<DIV><i>Bottoms Up: Writing About Sex</i> is a collection of writing about desire. The stories are not straight-up sexual narrations but pieces, poems, and stories that explore the concept and manifestation of desire itself. Rather than merely describing the physical acts of sex, these writings limn the impetus, experiences, thoughts, and feelings that drive desire.<br><BR>The stories in the collection are varied but share a fascination with breaking down conventional conceptions of gender in favor of a wider view of sexuality. They include an examination of iconoclastic sexuality (musing on what it would be like to have sex with James Dean and <i>like</i> James Dean), finding the apex of desire in Lenny Kaye's sweat-soaked leather pants after a Patti Smith Group show, genderqueer cruising, the connection between sex and loss, and more. Contributors include Patrick Califia, Eileen Myles, Michelle Tea, Red Jordan Arobateau, Lori Selke, Victoria Brownworth, and Robert Gluck.</div>