Crystal Boys (孽子, pinyin: Nièzǐ, "sons of sin") is a novel written by author Pai Hsien-yung and first published in 1983 in Taiwan. In 1988, this novel went into circulation in China; its French and English translations were published in 1985 and 1989, respectively. A translation into German ("Treffpunkt Lotussee") appeared in 1995. Nièzǐ means literally "sinful sons" or "sons of sin", but it may also be an allusion to a passage in Mencius in which "friendless officials and concubine's sons" (孤臣孽子) reach positions of power because they have learned to live with a dangerous status. A movie called Outcasts, based on this novel, was released in 1986. In 2003, the material was adapted by Taiwan Public Television Service Foundation into a miniseries. There is a reference to You Xian Ku in the chapter "Journey to the Goblin Cave".

Plot summary

The story takes place in Taipei in 1971 (or, in the most recent film adaptation, in 1973), and follows a short period in the life of a young man called Li-Qing (李青, nicknamed A-Qing). When A-Qing is expelled from his school because of "scandalous relations" with classmate Zhao Ying (趙英), his father kicks him out of the family home. A-Qing begins to hang out at a park called New Park, a gay cruising area and hangout for gay men, where he meets the novel's other primary characters.

Characters

The story focuses on A-Qing's struggle between himself, his family, and a society where homosexuality is taboo.

Translations

An English translation of the novel by Howard Goldblatt, titled Crystal Boys, was published in 1990 by Gay Sunshine Press.

TV series

The TV series Crystal Boys stars: