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Palm Springs Noir -
book review by Curt Solash
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Palm Springs Noir - book review by Curt Solash
I have been an avid devotee of film noir for many years, but I knew almost nothing of noir literature. It was therefore with a sense of curiosity and optimism that I dove into Palm Springs Noir, a collection of short stories of the noir genre all taking place in the Palm Springs area. The publisher, Akashic Books, has produced a huge anthology of noir volumes taking place in many cities of the world, from Brooklyn to Zagreb, from Pittsburgh to Nairobi.
Palm Springs Noir features many of the genre’s well-known trademarks: vengeance, greed, violence, double-crosses, obsession with sex and money, people being used, users being used, has-beens, plenty of liquor and/or drugs, people on the fringe, those whom the “good life” has passed by.
Although all places have their seamy and dark sides, it seems to me that Palm Springs is a particularly place for such stories, with its emptiness, ungodly heat, phony, past-tense “movie star” glory, the contrast between expensive spas and exclusive neighborhoods and gay gentrification and old-timers, sun-beaten and just managing to hang on.
Each story takes place in a different neighborhood and are as varied as the locales. The melange of characters includes teenagers, art dealers, martial arts participants, religious fanatics, private eyes, former Armed Services members, thieves, former (almost) starlets, alcoholics, scammers, you name it. All the stories are full of unforeseen surprises and none of them fail you at the climax.
There’s a great deal of writing talent here and no two tales are alike. The twists and unexpected turns are very entertaining and I look forward to sampling more of Akashic’s Noir Short Stories entries.
For more information, visit http://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/palm-springs-noir/
I have been an avid devotee of film noir for many years, but I knew almost nothing of noir literature. It was therefore with a sense of curiosity and optimism that I dove into Palm Springs Noir, a collection of short stories of the noir genre all taking place in the Palm Springs area. The publisher, Akashic Books, has produced a huge anthology of noir volumes taking place in many cities of the world, from Brooklyn to Zagreb, from Pittsburgh to Nairobi.
Palm Springs Noir features many of the genre’s well-known trademarks: vengeance, greed, violence, double-crosses, obsession with sex and money, people being used, users being used, has-beens, plenty of liquor and/or drugs, people on the fringe, those whom the “good life” has passed by.
Although all places have their seamy and dark sides, it seems to me that Palm Springs is a particularly place for such stories, with its emptiness, ungodly heat, phony, past-tense “movie star” glory, the contrast between expensive spas and exclusive neighborhoods and gay gentrification and old-timers, sun-beaten and just managing to hang on.
Each story takes place in a different neighborhood and are as varied as the locales. The melange of characters includes teenagers, art dealers, martial arts participants, religious fanatics, private eyes, former Armed Services members, thieves, former (almost) starlets, alcoholics, scammers, you name it. All the stories are full of unforeseen surprises and none of them fail you at the climax.
There’s a great deal of writing talent here and no two tales are alike. The twists and unexpected turns are very entertaining and I look forward to sampling more of Akashic’s Noir Short Stories entries.
For more information, visit http://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/palm-springs-noir/
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Sunny Harbor Publishing
Sunny Harbor Publishing, Rockledge, FL 32956 Phone: 321-252-9874 Email: [email protected] Website: www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org |
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