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Bert Wylen interviews author Dennis Cooper about his new book, Frisk, focusing on the morbid themes in Cooper’s writing. Cooper reflects on his identification with the French literary tradition and the influence of authors like Jean Genet and William Burroughs. Cooper describes his intention to explore dark subject matter with serious consideration through his novels. Wylen offers a synopsis of Frisk and shares his own unsettling experience of reading the book, noting how it captivated him even as it disturbed him. Cooper discusses the literary techniques he employs to engage readers, even when they may be inclined to turn away and recounts his early exposure to the writings of de Sade and how it shaped his desire to examine violent themes thoughtfully rather than relying solely on shock value. Cooper argues that an interest in violence and the body transcends sexual orientation. Cooper emphasizes his goal of addressing people’s fascination with violence, death, and gore without imposing moral judgments and further explores how the AIDS crisis has amplified these fascinations, as desires and bodies themselves became sites of fear and danger. Cooper discusses the practices of S&M and explains that his interest lies not in consensual acts with rules and boundaries but in the extreme violence of figures like John Wayne Gacy. Cooper shares his admiration for the New Narrative movement, citing Robert Gluck and Kevin Killian among his favorite authors. Wylen and Cooper discuss Cooper’s pervious works, Safe and Closer and Wylen announces his forthcoming collection of short stories published by Grove Press, Wrong. Material used in broadcasts of WXPN’s Gaydreams.