Six Positions: Sex Writing

by Andy Quan

Written with a poet's sense of language and the quirky voice of an outsider among outsiders, Six Positions takes the reader on a frank and entertaining international road trip of clubs, baths, and sex parties. Subtly exploring the roots of fantasy, insecurity, stereotypes, and attraction, Andy Quan emerges as plainly comfortable with himself, his body, and his identity as an Asian man in the notoriously objectifying gay community. This level of comfort shows in the slyly humorous ways he allows the issue to surface in these narratives, where pickups trawling for a passive geisha often get more than they bargained for. Whether narrating the course of a romantic encounter gone bad, detailing the goings-on at an orgy, or smashing the stereotype of the Asian boytoy, Six Positions offers fresh, thoughtful, and creative considerations of gay bodies and acts, while celebrating determined and unadulterated sexual desire.

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2011

About the author

Andy Quan is the author of four books, one of short fiction, Calendar Boy, two of poetry, Slant and Bowling Pin Fire, and one of gay erotica, Six Positions. He was the co-editor of Swallowing Clouds, an Anthology of Chinese Canadian Poetry. His work has appeared in a broad range of anthologies, magazines and literary reviews in Australia, Canada, and elsewhere. His work often deals with the themes of identity, community, and culture.

Born in Vancouver of Cantonese origin, Andy has lived in Toronto, Brussels, and London before settling in Sydney, Australia. A singer and songwriter, he has also self-produced tapes and CDs.

Reviews

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of superb stories that while definitely erotic are also so much more. They are complex meditations on sex, descriptions of sex, but more than anything they are a paean to the delights of the male body in a way that is more like enjoying reading a book of recipes by a really great cook, then a banal description of sexual acts or positions. To say this is not a 'stroke book' or 'one-handed' reading material is both true but also to judgmental and limiting. I wouldn't want to put anyone off reading these stories by trying to limit what they are - I just don't want anyone to bypass them because they imagine them to be less then they truly are.

I am happy to say how much I enjoyed these stories because their protagonists are outside my experience and preferences (though let me be completely honest and admit that even if they were, there is no way I would have attracted any of them) but there is nothing like an erotic (or any other kind of story) which challenges the readers own sexual opinions/preference/judgements - gay men have in the past (I make no claims to knowing what anyone young enough to be either my son or grandson might think) were happy to make the most specific and culture/racial based dismissals of other men as outside their range of sexual interest. Andy Quan challenges those judgements (which is why I loved his previous book 'Calendar Boy') and has made me rethink attitudes and perceptions - how far are the sexual choices we make governed by prejudice? How far is the liking for one body shape over another instinctive or a matter of taste? If I don't like certain 'ethnicities' as sexual partners or prefer others how value free are those preferences? Am I, are we, being racists, or judgmental? Is choosing one body type, age group, hair colour or whatever as simple as preferring coffee or tea or does it say more about us?

I wouldn't want to over emphasise these elements over others and suggest that it that this is a work of polemic, though it has its polemical elements as well as its erotic ones - that is what makes these stories unique, compulsively readable and thought provoking.

My only complaint is that Mr. Quan has published no further prose works, though there are a number of poetry collections which I will have to look at. I do hope he will eventually return to the many themes he began exploring in this collection and 'Calendar Boy'.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six Positions is a sweet hearted, charming collection of short pieces of erotica and reflections on sexuality. The book suffers somewhat from inconsistency in the quality of writing, with the best being very good, and the worst a little clunky. It is rescued, however, by the generous spirit that pervades it.

[David Acevedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an excellent book. The narrative is on a whole new level of fluidity, musicality and excellence. The way Quan deals with the erotica, though, is too suggestive. I've always despised erotica and favoured pornography. This is what I think: if sex is as normal and natural as breaking fast, having brunch or a conversation with your mother, why suggest it instead of graphically showing it as you would a scene, for instance, of a boy eating cereal with milk? But that's just me. I cannot hold something so stupid against a book so wondrous and gorgeous and elegant as this. My five stars and tip o' the hat!

[Andy Quan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi. Six Positions was my collection of gay erotica and sex writing, published through Green Candy Press. Many of the stories appeared in the "Best Gay Erotica" series, as well as other anthologies in the USA, Canada and Europe. If you grab a copy, I hope you enjoy it. More information about the book and reviews up at my website at: http://andyquan.com/?page_id=151