A Terrifying Brush with Optimism: New and Selected Stories

A collection of new and selected works from Lambda Literary Award and Asian-American Literary Award winner Brian Leung. In a cultural moment where folks are stripped of the their dignity or shed it willingly, the figures in this book wonder at the utility of maintaining their own. There's a touch of Hamlet's question in there along with some I Ching. Can monkeys pray? Are we better off living in the real world or a speculative one?Through an essay, a novella, and short and flash fiction pieces, A Terrifying Brush with Optimism is at once leaping, thoughtful, diverse, comic, and brooding. A collection of new and selected works from Lambda Literary Award and Asian-American Literary Award winner Brian Leung.

In a cultural moment where folks are stripped of the their dignity or shed it willingly, the figures in this book wonder at the utility of maintaining their own. There''s a touch of Hamlet''s question in there along with some I Ching. Can monkeys pray? Are we better off living in the real world or a speculative one?

Through an essay, a novella, and short and flash fiction pieces, A Terrifying Brush with Optimism is at once leaping, thoughtful, diverse, comic, and brooding.

• | Author: Brian Leung
• | Publisher: Sarabande Books, Incorporated
• | Publication Date: Jun 26, 2025
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9781956046311
• | ISBN-10: 1956046313