Naked Lunch is a 1959 book by William S. Burroughs, though it was not published in full due to obscenity laws until 1962. The book is a series of thematically-related vignettes told through an idiosyncratic poetic style and centering on sexuality, drugs (especially heroin), totalitarianism and sado-masochism. The story begins with William Lee, an agent fleeing from the police to Mexico, where he meets a depraved Dr. Benway who runs a psychiatric ward. Other adventures occur in the Interzone, with its various bloody orgies and parties.