{"product_id":"9781419788697","title":"PRE-ORDER NOW Bitter Pill : Randy Shilts and the Dawn of the HIV\/AIDS Epidemic by Heloise Chochois","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e PRE-ORDER NOW - Published: 12\/11\/2026 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePioneering reporter Randy Shilts fights to expose the truth during the earliest days of the AIDS epidemic. With hospital beds filling up, the clock is ticking. . . . What will it take to wake up the nation?San Francisco, 1981. Drawn from true events, this graphic novel follows Randy Shilts-biographer of Harvey Milk and one of the first openly gay journalists hired by the mainstream press-as he receives a chilling call at the Chronicle: a Los Angeles patient is being treated for a rare and aggressive cancer.?As Shilts digs deeper, a disturbing pattern emerges. The illness seems to strike only gay men, with early cases linked to a Castro-district bathhouse. A meeting with an infectious disease researcher confirms his worst fear: this so-called \"gay cancer\" is neither rare nor isolated-it's the beginning of a national health crisis. With those in power slow to respond, Shilts resorts to bold tactics to force attention on the unfolding HIV\/AIDS epidemic.   His relentless pursuit of the truth would help change history, exposing a catastrophe too many chose to ignore. In this dramatic graphic portrait inspired by the life and legacy of Randy Shilts, the creators bring to the page a story that feels both urgent and insightful.   Shilts's groundbreaking reporting and books (The Mayor of Castro Street, And the Band Played On, Conduct Unbecoming) became cornerstones of journalism and LGBTQ+ history. This graphic novel offers a powerful new interpretation of the transformative moment that defined his legacy.   Featuring an afterword by Randy Shilts biographer Michael Lee, author of When the Band Played On: The Life of Randy Shilts. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003eBinding: Hardback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368846569845,"sku":"9781419788697","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781419788697.jpg?v=1763551092","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/9781419788697","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}