The Future Was Color

by Patrick Nathan

A dazzling novel about making art, desire, and the inextricable link between the personal and the political set against the decadence of post-war Los Angeles, for readers of Garth Greenwell and Eve Babitz

George is a Hungarian immigrant working as a studio hack writing monster movies in 1950s Los Angeles. He must navigate the McCarthy era studio system filled with possible Communists and spies; the life of closeted men along Sunset Boulevard; the inability of the era to disassemble love from persecution and guilt. But when a famous actress named Madeleine offers George a “writing residency” at her estate in Malibu to work on the political writing he cares most deeply about, his world changes dramatically. Soon it’s drinks by the pool every night, pleasure in every direction, and Madeleine carrying him like an ornament into a class of postwar L.A. society ordinarily hidden from men like him.

What this lifestyle hides behind, aside from the monsters on the screen, are the monsters dwelling closer to home: this endless bacchanalia covers a gnawing hole shelled wide by the horror of the war they’d thought they left behind. Beneath his newfound relationships lie the pernicious forces of the American political project. And what George can never escape: his past as György, the queer Jew who fled Budapest before the war, landing in New York all alone a decade prior. In New York as in California, the people he loves aren’t what they seem—and neither is his adopted country, one pretending to have transcended bigotry, authoritarianism, and violence. It is a novel as well as a historical document, upending our perceptions of just how personal the political can be.

Spanning from sun-drenched Los Angeles, to hidden corners of working-class New York, to a virtuosic climax in the Las Vegas desert, The Future Was Color is an immaculately written exploration of making art and reinventing the self, post-war American decadence, and the psychosis that lingers in a world that’s seen the bomb.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Queer, Fiction, LGBT, Historical, Gay, Literary Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published June 4, 2024

About the author

Patrick Nathan is the author of Some Hell, a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award. His short fiction and essays have appeared in The New Republic, American Short Fiction, Gulf Coast, The Baffler, and elsewhere. he lives in Minneapolis.

Reviews

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was HOT. A steamy and dazzling meditation on art, destruction, and survival in the McCarthy era and beyond, The Future is Color is prime example of queer historical fiction done right: beautifully rendered with an eye bent toward the present. Embedded in this history is a moving story of a gay man as he navigates queer life through the 1940-50s and on.

This novel really gave me a perspective on how queer people might have moved through the violence of this period with police raids, whistleblowers, etc. However, it also shows how they could have thrived within the secrecy of the margins; hookups, falling in and out of love, heartbreak, losing people - living full and vivid lives in all their fear and complexity. Patrick Nathan brings these three-dimensional characters to the page in stunning detail, most notably the protagonist George and Madeleine, the wealthy actress who lures him into her sphere of parties and fast living. This made the novel feel like a true portrayal of queer lives and stories that were silenced by the prejudice of the era.

Nathan's poetic and cinematic prose also glides the reader effortlessly through the narrative. The way he captures the tone and mood of LA noir - in all its sun, heat and dread, black and white on the silver screen - was pitch perfect and really impressive. If you've been looking for more queer historical fiction like I have, this will be for you. Authors like Patrick Nathan are making sure the lit gays are being fed (lol).

[Louis Muñoz · Rating 2 out of 5]

2024 Pride Month Read #2: 2 stars. Was originally going to go with a 3-star rating, but the book was kind of a mess. I'm seeing a lot of 4 and 5 star ratings, and I get why from what those reviewers have written, but the book seriously underwhelmed me, especially in the second half (and maybe even from before that point). Not that "Fellow Travelers" impressed me all that much when I read it earlier this year, but this book seems to want to aspire to tell that kind of story, about our LGBTQ+ ancestors trying to make lives in the Lavender Scare era, and just doesn't succeed for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

[endrju · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not exactly sure what the novel is about, but that's not a bad thing, especially in this case. Patrick Nathan, with George, a Hungarian immigrant, covers the period from a decade before World War II to the end of the 1980s, and it is an interesting and dense, almost breathless narrative about the changing tides of being a gay man in the West. The themes are many: Hollywood gothic, McCarthyism and communist paranoia, 1950s sci-fi, the bomb, drugs, neo-avant-garde art, cruising, systemic homophobia and its consequences. If nothing else, it reminded me how long the 20th century was.

[Gohnar23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

#️⃣4️⃣7️⃣7️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 💔🩸
Date : 🚀 Tuesday, September 16, 2025 🚫🔻❌
Word Count📃: 61k Words 🧨🔪🎈

⋆⭒𓆟⋆｡˚𖦹𓆜✩⋆ >-;;⁠;⁠;€ᐷ °‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·｡

( ˶°ㅁ°) !! My 51th read in "READING AS MANY BOOKS AS I CANNN 😢 cuz smth....happened.....irl.........😥" September ⚡

3️⃣🌟, George, Georgie, or that other spelling of his name that is very difficult to type, you ave very boring af
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗

As this book primarily focuses only a literary landscape and a deep dive into the life of a gay man in the 1950s, struggling with many political and societal factors buuuuuutttttttt, he is very boring af. There are many times where the story is just not even talking about him anymore which is bizarre for a book that is supposed to transport and make us feel like how life is for someone to become a homosexual in the 1950s.

There was never a general plot just him survivin & survivin & survivin but there aren't really any primary horrid threats that is up to take his life but it's still interesting to read nonetheless. The writing style is not something to be proud of as it's two simplistic for historical fiction standards. It honestly feels like a modern contemporary book with the language that everything is written & the dialog that is being said with all of their interactions. It's not that impressive and revolutionary either as this was almost already discussed on many other queer historical fiction novels that are also set in this time. THERE WASN'T EVEN ANOTHER PAIRING SO AT THIS POINT IS THIS *STILL* CONSIDERED A ROMANCE?

[RP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been struggling with how to write about this novel. I'm afraid that what I say about it will seem like hyperbole, but I think this is one of the greatest novels of my time, of my life as a reader on this planet. This is a novel that will last. I know I will talk about it for the rest of my life, and give it as a gift, and bring it up when people ask me about books I love. This is a GREAT novel, in the way we used to say things like that. Now everything is "great." But THE FUTURE WAS COLOR is a great work of art, an important work. "Important," another tricky word. A novel about creation and destruction, and how humanity craves both of these things. Patrick Nathan lingers in moments long enough so we can see their microscopic elements, every emotional molecule. A queer, sexy, disturbing, intelligent, brutal, and ultimately heartbreaking novel.

[em ✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the premise, didn't love the writing. Despite Patrick Nathan's impressive command of language, I found the story quite boring to be honest.

[Josh Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a 210 page book that took me a month to read, you'd think that I wouldn't love this book. I don't know how to fully explain why it took me so long to read this magnificent book (maybe it was the nine day road trip I took, water in my apartment causing stress, or just not in the mood to read a physical book) but I'm glad I kept reading.

The Future Was Color by Patrick Nathan is, at first, a story about a gay man in 1950s Hollywood. There are certainly steaming moments that kept me intrigued as well as fantastically rich characters but the thing that really earns this book five stars is because of where it ends. Nathan does a spectacular job of placing small fibers early on at the book, picking those fibers up to weave them into strands as the book moves on, and then bring all of those strands together to form a tapestry that not only leaves no loose threads but also manages to display a tapestry that tells a deeply resonate message that still pertains to the reader today. When I reached the final part of the book and noticed what Nathan was doing I was honestly breathless to see it unfold. It's amazing that he could use so few pages to capture such a deep meaning that has not lost a single ounce of impact from the novel's setting of the 1950s atomic age to the fascist takeover we might be witnessing in 2024. This book is brilliant in everything that it does. I strongly recommend it.

[Christopher Alonso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aroused and unsettled me all at once. I think Nathan has a gift in combining the sacred and morbid in such exciting ways. Took my time with this one because I reread passages immediately after finishing them. I'm going to be thinking about the Las Vegas section for a long time.

[Madison]

Got through a few chapters but the overwritten style is very much not for me.

[Jason Conrad]

DNF @ 21% — I could not deal with the purple prose with synonyms that were clearly the result of the right-click thesaurus in Microsoft Word.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very well-written book that I could not wait to finish. Maybe I need to stop reading historical fiction. There is a flashback in the middle of the book that completely disrupts the flow of the story. I almost wish that the story started with the flashback. There were some memorable moments in this book and I appreciate the artistry. However, I did not enjoy this nearly as much as I anticipated.

[Tiernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is, I think, in every life that streak of happiness, like a star scratched across the night. It isn’t planned, and it cannot last, but it does arrive, and you either notice it or you don’t."

[Alexander Arnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a frustrating read! There were brilliant passages and quotes sandwiched between pages of just nothing. I don't mind a fragmented story or one that lacks a central narrative. But to pull that off, there needs to be compelling character work. I spent 200 pages in our main character's head and I don't know what he wants, fears, or loves. The confusion is appropriate for a gay man navigating midcentury America, but at the expense of my enjoyment of the novel.

[Zoee.Net84 · Rating 5 out of 5]

and the world goes on and on and on and on and on and on and all these things can happen to you but the world never stops

[Bethany Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75ish? bring back good prose and characters that yearn. interesting queer historical fiction that illustrates the anxiety of post-WWII america. pacing was a little slow for my liking at times, but thoroughly enjoyed!

[Riley (runtobooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really didn't care for this. i didn't mind the first part in LA, but everything after that felt tedious and trite. i think the book tried to say something but ultimately got lost in the sauce, and was incredibly overwritten for what it was.

[Matthew Harby Conforti · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/ Stunning and in such a slight form, weighing in at only 224 pages. Don't let that fool you, though-- it's incredibly dense prose, each word and sentence surging and building. The writing is equal parts noir/stylish vibes and raw dripping meat, definitely a feat for Patrick Nathan. Thematically there was lots of riffing on the concepts of creation and destruction, the settings were all wonderfully constructed-- the Las Vegas scene was quite the set piece, and the characters all felt real and true to the time periods. I'll need to re-read it again sooner than later as I know there's even more in this to excavate. My only complaint is I'd want more glimpses into George's life.

[Andrew L · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Listen: that you lived never needs to be forgiven. You both did what you had to do. You loved who you had to love. Your gift, your life, was an entire planet. You traveled here and looked around, you tried the food, you talked to people, you took your pleasure, and you left.”

[Macartney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Implodes during the second half but it’s a heckuva good ride until then.

[Tony Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I thought, if this was what life was when you got older, if there were memories waiting for you all over the world-all kinds of friends hidden in objects or pictures of places-I thought, this can't really be so bad, can it?"

I really enjoyed reading this one. Historical Fiction is not my typical genre that I go for, but I do love a good gay literature so that's how this title piqued my interest. George/György is a beyond fascinating character that kept me interested throughout the entire read. I would have blown through this faster if I didn't get so sick about 70% through that I wasn't even reading, just sleeping for multiple days... anyway, I recommended this title to my boyfriend because it is right up his alley and I also recommended it for purchase at my library. This was my first time reading a Patrick Nathan title and now I'm curious about his other books! If you like historical fiction or gay literature, this one is for you.

Thank you to Counterpoint Press for providing me with a digital arc via NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

[Camille Landon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woooah.

There were parts that were overwritten and parts that were under and the whole narrative structure was quite loose on purpose but it was also gorgeous?? This made me think about the quote “the urge to destroy is also a creative urge”. Made me think a lot about the tension between youth, experience, impending doom, etc. really special and beautiful exploration of the desire to destroy and be destroyed, especially if you live in the margins. Idk it’s hard to piece my thoughts together on this one but I think I liked it!

[Gordon Blitz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Future Was Color overwritten by Patrick Nathan fails to connect the dots between the Hungarian revolution, being gay in the mid 20th century and the current world crisis. And if you add the sci-elements, your reader is further distracted. Nathan first person narrator appears to be the author rather than a character. Not sure the point of this device was. Yes, some poetic passages are admirable but slow down what little plot there is about George-painter turned screenwriter.

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started out thinking I was going to love this book. Then, it goes back in time before coming back to where it started, and the story loses some momentum. I enjoyed it overall, but I wanted to know more about George, and I felt that the other characters and the sometimes overwrought writing got in the way of that discovery.

[ZeeMi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, audaciously structured, impressively evocative of its time and place(s), and in its own small way, emotionally satisfying.

[caro · Rating 2 out of 5]

half baked needed more time in the oven with heartier ingredients

[Jake DeCarli · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has some beautiful poetry, but unfortunately I did not understand what it was actually about. It’s only 200 pages, but the plot did not maintain my interest.

[Eli Pruitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Listen: that you lived never needs to be forgiven. You both did what you had to do. You loved who you had to love... you talked to people, you took your pleasure, and you left."

Reading this was quite the experience. It's both INCREDIBLY sexy and INCREDIBLY sad, on so many levels.

I tried SO hard to not give this 5 stars. There were so many times reading this where I thought this is so overwritten or the narrative structure of this is a little too on the nose and it's pulling me out but at the end of the day, and the end of the book, I couldn't not give it its flowers. It's so beautifully written, not exactly lyrical but certainly has a very unique flow. I do love a narrative structure that starts at B, goes back to A, and ends at C. It unfolds and unlocks details in a really satisfying way.

The narrator, someone who remains unknown until the very end, is recounting the life of George Curtis, a Hollywood screenwriter, who has lived a very difficult and, frankly, sad life. And for better or worse, he surrounds himself with like people. I found the majority, if not all, of the characters presented here to be wildly unlikable and often thanked the heavens for not partaking in the shenanigans of these groups. I genuinely felt sad for them. They all experienced some form of trauma(s) simply due to being alive in the 40s and seeing just how fragile life can be coming out of WWII. They're all waiting for the other shoe to drop and welcome annihilation with open arms. They're chasing belonging and purpose only to be met with further loneliness and wandering. Sadly, I'm not sure I can confidently say anyone, other than George and our narrator, were all too successful in their journey. But seeing how those journeys unfold was a really worthwhile experience.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think everything’s been said about the seductive hellscape that is LA – particularly mid-century LA – along comes Nathan’s glorious, nightmarish, sexy, and downright humane story of closeted 1950’s screenwriter George. George’s Hollywood bubble is populated with seemingly lovely and fascinating people, but this is a time and place when elite social circles are also “smoky seas of malevolent teeth.” (p. 166-7) And so with ambiguous danger ever lurking, George processes his station in life (as well as his relationships, current and past), wondering what could possibly be in store for the rest of his days.

I loved, loved, loved this book. At times it’s messy and dark, but that’s because – similar to Michelle Tea’s fabulous BLACK WAVE, a different kind of west coast nightmare – this writer really has something to say, and a pointed but elegant way of saying it. Like Billy Wilder before him, Nathan knows how to use artful dark comedy to make the Hollywood cynicism go down. Unapologetically gay and sexual, it’s also never gratuitous. Nathan reflects the world as it was/is, and draws his characters as they are. And boy oh boy am I looking forward to more of his work.

As inculcated as we are in the belief that we’re meant for some great purpose, that tomorrow, he said, we’ll live as the wealthy live, we are in truth conditioned to expect very little of our lives. It feels closed off to us to enjoy life. Yet we all have such days – at least once, but as often as not peppered throughout a life. These are the days we would see before we die, if it turns out to be true that we see anything at all. (p. 55)

…the sunset had Midased the city. (p. 68)

(On a failed relationship:) They were diminished, a print set too close to a sunny window. (p. 132)

[esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

a book i really wanted to love and did at some points, but its dense and descriptive prose purpled into a narcotizing lull that at times completely overwrote political reality with words that sound pretty together. there’s a kind of romantic euphemisticness to nathan’s writing, that, when coupled with its narratorial style—a person telling us another person’s words, telephone-style—feels enervated, sapped of movement. we are reminded over and over, sometimes in consecutive sentences, that these are memories filtered through two people, which would be fine if it didn’t lead to such repetitive syntactical quirks (“[subject], george told me, [predicate]” can only be used so many times without being redundant!). it’s very curious how the overspecificity of nathan’s language in the end turns much of the novel into a haze—packed with isms and sayings and particulars, it’s hard to find character through this flood of representational effort. though maybe it’s just me; i’m finding now that the purple poetics that ensorcelled me in the past are less effective now than the type of prose that finds its thrust in concision and exactitude.

[Justin HC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this type of historical fiction. Exquisitely nuanced, full of memorable characters (some even just sketches in a few sentences!). Lots of big themes (the atom bomb, nihilism, gay history, cinema as artform, the 20th century) tightly compressed into a diamond of a novel. The author finds a tone that captures the dramatic sweep and hard-boiled archness of 40s/50s classic cinema. Madeline is iconic - I heard Cate Blanchett’s Carol voice but pictured Patricia Clarkson too. I really thought she’d have her party guests jumping off the hotel roof for a minute there!

Did I mention the sex is really sexy while staying grounded and containing multitudes (lots of it is sexy, a little funny, and terribly sad). The handling of the jump forward into the AIDS era wasn’t as jarring as it may have been in another author’s hands. The overall arch of George’s life reminded me of Stoner - that push/pull between striving for greatness and accepting a somewhat ordinary but ultimately rich life. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while and checking out more by this author - would and will recommend!