Although Burroughs wrote "Queer" in 1952, at a time when he was already enjoying some fame, the work remained unpublished for more than three decades because it clearly described the desire of a homosexual. Set in the dark and corrupt city of Mexico in the 1940s, the novel tells the story of William Lee, a man tormented in his efforts to quit heroin, but also by his unrequited love for another user. The narrative is scattered with clever comedic monologues that set the stage for "Naked Lunch" - however, the atmosphere remains heavy, gloomy, and queer. A daring autobiographical portrait with clear political implications, a powerful love story, and a mosaic of comic and grotesque fantasies.

The new, definitive edition, released abroad to mark the 25th anniversary of the novel and presented by "Tópos" in a new translation, includes an introduction by editor Oliver Harris and an extensive appendix with the editor's comments and Burroughs' revealing introduction to the 1985 edition, where the author reflects on his own shocking personal experiences that led him to write this provocative masterpiece.