"These stories transcend the gay theme, they are about people making (or failing to make) their way in the world. Their essential human condition is easy to feel and identify with."
— Mike Nicol

"… a lot of beautiful writing about interesting places, with a few laugh out loud moments too."
— Out Magazine

"Brent Meersman’s latest book is strong medicine … Part autobiography, part social theory, Meersman’s immersive study of sexual desire and the cultures that cloak and shape it, is a must for readers who like their truths hard-boiled … By turns ruthlessly unsentimental, oddly tender and vulnerable, it is a richly informative account of gay life and its evolution — for sexual desire, as Meersman reminds us, morphs with the times … But to state that this book is the sole preserve of those interested in gay sex would be to diminish its power. Both self-critical and cruelly objective … Meersman demonstrates his pedigree as a renowned journalist. But because this is also a deeply personal account, it gives us an intimate grasp of what it means to be human today ... We are truly privileged to have Meersman as our guide … His superb, far-reaching account stands as an invaluable marker for a yearning, churning, confused, and desperate world. As 'a rite of passage to sexual Elysium', it is an intrepid and honest journey."
— Ashraf Jamal

"Introduction Masree & Dahoud – Banana Island – Luxor, Egypt William – Pagan rites – Damascus, Syria Anonymous – I'm a Berlin boy, now – Berlin, Germany Musa – Between two worlds – Paris, France Jussef – The outsider – Marrakesh, Morocco Hakim, Asma & Julio – After darkroom – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Abel/Isobel – Swapping sex – Toronto, Canada Chester – The invisible ghetto – New York, USA Giovanni, José and Santos – Sexploitation – Havana, Cuba Sergio – Macho – Cancun, Mexico Diego, Rico, Gregg, Scott & Kate – Good citizens – Mérida, Mexico Chavez & Pepe – For a few dollars more – Mexico City, Mexico Michael – Archangel – Los Angeles, USA Adan and Xolelwa – Black but blue – San Francisco, USA Lee and Rex – The edge of the world – Auckland, New Zealand Daniel – Out cloning – Sydney, Australia Hiroshi, Hilton & Jiro – Avatars in bed – Tokyo, Japan Lao Ping Lee – The cut sleeve – Shanghai, China Jason – Address lost – Bangkok, Thailand Muahmmad and Terrence – Singabore – Singapore Epilogue – India"