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Pittsburgh Noir (Akashic Noir)

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Pittsburgh Noir roars forth, exploring the hidden underworld of what has often been called "the most livable city in America."

"Despite Pittsburgh being labeled the country's most livable city, the fictional citizens populating the 14 high quality stories in Akashic's noir anthology centered on the Steel City have the same dreams, frustrations, passions, and vices as anyone else." —Publishers Weekly

"Perfect for adventurous book groups and for travelers seeking the less rosy side of the cities they're planning to visit." —Library Journal

Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.

Brand-new stories by: Stewart O'Nan, Hilary Masters, Lila Shaara, Rebecca Drake, Kathleen George, Paul Lee, K. C. Constantine, Nancy Martin, Kathryn Miller Haines, Terrance Hayes, Carlos Delgado, Aubrey Hirsch, Tom Lipinski, and Reginald McKnight.

From the introduction by Kathleen George:

"When the steel business faltered and died, 'the smoky city' reinvented itself as a white-collar urban site, fueled by its thriving universities. It had been a place so dark with pollution in the steel days that men carried clean shirts with them to work in order to change during the day. Now you can see the hills, the rivers, the rhythmic skyline—and as the cameras are fond of displaying at sports events, the city is now glittering and beautiful . . .

"What is Pittsburgh to noir and noir to Pittsburgh? We certainly have our rough streets and grisly murders. But dark crime stories depend on something in addition to killing. The best examples of the genre revolve around private moralities and private law; they are the stories of people pushing against real or imagined oppression. In Pittsburgh Noir, as in most of the novels and films that gave the genre its name, the real story is the dark underbelly of existence, the fear and guilt and rebellion and denial in regular people: the woman buying groceries, the man grilling hot dogs. Their secret lives."

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 18, 2011
      Despite Pittsburgh being labeled the country's most livable city, the fictional citizens populating the 14 high quality stories in Akashic's noir anthology centered on the Steel City have the same dreams, frustrations, passions, and vices as anyone else. Lila Shaara gets things off to a nice start with "Atom Smasher," an ironic story of a laid-off journalist preoccupied with his youthful sexual conquests at the local particle accelerator. An apparently straightforward justified homicide, involving a homeowner protecting his attractive teenage daughter, rankles the investigating officers in editor George's "Intruder," but she packs a wallop into the ending in perhaps the volume's best entry. A similar lethal bite is in store for the reader in Rebecca Drake's "Loaded," which shows that something new still can be done with the repercussions of a married man's affair. Other contributors include Stewart O'Nan, Nancy Martin, and Kathryn Miller Haines.

    • Library Journal

      June 1, 2011

      For my money, the "Akashic Noir" series has been one of the best bargains of the past decade. Started in 2004, the series has almost 50 titles thus far. These regional gems give us a chance to sample new stories from the locals, writers who know the dark sides of their cities, regions, or even countries. The introductions, maps, and author bios all enhance the respective volumes. George, author of an Edgar-nominated Pittsburgh-based series (Hideout; The Odds) shares the "dark underbelly" of her city, sectioning her anthology off thematically: "Prime Real Estate"; "Three Rivers"; "Universities, Parks, Recreation"; and "Neighbors Who Care." The volume is solidly anchored with familiar names like K.C. Constantine, Thomas Lipinski, and Nancy Martin--plus others you might not have expected.

      The San Diego volume, edited by the co-owner of San Diego bookstore Mysterious Galaxy, is structured much the same, but this city's themes run to "Working Stiffs"; "Neighborhood Watch"; "Life's a Beach"; and "Boundaries & Borders." T. Jefferson Parker and Don Winslow are headliner choices, but it is delightful to find Martha C. Lawrence, Taffy Cannon, and Luis Alberto Urrea included, too. Maria Lima brings in a bonus urban fantasy. VERDICT Keep in mind these are noir collections, not at all cozy. I get the feeling that the contributors enjoy stretching their wings and trying new personas, so proceed accordingly. Perfect for adventurous book groups and for travelers seeking the less rosy side of the cities they're planning to visit.

      Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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Check out what's being checked out right now Content of this digital collection is funded by your local Minuteman library, supplemented by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.