Preface

Mr. Barry Hoffman, Editor
Gauntlet Publications

Dear Mr. Hoffman,
     I am writing to respectfully suggest that you reconsider
publishing the collected works of Poppy Z. Brite. While I am in
favor of the First Amendment and Freedom of Speech, I believe this
privilege can be abused, and Poppy Z. Brite just screams, "Look at
me! I´m abusing it!" The title of the book alone is an affront to
society. When Ms. Brite asks this question -- "Are You Loathsome
Tonight?" -- the answer is clearly a resounding yes.
     Her book about serial killers was bad enough, a thinly
"fictionalized" rip-off of the Jeffrey Dahmer atrocity. I have read
some of the stories in your planned "collection," and I can assure
you that it is not Gauntlet´s duty to provide a voice for this kind of
trash.
     Everyone knows that Ms. Brite never writes about anything
but drug-addicted homosexuals. The British playwright Joe Orton
is, I suppose, a natural subject for her; but I really think she is going
too far by dragging historical figures like Elvis Presley and
Mussolini into her perverted web!
     Moral citizens can but wish Ms. Brite had become the
coroner she imagines in "Monday´s Special." At least then she
would only be able to inflict her deliberate damage on those who are
past our help.
     Are you aware that Ms. Brite got her multimillion-dollar
book contract by sleeping with editors and famous writers -- even
ones she met denies she´s ever met. She is an admitted pervert and
has even claimed to be a homosexual man! As if all that isn´t
enough, she has posed nude in various magazines. This and other
such publicity stunts are the only reason anybody ever pays attention
to her mediocre writing. Luckily, she is now over thirty and will not
be able to bank on her "sex appeal" for very much longer. Hopefully
then she will fade like the flash-in-the-pan she´s been for more than
ten years now!!!
     When this happens, Mr. Hoffman, you will be proud that
you passed on the opportunity to profit from her filth. Make the
right choice, Mr. Hoffman. You know what it is.
                                                                             Sincerely yours,
                                                                             Stewart P. Butkis

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