Arcade: A Novel

The novel was highly erotic in some places and in others downright depressing!

Thoughtful, well-written, moving. The unnamed and unreliable narrator finds meaning in what is usually dismissed as "meaningless" sex. It's a close study of anonymous rituals, hidden sexualities, fears, desires, and curiosity. "Sam" -- one of the pseudonyms he goes by -- seems blind to the depths of his own obsession, turning into a stalker, even as he remains a likeable guy that this reader sympathized with. Packed with some of the best writing of explicit sexual scenes I've read -- never prurient, often erotic, sometimes revealing. I enjoyed it thoroughly and devoured it in two sittings. (Warning though, if you're turned off by descriptions of same-sex acts, this book is not for you.)

I'm really surprised by the reviews on here - this book was a huge disappointment. I had high hopes for something gay and sexual that wasn't one of those "romance"/sex book but wow was I bored. The main character has nearly no redeeming qualities and has no character arch. From page 1 to 247, it is pure repetition and redundancy. Literally the character is rude to the few friends he has, visits the arcade a million times, and complains about not dating this cop he likes. You don't get to really know any characters more than a shallow and artificial way.I wouldn't recommend this book personally. If you want interest sex, get something darker.. if you want romance get a love story.... if you want an interesting book with progression and archs, then get anything else.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book on all of its many levels. Its pace and prose make it a very comfortable and enjoyable read, by turns gut-wrenchingly poignant, then truly hilarious. Lots of keen insight, plenty of laughs. It’s not a typical novel where someone goes on a quest or there is an earth-shattering event that changes a life forever. Instead, it’s a painfully honest, progressive account of an intelligent and witty man coming of age sexually in an unusual, but familiar-to-many environment. I’ve never read anything like it, and I mean that in the best possible way.

Most gay fiction is pretty bad - unbelievable characters and situations. Not this book. While the narrator seems seems to be a little too fixated on his lost love and his cyber spying stretches reality a bit, he comes across as a real person, even a likeable person. His experiences and observations ring true. I get the impression that the author spent a little too much time in an arcade researching the book - you couldn't write this without spending a lot of time lurking in the dark hallways. In short, I really enjoyed the book.

This book presents a protagonist who is a seething mix of unspent potential, low self-esteem, and compulsive sexuality. Reading it is an unstylized and honest walk in his shoes. Whether or not you can identify with his particular habits, the genius of the book lies in allowing you to understand his journey. It is much more than a "gay novel" (though you underestimate its gayness at your peril); it is a brilliant examination of contemporary isolation and a damn good read. I couldn't put it down.

Main character has too many contradictions to be taken seriously. This should have been a third-person novel. Terse writing. No real plot movement. Interesting in places with some vivid descriptions of sex between men, but ultimately this novel is a let down and a missed opportunity. Still, I respect the author for taking readers on a risky journey.

When I bought this novel, I assumed it would be a nice piece of erotica to chase away the winter blues. But while it has just enough sleaze to make it interesting, it is a very perceptive account of what it has meant to be a very closeted -- and not very self-confident -- gay man attempting to come to terms with reality in a small town. I enjoyed it very much, and look forward to reading more books by Drew Nellins Smith.

An unusual book, approaching and detailing a virtually hidden world with honesty, much thought and no little tenderness. I found it stayed with me, hauntingly, for some time after.I would admit to having some similar experience, albeit in a slightly different setting, and while descriptions in the book are utterly authentic it is refreshing that the author doesn't overplay the sexuality for cheap thrills but clearly wants to get far more across. In this he is successful.

A truly engaging read by a fascinating individual. Sharp and well written, prepare to be emerged into the authors claustrophobic world.

This is not a “literary” production. It is a convincing first person sort of coming out story. Sort of because the narrator’s experience of gay life is confined to a video arcade with booths for private viewing and/or gay sex for 2 or more. The narrator does form a frustrating attachment to one of the patrons, extending beyond the establishment. Within its limitations the book is an insightful portrayal of demimonde lust at work.