Drag Noir

by K.A. Laity (Editor), Richard Godwin, Tess Makovesky

DRAG NOIR: this is where glamour meets grit, where everyone’s wearing a disguise (whether they know it or not) and knowing the players takes a lot more than simply reading the score cards. Maybe everyone’s got something to hide, but they’ve got something to reveal, too. Scratch the surface and explore what secrets lie beneath — it’s bound to cost someone…a lot. Introduction by Dana Gravesen and Bryan Asbury , The Meaning of Skin – Richard Godwin , Wheel Man – Tess Makovesky , No. 21: Gabriella Merlo – Ben Solomon , Geezer Dyke – Becky Thacker , Lucky in Cards – Jack Bates , Trespassing – Michael S. Chong , Chianti – Selene MacLeod , The Changeling – Tracy Fahey , Straight Baby – Redfern Jon Barrett , Kiki Le Shade – Chloe Yates , Protect Her – Walter Conley , King Bitch – James Bennett , A Bit of a Pickle – Paul D. Brazill , Stainless Steel – Amelia Mangan , The Itch of the Iron, The Pull of the Moon – Carol Borden

236 pages, Paperback

First published October 29, 2014

About the author

Professional dilettante, arcane artist, all-purpose writer, Fulbrighter, uberskiver, medievalist, Sister in Crime, History Witch at Pagan Square, Pirate Pub Captain ☠ currently anchored in Dundee, Scotland · http://www.kalaity.com

Works include WHITE RABBIT, EXTRICATE, the HARD-BOILED WITCH series, A CUT-THROAT BUSINESS, LUSH SITUATION, OWL STRETCHING, CHASTITY FLAME, UNQUIET DREAMS, ROOK CHANT, PELZMANTEL, DREAM BOOK, CON-EIRE as well as editor of MY WANDERING UTERUS, DRAG NOIR, WEIRD NOIR and NOIR CARNIVAL. Writer of a wide variety of stories, essays, plays, and humour pieces. Also writes as Kit Marlowe (historical romance) & Graham Wynd (noir). Music as Victoria Squid & Higora,

Reviews

[N.O.A. Rawle · Rating 4 out of 5]

With K.A. Laity's "Drag Noir" it doesn't matter if you are more into Drag or Noir or neither, both genres are covered in this eccelctic mix of tales! The rather long but thoroughly informative introduction will fill you in on what you didn't know before.

Each story is unique in its interpretation of the theme so I'm going to highlight a few of my favourites only. "King Bitch" by James Bennet is the epitome of Noir, Chicago 1929 oozes from the text and with a twist that I didn't see coming, I loved it. When I started reading "The Changeling" by Tracy Fahey, I wondered if it was in the book by mistake as the Drag is touched in passing it seems and the Noir not apparent at all. However, as the story unfolds I was drawn in by the characters and desperately wanted to know the outcome. I wasn't disappointed; both the Drag and the Noir are revealed! The other that stood out for me was "Wheel Man" by Tess Makovskesky. I loved this from the get-go. Cars and girls - but not the scantily clad F1 stereotypes you understand - the girls that really love cars all tied up in a tale of injustice and determination!

I'll be honest, I'm more familiar with Noir and that through films rather than books than Drag although I've had the odd encounter! This book is one of those rare mish-mashes of genre that really pulls off both well! I highly recommend it!

[K.A. Laity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be a bit biased because I edited this collection, but I think it's quite remarkable in its scope and sheer power. It's noir but it's so much more and the variety of contributors shows just how easy it is to get a diverse anthology together if you're actually committed to the idea. People from across the world of all kinds of backgrounds with very different takes on the topic -- and all superb. And a fine introduction from two academics who use those skills along with their own drag experiences to situate this bunch of cracking stories into an historical context.

Surprise: drag has always been there in noir.

[Carrie Clevenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into reading Drag Noir with one expectation: the unexpected. I got more than I asked for, and with the all-star line-up of writers, it's easy to see why. Ranging from the trans, to the cross-dresser, even to the paranormal, Drag Noir is a virtual grab-bag of twisty delights. Recommended for true Noir/elegant tragedy enthusiasts, as these stories tend to be grim, but if you're considering this book, chances are you already know just that.

[Maria Beltrami · Rating 5 out of 5]

It 's very difficult for me to give full marks to a collection of short stories, but this fully deserves it. First of all, the premise is one of the best essays I've ever read upon writing noir and the drag phenomenon, and combines the two phenomena in a really smart and intriguing way. Then there are the stories themselves, chosen with really nimble fingers, all funny and elegant. A reading enjoyable for those who love the noir genre declined in all possible variations, from classic '20s up to fantasy.
My warmest congratulations to the editor K.A. Laity.
Thank Fox Spirit Books and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

E' molto difficile che io dia il massimo dei voti a una raccolta di racconti, ma questa lo merita in pieno. Innanzi tutto la premessa è uno dei più bei saggi che io abbia mai letto sulla scrittura noir e sul fenomeno drag, e unisce i due fenomeni in modo davvero intelligente e intrigante. Poi ci sono i racconti stessi, scelti con mano davvero felice, tutti divertenti ed eleganti. Una lettura davvero piacevole per chi ama il genere noir declinato in tutte le possibili varianti, dal classico anni '20 fino al fantasy.
I miei più vivi complimenti alla editor K.A. Laity.
Ringrazio Fox Spirit Books e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.

[Astrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up until reading this book I had ignored the parallelisms between noir and drag and, thanks to these stories, I now see how well they complement each other. Each story stands out on its own, like a banquet served with many delicious plates you can't wait to dig into. I knew some authors, the rest I have become a fan of after reading their contributions to this wonderful anthology. From readers of noir to gender studies peeps, a highly recommended read.

[Tess Makovesky · Rating 4 out of 5]

All too often drag is portrayed as burly blokes in blonde wigs, high heels and a feather boa. There's little to none of that here; instead what you get is fifteen dark yet intelligent stories which delve into the psyche of people of all genders who adopt drag. Why do they do it? What do they get from it? And what are the consequences for both themselves and the people around them? The result is often startling but always gripping, and the dark settings and characters of most of the stories add hugely to the atmosphere.

My own personal favourites in the collection are Tracy Fahey's heartbreakingly beautiful modern fairy-tale 'The Changeling', and 'Stainless Steel' by Amelia Mangan, where the whole foundation of the story shifts constantly but beguilingly. But all the stories are fascinating and all will make you think far beyond those feather boas.

[Sarah Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got to say I found it really hard going to get into this book and then suddenly something clicked through and what was an iffy 3 stars at best became 4 stars without a doubt. While some tales I felt missed the mark, the second half of the book is exceptional. Worth your time

[Joana Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this book not really knowing what to expect and I was still disappointed. The introduction was SO good and sadly it all fell apart after that, such a cool concept that unfortunately I feel wasn’t executed as I was imagining it would be. Some of the stories were certainly better than others, but even those weren’t “good”.

This was one of those books I knew would be a 2 stars after reading the first few pages. The potential is there but it’s not worth reading.

[Carolyn Injoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drag Noir, A Noir Anthology by K.A. Laity Drag Noir, A Noir Anthology by K.A. Laity (Editor) is an anthology that contains many short stories. I gave it four stars.
 
The Introduction by Dana Gravesen and Bryan Asbury was interesting but a bit too long. I almost stopped reading. "For many scholars drag is a tool of parody that is used to dismantle the gender binary. Men are not always men; women are not always women. In drag, anything goes." The Meaning of Skin by Richard Godwin was intense! It was a very thought provoking story. "The first time I got a tattoo, I thought, this is the real meaning of penetration. The needle's entering my body, but it's leaving something beautiful behind."
 
My favorite was Wheel Man by Tess Makovesky where Justine is a car thief who worked for a long time with Freddie when the person he sells to won't deal with him because she's a "bird". Then along came "Danny" with the soft beard, gruff voice but who reminds Freddie of Justine to work with him.
 
No. 21: Gabriella Merlo by Ben Solomon is a story about a girl on the run finds defenders in an unexpected place. "She clamped her hands on the curve of her hips. Her valentine lips pouted. The dark eyes gave me a once-over like reading an advertisement in a magazine."
 
Geezer Dyke by Becky Thacker is about a lesbian expatriate who has lost loves and is just living day to day. "Nowadays she retains her t-shirt and shorts in bed; years ago she had no trouble baring her body before a woman. Trim, compact, smooth of skin, it hadn't occurred to her or any of her friends to try to protect their bodies from the long-term effects of sun, smoke, or alcohol,"
 
Lucky in Cards by Jack Bates had a totally unexpected ending. "It doesn't take much to put me in the tortoise shell as I call it. It's actually a total withdrawal from civilization. It's a safety mechanism I've been told."
 
Trespassing by Michael S. Chong is a story about early gender confusion. "'At the end of the day, you have to be able to live with yourself.' To this day, it is my own personal mantra bequeathed to me by this queen, my beacon of light in the early darkness."
 
Chianti by Selene MacLeod was about a group of performers who practiced prostitution. "It seems comical, getting stabbed in the fake boob, but if you watched the talk shows from way back, there's nothing funny about it."
 
The Changeling by Tracy Fahey was about an old tradition of dressing infant boys as girls. "My eyes glazed over as I stared at my infant face which seemed to shrink, smaller and smaller, until I felt a strange vertiginous dizziness that this tiny image had contained the seeds of the rheumatic old man I am today."
 
Straight Baby by Redfern Jon Barrett is about genetic optioning for offspring.
 
Kiki Le Shade by Chloe Yates is about a has-been performer waiting to meet his son.
Protect Her by Walter Conley is a violent tale.
 
King Bitch by James Bennett is about the brutal leader of a mob.
 
A Bit of a Pickle by Paul D. Brazill describes a man in need of assistance. "The pursuit of excellence has been replaced by the aspiration toward mediocrity."
 
Stainless Steel by Amelia Mangan was a confusing and surprising story. "'The recurring dream. Deja vu. Neurons misfiring. Wires getting crossed.' 'Bad connections,' she said. 'We all make those from time to time.'"
 
The Itch of the Iron, The Pull of the Moon by Carol Borden was about Fey, an 'unmaker of problems'. "...she loved rusty metal, broken glass and cracked pavement. And she loved the little plants that grew in all the cracks, just like her."
 
I received a complimentary Kindle copy from Fox Spirit Books and NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
 
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Drag-Noir-K-La...

[Felicity Keane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drag Noir was a difficult book for me to read, which makes it even trickier to review.

As someone who had little to no interest in reading noir or queer/drag fiction, this was a massive plunge out of my comfort zone. Fortunately, this is a very newbie friendly anthology.

The introduction gives us an overview of how the two genres correlate with each other, outlining the shift in gender roles in the 1940s when noir was at its peak. This perspective made it a much easier transition into the book rather than feeling lost in an unfamiliar genre and thus unsure of what to make of it.

As such, with this in mind I found myself enjoying it. Each story feels unique in its own approach to the subject. From conventional classic noir to urban fantasy shapeshifters, it made for an interesting read to see such a varied approach to making two possibly different genres blend together smoothly.

So if you're a more experienced reader of crime fiction or a curious newcomer, this is definitely a good place to go.

[Francis · Rating 1 out of 5]

The whole collection is almost perversely unqueer.

The introduction (which is really good), spells out how well drag and noir can fit together, from the performative sexuality to the slang. "Bitch, she slayed the children."

You watch Paris is Burning, and it's clear that the grimy, marginal, dangerous lives of the people in drag and queer culture in 1980s New York City is already a noir setting. Venus Xtravaganza is like a noir character: a sex worker, murdered by a vengeful john who discovered she was not a cisgender woman. I'd also be fascinated to read about the notorious gay speakeasies of prohibition-era Harlem in a vintage noir style, and the introduction to this collection does reference Gladys Bentley, the biggest black, lesbian cross-dressing performer of the 1920s.

But what links these stories together is the almost total lack of queer culture or history. They're like the straightest, whitest takes on the brief you could possibly imagine.