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The I Q Zoo by Peter McGehee
Book by McGehee, Peter
- GenresFiction
Unknown Binding
First published February 1, 1992
11 people want to read
About the author
Peter McGehee
8 books1 followerBorn in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Frank Thomas and Julia Ann May McGehee, Peter moved with his family to Little Rock when he was six. He was the second of three children. McGehee played the trombone at Parkview High School in Little Rock where he graduated in 1973. McGehee studied at Southern Methodist University in Dallas before moving to San Francisco to work in theatre where he graduated from the University of San Francisco. While living in San Francisco, he wrote his first play and first comedic musical revue The Quinlan Sisters. that is where he later met Canadian activist Douglas Wilson, who became his partner. He moved to Saskatoon in 1980 to be with Douglas, and subsequently the couple moved to Toronto in 1982.
He published his first novella, Beyond Happiness in 1985 and premiered his second revue, The Fabulous Sirs in 1987.
In 1988, McGehee and Wilson were both diagnosed HIV-positive. McGehee subsequently wrote two novels, Boys Like Us and Sweetheart, and a book of short stories, The IQ Zoo. Boys Like Us was published in 1991, shortly before McGehee's death of AIDS-related causes; Sweetheart and The IQ Zoo were both published posthumously.
Using notes that McGehee had written in preparation for his third novel, Wilson subsequently wrote Labour of Love before his own death in 1992. That novel was published in 1993.
He published his first novella, Beyond Happiness in 1985 and premiered his second revue, The Fabulous Sirs in 1987.
In 1988, McGehee and Wilson were both diagnosed HIV-positive. McGehee subsequently wrote two novels, Boys Like Us and Sweetheart, and a book of short stories, The IQ Zoo. Boys Like Us was published in 1991, shortly before McGehee's death of AIDS-related causes; Sweetheart and The IQ Zoo were both published posthumously.
Using notes that McGehee had written in preparation for his third novel, Wilson subsequently wrote Labour of Love before his own death in 1992. That novel was published in 1993.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 18, 2024
This is a collection of miscellaneous short stories assembled after the death of the author. Some are very good and others not so good. However, the author's sense of humor, place and mischief is applied throughout this book.
May 19, 2023
QUIRKY, DIVERSE STORIES
The I.Q. Zoo by Peter McGehee is a collection of twelve quirky, often over-the-top short stories that was posthumously published in 1991. Most of these stories had previously appeared in periodicals and other collections. A quick, enjoyable read, several of these stories include gay content and elements, particularly names of characters, that appear in McGehee’s novels Boys Like Us and Sweetheart.
Rather than describe each story, I’d like to quote a line from each one, out of context, of course, to give a hint of the flavor of the writing and to pique readers’ interests in reading these stories.
“Fever and Chills”: “Between physical illness and this pool of despair, we fly without wings.”
“The Wonderfuls”: “You’ll want to look alive for your funeral, I’ll bet.”
“Survival”: “You only smoke when you’re about to spend a lot of money, which excites you, and the cigarette calms you down.”
“Squirt”: “I’m just twiddling my thumbs in this town, ticking away like a time bomb.”
“Lunch with Lucille”: “She wished she had a cigarette, or a card game to go to, or someone to commit adultery with, but onward she drove with Zippy by her side.”
“Goldfish”: “She picked Goldfish up, held him between two well-polished nails, flicked on the disposal, and threw him down.”
“The I.Q. Zoo”: “The turtle, sprinkled with Cheeto crumbs, crawled in a circle.”
“The Ballad of Hank McCaul”: “I told myself it’s the lostness of the place that has the final say, but I didn’t quite believe it.”
“Sex and Love”: “’Dynasty’ always puts me in a vicious mood.”
“Wilma’s Week”: “I shouldn’t have to tell you gigantic ice chunks are incongruent with a stable financial image.”
“Success”: “Kate had heard him say a thousand times, ‘Murder is a lot cheaper than divorce.’”
“The End of the Season”: “I want you to know that this place is about as peaceful as a yeast infection.”
One of the endorsements on the back cover of The I.Q. Zoo says, “[McGehee’s] a writer with no innocence at all, only an un-blinking acceptance of diverse behaviours.” “Diverse” is a perfect word to describe The I.Q. Zoo. Give it a go.
The I.Q. Zoo by Peter McGehee is a collection of twelve quirky, often over-the-top short stories that was posthumously published in 1991. Most of these stories had previously appeared in periodicals and other collections. A quick, enjoyable read, several of these stories include gay content and elements, particularly names of characters, that appear in McGehee’s novels Boys Like Us and Sweetheart.
Rather than describe each story, I’d like to quote a line from each one, out of context, of course, to give a hint of the flavor of the writing and to pique readers’ interests in reading these stories.
“Fever and Chills”: “Between physical illness and this pool of despair, we fly without wings.”
“The Wonderfuls”: “You’ll want to look alive for your funeral, I’ll bet.”
“Survival”: “You only smoke when you’re about to spend a lot of money, which excites you, and the cigarette calms you down.”
“Squirt”: “I’m just twiddling my thumbs in this town, ticking away like a time bomb.”
“Lunch with Lucille”: “She wished she had a cigarette, or a card game to go to, or someone to commit adultery with, but onward she drove with Zippy by her side.”
“Goldfish”: “She picked Goldfish up, held him between two well-polished nails, flicked on the disposal, and threw him down.”
“The I.Q. Zoo”: “The turtle, sprinkled with Cheeto crumbs, crawled in a circle.”
“The Ballad of Hank McCaul”: “I told myself it’s the lostness of the place that has the final say, but I didn’t quite believe it.”
“Sex and Love”: “’Dynasty’ always puts me in a vicious mood.”
“Wilma’s Week”: “I shouldn’t have to tell you gigantic ice chunks are incongruent with a stable financial image.”
“Success”: “Kate had heard him say a thousand times, ‘Murder is a lot cheaper than divorce.’”
“The End of the Season”: “I want you to know that this place is about as peaceful as a yeast infection.”
One of the endorsements on the back cover of The I.Q. Zoo says, “[McGehee’s] a writer with no innocence at all, only an un-blinking acceptance of diverse behaviours.” “Diverse” is a perfect word to describe The I.Q. Zoo. Give it a go.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews