which turns out to be a virus that is sexual in origin". Morgan notes that while this disease is similar to AIDS, the novel was written when AIDS was unheard of. Morgan concludes that Cities of the Red Night is, "certainly the most compelling and inventive of Burroughs' books since Naked Lunch." Footnotes External links Thomas M. Disch's review of the book from the New York Times 1981 American novels 1981 fantasy novels 1980s LGBT novels American LGBT novels Holt, Rinehart and Winston books Nonlinear narrative novels Novels by William S. Burroughs