Times Square Red Times Square Blue

"Times Square Red, Times Square Blue" is a non-fiction book by Samuel R. Delany, published in 1999 by New York University Press. The book contains two essays: "Times Square Blue" and "...Three, Two, One, Contact: Times Square Red." The 20th Anniversary Edition, released in 2019, features an introduction by Robert Reid-Pharr.

The first essay, "Times Square Blue," details Delany's (often referred to as "Chip") personal experiences in Times Square's adult theaters from the early 1960s through the mid-1990s. It recounts his sexual encounters and relationships with both homosexual and heterosexual men, both inside and outside the theaters.

The second essay explores social relations in urban contexts, introducing two types of relationships: "contact" and "networking." Delany analyzes these concepts using examples from Times Square's redevelopment and references Jane Jacobs' work on cities.

Reception to the book has been positive, with Publishers Weekly calling it a "provocative and persuasively argued cri de coeur against gentrification and the 'safety' narratives driving Times Square's transformation." Salon described it as "remarkable" and "brilliant." An excerpt from the book was included in Eileen Myles' 2022 collection, *Pathetic Literature*.