography of the collection. It is still like old stucco on my mind; rough here, gritty there, worn to a polish in another place. It makes it realistic and human. I felt like I was reading the stories about nineteen different queer men from diverse communities and experiences. And man, there is some real amorous scenes tucked away in there. One last bit of praise. Mr. Tan, or any of the authors, if you happen to read this, you have my gratitude for the pleasure wrought with your words. I would be delighted and thrilled to make contact with any of you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars thought-provoking stories, not your typical "porn", December 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Queer PAPI Porn: Gay Asian Erotica (Paperback)

I read this book after hearing its editor speak, and he convinced me to give it a try. I found most the stories thought-provoking and interesting, yet earthily sexy. The authors explore all sorts of interracial gay sexuality. Of course, the quality is a little uneven, but overall, it is an excellent collection. It's sure to disappoint one looking to get off on formulaic PORN, though!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A decent book with a ridiculous title, October 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Queer PAPI Porn: Gay Asian Erotica (Paperback)

Though worth buying for the handful of excellent stories, the reader will still have to wade through some rather unpolished work. The ones that shine, shine. Then again, most of those are available elsewhere and are only excerpted here. And as for the dreadful stories, well they're undergrad bad.