St Stephen's

Ian C. Nelson is assistant director of libraries at the University of
Saskatchewan, and président de la Troupe du Jour, Regina Summer Stage.

Sky Gilbert, billed as “one of North America’s most controversial
artistic forces,” has written a second novel that, like its
predecessor, Guilty, employs a first-person narrator in confessional
mode. The narrator, described at one point as “a horny confessor, not
an aloof, charming Brit,” is a somewhat famous, gay-activist theatre
personality (not unlike the author) who spends most of the novel
relating his experiences and relationships at a small, private
university. Although Gilbert is careful to make the context one of
ostensible consent, the dynamic throughout the book is that of an older
experienced man interacting with a lad: “He was a little boy kissing a
man.” Gilbert pushes this envelope, albeit charmingly, at every turn.
His main character is virtually brimming with exuberant observations of
gay folkways. At the same time, he is clever enough to cite
counterarguments to his many opinions and attitudes.

Notwithstanding its charming style and entertaining themes and
tangents, St. Stephen’s ultimately comes across as a series of opinion
pieces that would not be out of place in a weekly gay newspaper. Gilbert
fans will certainly enjoy the vagaries of this novel. Others may find
the insistent juxtaposition of the words “man” and “boy” to be
problematic.