People: Jun. 15, 1987

The fast-track careers of Novelists Jay McInerney, 31, and Bret Easton Ellis, 23, have intriguing parallels. McInerney's 1984 best-selling fictional debut, Bright Lights, Big City, chronicled the downward spiral of an unnamed young writer who delves into New York City's nightclub netherworld with the help of his fast-talking best friend, Tad Allagash. Next year Ellis' Less than Zero caused a publishing sensation with its stark portrayal of sybaritic youth in suburban Los Angeles. Both writers' books are currently being made into major motion pictures. And both writers are slated to come out with new novels within the year. So did Ellis' plans to move to Gotham cause any uptightness between the two? Relax, man. "I got tired of people saying 'You must hate Bret Ellis,' " says McInerney, who decided to hold a party at Manhattan's Tunnel disco to welcome his friend to the city. "There's been no feud between Jay and me," confirms Ellis. "I'm actually a boring person. I work from 11 to 7, then at night Jay calls." And you thought Tad Allagash was a fictional character.