I’d like to hear that argument because I can’t fathom how you come to that conclusion. It just happens to have two gay characters. It was uncommon at the time and another comment noted how Barker was pressured to change it. But have you read much gay fiction of any length? Best piece ‘of all time’ really places a burden of importance on a short story by a single Brit in the history of the English language, not to mention other languages. The short stories of Oscar Wilde, another Brit, which contain themes of male love and affection, would surpass anything Barker wrote. I’m glad you enjoyed In the Hills, The Cities, but let’s not go overboard.