Set in the world of American fashion publishing at the end of the 20th century with an all male cast of characters, danger@liaisons.com brings Laclos’ tale of deception and betrayal into the volatile age of electronic communication and HIV, exploring the timeless influence that words can have in illuminating the most fatal passions. More than a modern retelling of the 18th century French novel that inspired it, danger@liaisons.com is a controversial, cautionary tale about the danger of…electronic…intercourse. Translated into French by Denis-Martin Chabot, the novel was first published in Montreal and has been re-released by Textes gais in Paris in French, English and bilingual eBook editions.
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The author has adapted the novel into a play and a screenplay by the same title.
“A suave and subtle work that contains consideration of issues whose darkness shadows each of us. The novel rises beyond subculture; we would be foolish to allow our stigmas to silence a story so handsome.”
Su Zi, Cosmoetica
“Brilliantly transposing the Choderlos de Laclos’ epistolary novel Dangerous Liaisons into our time, author Don Bapst takes interest in the same games of unhealthy manipulation, and all the twisted plots are described in their finest details. There are all the same characters from the original novel, but with just a few exceptions, they’re all male and have names modified to fit the North American setting. The action takes place in the milieu of fashion magazines. Terry Simms challenges Victor Stephens to seduce a heterosexual man, Christophe Tourvel. Not a simple seduction and a quick fuck. No, Victor has to make the guy fall in love with him to the point where he begs Victor to fuck him. Same secondary plots as in the original novel: the two men, for example, have fun seducing and manipulating the young Jamie Dowling and Peter Marquez, snapping them up like candy. The conclusion is a bit abrupt, but that doesn’t take away from the pleasure of the story.”
Translated into English from the review in Montréal’s fugues magazine.
“Choderlos de Laclos’s novel Dangerous Liaisons, is brilliantly transposed into our modern world by author Don Bapst under the title danger@liaisons.com. The contemporary story is set in the world of fashion, with an almost entirely male cast. Terry challenges Victor to seduce a married heterosexual man and transform him into a fervent disciple of anal sex. Naturally, the two conspirators don’t deprive themselves of young, naïve flesh while hunting in the field. This English text is presented in the form of a series of emails, making for an easy read. As in the original Laclos work, themes of manipulation, betrayal, vengeance, death and so on are found throughout, making for a deliciously perverse novel.”
Translated into English from the review by Richard Bradley on Montréal’s Algi.