Jordan Tannahill's 'The Living Realm' Explores Queer Hauntology and Cruising

Jordan Tannahill's third novel, 'The Living Realm,' is set to be released on September 8. The book is primarily set at Teufelssee, a glacial lake and historic gay cruising ground in Berlin's Grunewald forest. Tannahill describes the novel as exploring the 'hauntology of cruising,' where connections unfold across time and pleasure, linking to those who came before. The story follows an aging unnamed protagonist who sees ghostly figures resembling his former lovers. The novel also features Birgit, an archaeologist and mentor, and Gabor, a Hungarian dissident, forming a chosen family that faces structural limitations as they age. Tannahill discusses the importance of skill sharing, including fisting workshops run by lesbians during the AIDS epidemic, as integral to queer survival. He addresses the tension of writing about sacred underground spaces, noting he obscures the path to the cruising ground in his descriptions. Tannahill also mentions his award-winning play 'Prince Faggot,' which had a seven-month off-Broadway run, and an upcoming A24 zombie film starring Kit Connor and Manu Ríos. He reflects on the risks of cruising, including STIs and tick bites, but emphasizes that rewards outweigh risks. The novel has been praised by author Douglas Stuart as 'belonging in the firmament of great gay fiction.' Tannahill, who lives in New York City, states he writes with few compromises and prioritizes artistic integrity over mainstream success.