cover image Whores of Lost Atlantis

Whores of Lost Atlantis

Charles Busch. Hyperion Books, $21.45 (290pp) ISBN 978-1-56282-780-9

Well-known as the author of the play Vampire Lesbians of Sodom , Busch displays the same outrageous imagination and wacky humor in his first novel, a semi-autobiographical version of his life as actor and playwright. In this labyrinthine farcical melodrama about a young man and his kookie theatrical buddies, 30-ish performance artist Julian Young thinks he's missed his shot at the big time, until, while temping at a Wall Street law firm, he dreams up the drag vehicle that will establish his reputation. Quickly enlisting a bizarre group of misfits, he plans to stage his work at the Golgotha performance space in Manhattan's East Village. But he is opposed by Kiko, the evil Japanese performance artist who rules the scene, and her wicked aging drag-queen friend, Thirteen. Also menacing his success is Julian's married middle-aged lover, whose dark past and shady financial deals threaten to land the entire theatrical troupe in jail. Backstage romance makes up much of the drama, and humor is liberally provided by Julian's reflections on life in the theater. Busch is a natural storyteller and he spins a highly amusing--and at times highly erotic--tale, but his lack of experience as a novelist leads to a slowish start, mixed intentions (this is half memoir, half farce) and a terribly rushed conclusion. Still, it's lots of fun, particularly to anyone who's ever seen Busch tread the boards. (Nov.)