Ground zero

From the dust jacket:

Ground zero is the blast-off zone, a metaphor for the perilous territory now occupied by the gay world. ... [T]he essays range from a satirical piece on the latest cosmetic techniques to a reflective look at Henry James, [and] their theme is the fatal plague that has killed so many, darkened the light of so much brilliance, beauty, and talent.... Yet... life still needs to be lived with love and laughter and...hope, however quixotic, is part of courage. As a...character put[s] it: "There must be a beach--somewhere--at the end of this."