The natural companion to vice is grit, and Fred Leebron's got plenty of it. His first novel, Out West, follows the misadventures of two basically decent people who are caught in a web of circumstances, which, although primarily of their own creation, is beyond their capabilities to bring back under control--no matter what they do, things only get worse. "Starfucker," a previously unpublished short story, looks at a peculiar and intense form of fandom. And don't miss our special treat this month: a sneak peek at the author's new novel-in-progress, Six Figures. Photo Credit: Tom Levy Send us comments