Deen Kogan and Lou Boxer are a great team that always put on a wonderful show. I’ve been to two of their productions, and there was never a dull moment. This year, Lawrence Block is the winner of the “David Goodis Award.” Goodis is one of our best Noir writers, from the 1940s and 50s. Library of America has just published a collection of his works.
At the last NoirCon, many of us tried to define, “Noir.” We said things like, “Well, er, it’s about losers with, er, no futures, stumbling into criminal activities, uh, making poor life choices, er, leading to self-destruction, uh….” Others claimed it was the setting that distinguishes noir novels. They are more atmospheric than other crime novels, set in gloomy night clubs featuring used-up torch singers surrounded by swirling smoke, or abandoned warehouses, or third-rate motels. After many attempts, we settled for the French translation of Noir, which is simply — black.
Ironically, despite all the gloom and doom, I’ve never been to a conference where there was more laughter than NoirCon. So, if you’re looking for a really good time, in a dark and depressing atmosphere, sign up for NoirCon 2012.
I’ll be there — laughing.
Robin Hathaway
I'll be at Noircon, too, even though it's not nearly cold and windy enough for David Goodis. It does my heart good to read a post like yours, a reminder that writers of one genre can love books in another, that we're not as compartmentalized as the market makes is out to be.
ReplyDeleteAnd I, too, have had my fair share of Noircon laughs.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com
I agree with Peter - as writers of a certain type of genre, we are very different people, in the flesh and in our reading tastes! That old saying -- " how could such a nice person like you write such such horrible things!!" is so true!! Thelma Straw in Manhattan, who writes easily about murder and psychopathy but finds it hard to kill a bug!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am registered and paid up for NoirCon 2012, having listened to Robin whose company I've enjoyed over the years, thanks to MWA. Yet, here I sit in Albany with my new knee that told me: Not This Year, Son...Despite Robin's claim to be without the Noir gene, I firmly believe she is a closet Shirley Jackson.
ReplyDeleteHere’s how Noircon’s first evening went.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your knee, and I suspect I'll see you at next year's Bouchercon.