Steve Abbott was a Nebraska-born poet, author, cartoonist and critic of primarily LGBT literature. He was also a highly regarded editor. Abbott edited the Bay Area periodical Poetry Flash for many years and the influential SOUP Magazine. In SOUP, he coined the term "New Narrative" to describe the work of Bay Area writers Robert Gluck and Bruce Boone and, with Boone, he organized the historic Left/Write conference in 1981. He was also a single father and many of his early poems reflected on his relationship with his young daughter Alysia Abbott. He died of AIDS in San Francisco in 1992.
This exploration into sexuality and the subcultures of San Francisco taught me so much about the area that I am so lucky to call home. Steve Abbott has such a way with words, I felt like I was in each of the interviews that he was conducting. Not only does he have interesting commentary on abstract performance art, but he also comes from a unique perspective as a member of the LGBTQ+ community writing about the community itself. This book is very self aware, fun, educational, and made me want to live in San Francisco in the 90s.