Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind: The Anthology That Dare Not Speak Its Name

Picks of the Week

Harry Dolan: Bad Things Happen
BAD THINGS HAPPEN is a nifty debut, cleverly told and unfurled from the very first line: "The shovel has to meet certain requirements" on through meeting "the man who calls himself David Loogan." There are reasons for concealment, just as there are reasons the editor of a mystery magazine bearing little resemblance to EQMM or AHMM might bring him into the fold, thus catalyzing a series of murderous events. The twists come quickly and the dialogue is sharp and if it falls apart slightly at the end, no matter - I want to read much more from Dolan from now on.
Ian MacKenzie: City of Strangers: A Novel
MacKenzie's debut novel reminded me a lot of Paul Auster's NEW YORK TRILOGY, whether it was intended or not, in terms of his choice of words, the thrust of the narrative and the existential nature of the main character (whose first name, incidentally, is Paul) caught up in a snowballing sequence of strange and violent events in and around New York City. MacKenzie straddles the line between thriller and internal examination of a man's failings, and his ability to do so establishes him as a young writer of serious talent and future.
Megan Abbott: Bury Me Deep
In a word: amazing. In more words: Megan Abbott, who has never delivered anything less than an excellent novel, exceeds expectations and takes a very bold and very necessary step forward both in the quality of the prose, the development of her characters and especially in portraying how obsession seeps into the very soul of people, transforming them into their worst nightmares all too easily. Just read this book. And then tell many others to do so as well.
Ninni Holmqvist: The Unit
Understandably, echoes of THE HANDMAID'S TALE are hard to ignore in this dystopic examination of a society where fertility is so high a priority that older, single, marginal women are shut away in secret locales to live out the rest of their lives in seemingly perfect harmony - at least, until the "donations" begin. But Holmqvist's marvelous book doesn't browbeat her thesis into the reader and smartly expands her ideas to look at the plight of all marginalized folk, women and men alike, and how the promise of comforts can be the most horrifying of all. Prepare to be disturbed, but prepare further to think about the ramifications.
Paula Froelich: Mercury in Retrograde
This is possibly the most perfect novel for today's economically challenged times. Why? Because it has plenty of glitz and glamor and blind items, as befitting a narrative by the deputy editor of Page Six, but Froelich isn't arch or snarky or acid-tongued in the slightest. Her trio of protagonists land in all manner of embarrassing situations but they aren't played for mean-spirited laughs. The New York here is something of a fantasy-land, but not so far off the mark that it's completely unbelievable. Most of all it's clear Froelich remains sincere and optimistic about her chosen city, and has retained her sense of fun. So no need to check your brain at the door, but sometimes it just needs to chill out and relax.

April 18, 2007

The Anthology That Dare Not Speak Its Name

Or in other words, the anthology formerly known as Fuck Noir will see the light of day - as EXPLETIVE DELETED:

Crime writing is a dirty business—dealing in death, isolation, ruin and decay—and sometimes it calls for dirty words. In this gritty, gorgeous collection of short stories, new and veteran crime writers alike celebrate that granddaddy of all cusswords; that most adaptable and descriptive grouping of letters; that searing, offensive, musical, perfect sound: fuck.

Look for it from Bleak House Books this November with stories from the likes of Ken Bruen, Kevin Wignall, Charlie Huston, Libby Fischer Hellmann, Anthony Neil Smith, John Rickards, Ray Banks and yours truly (contributing a story without a single swear word, if I remember correctly.) And though the original title is probably going to be used in conversations anyway, the final version (especially with that cover) is certainly going to stand out in the "New Releases" section in Barnes & Noble and Borders...

Posted at 01:00 PM in World of Mystery | Permalink

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Comments

Could be worse. Could've been a cookbook: FUCK STEW.

Posted by: N | April 18, 2007 at 02:36 PM

I think several of us have used no swear words in our stories. In fact, my story is almost entirely about the avoidance of swearing.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this, and I agree, the cover and the compromise title are both superb.

Posted by: Kevin Wignall | April 18, 2007 at 03:57 PM

Mine uses swear words and is very, very dirty. I think. In fact, I can't remember much about it anymore.

FUCK STEW? I'd buy it, as well as the companion piece: Fuck Kebabs.

Posted by: Olen Steinhauer | April 18, 2007 at 06:37 PM

I am so excited to buy this book...

Posted by: Cornelia Read | April 18, 2007 at 10:44 PM

I love all you fucking people.

Posted by: Ben from Bleak House Books | April 19, 2007 at 01:45 PM

They are the fucking best....

Posted by: Jennifer Jordan | April 19, 2007 at 06:38 PM

I think maybe you should rename the publishing venture, Ben. Can't decide whether Bleak Fuck Books or Fuck House Books has a better ring to it.

"Fucking Bleak Books:

Dude, these guys are DEEP... like it's practically Dostoevsky and shit.

Only funnier. Sometimes."

Posted by: Cornelia Read | April 19, 2007 at 11:51 PM

great cover...I've heard Libby swear but on the page...?

Posted by: Cara | April 20, 2007 at 10:30 AM

Noir fu**ing shi* Sherlock.
Do you want DHS to shut it down or something? Hey, I'm buying ED just to support freedom of speech. Wait a minute...ED?

Posted by: Ross from Maine | April 22, 2007 at 08:59 PM

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