With the coming of h.i.v. and a.i.d.s. in the early 1980's the joy of sex was radically changed for gay men. fear became the predominate response, but for some, the change was an opportunity to redefine love and sex for a new generation. like a virus explores how homosexual relationships might evolve through a dialogue that searches for a better understanding of love and sex for the new century. [author bio]a bob rathmell is a native of san diego, california. he grew up in sunnyvale and studied psychology at san jose state university. later he returned to san diego to receive his master's degree in philosophy from san diego state in 1986. he is currently working on the second novel of the series reanimating traditional ideas of morality in the homosexual experience.