<div><p>A body-pierced goth girl cage-dances for a living while putting herself through school. A New York City academic reevaluates her closest relationships while considering breast-reduction surgery. A chatty Gulf War veteran is plagued by a sexual identity crisis. The characters in this debut short story collection search for meaning through the crucible of sex. Joseph Salvatore's top-notch literary writing coaxes readers into murky territories as characters spiral deeper into existential rabbit holes.</P> <p><B>Joseph Salvatore</B> reviews fiction for <I>The New York Times Book Review</I>. He teaches at The New School where he founded their literary journal <I>LIT</I>. He lives in New York.</P></DIV>