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Noir Fatale
NEW SCIENCE FICTION, URBAN FANTASY, AND MYSTERY STORIES WITH A NOIR THEME FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHORS LAURELL K. HAMILTON delivering an Anita Blake series story, LARRY CORREIA, penning a Grimnoir series adventure, an original Honor Harrington series tale from DAVID WEBER, AND MORE.
The silky note of a saxophone. The echoes of a woman’s high heels down a deserted asphalt street. Steam rising from city vents to cloud the street-lit air. A man with a gun. A dame with a problem . . .
NOIR.
From the pulpy pages of Black Mask Magazine in the 1920s and '30s, through the film noir era of the 1940s, to today, noir fiction has lured many a reader and movie-goer away from the light and into the dark underbelly of society. Names such as Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and James M. Cain; titles like The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, The Postman Always Rings Twice . . . these have inhabited our collective consciousness for decades. Humanity, it seems, loves the dark. And within the dark, one figure stands that of the femme fatale.
Here then, Noir Fatale an anthology containing the full spectrum of noir fiction, each incorporating the compelling femme fatale character archetype. From straightforward hardboiled detective story to dark urban fantasy to the dirty secrets of futuristic science fiction—all with a hard, gritty feel.
As Raymond Chandler said, “Down these mean streets, a man must walk who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid.” Because, as these stories prove, doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily mean you get the big bucks or the girl. But you do the right thing anyway.
All new stories by
Larry Correia
Kacey Ezell
Laurell K. Hamilton
David Weber
Sarah A. Hoyt
Robert Buettner
Alistair Kimble
Griffin Barber
Michael Massa
Christopher L. Smith and Michael Ferguson
Hinkley Correia
Patrick Tracy
Steve Diamond
The silky note of a saxophone. The echoes of a woman’s high heels down a deserted asphalt street. Steam rising from city vents to cloud the street-lit air. A man with a gun. A dame with a problem . . .
NOIR.
From the pulpy pages of Black Mask Magazine in the 1920s and '30s, through the film noir era of the 1940s, to today, noir fiction has lured many a reader and movie-goer away from the light and into the dark underbelly of society. Names such as Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and James M. Cain; titles like The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, The Postman Always Rings Twice . . . these have inhabited our collective consciousness for decades. Humanity, it seems, loves the dark. And within the dark, one figure stands that of the femme fatale.
Here then, Noir Fatale an anthology containing the full spectrum of noir fiction, each incorporating the compelling femme fatale character archetype. From straightforward hardboiled detective story to dark urban fantasy to the dirty secrets of futuristic science fiction—all with a hard, gritty feel.
As Raymond Chandler said, “Down these mean streets, a man must walk who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid.” Because, as these stories prove, doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily mean you get the big bucks or the girl. But you do the right thing anyway.
All new stories by
Larry Correia
Kacey Ezell
Laurell K. Hamilton
David Weber
Sarah A. Hoyt
Robert Buettner
Alistair Kimble
Griffin Barber
Michael Massa
Christopher L. Smith and Michael Ferguson
Hinkley Correia
Patrick Tracy
Steve Diamond
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2019
149 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Larry Correia
121 books4,401 followersLarry Correia (born 1977) is the New York Times bestselling author of the Monster Hunter International series, the Grimnoir Chronicles, and the thriller Dead Six.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 23, 2019
There is just something visceral about reading noir. I can hear heels tapping and distant music, I can smell/taste the steaming city alleys on a muggy summer night. I find myself craving hot tea and hard liquor while dressed in full pin-up style. Noir as a genre combines my love of mystery, crime, and history. There are hard-bitten men, dangerous situations, and then there are the women...
The Femme Fatales, those lovely ladies that seduce and distract all who encounter them and bend men to their wills. Oh gods, I love them. Noir Fatale focuses on these women, their stories, their exploits. All while exploring the extremes of fantasy and science fiction landscapes. This anthology holds 13 stories, written by 14 authors. Those authors are Larry Correia, Kacey Ezell, Laurell K. Hamilton, David Weber, Sarah A. Hoyt, Robert Buettner, Alistair Kimble, Griffin Barber, Michael Massa, Hinkley Correia, Patrick Tracy, Steve Diamond, Christopher L. Smith, and Michael Ferguson.
Anthologies can be fun, because of their nature, being made of short stories; you can choose how to read them. I admit to being gluttonous and reading all of it within a day! I explored catacombs, moon tunnels, seedy city streets and space stations all while being sat upon by my trusty feline divas.
I can honestly say that there isn't a single story that I didn't like! I found new stories by authors I already knew, fleshing out their universes. There are new authors( or at least, new to me), whose works I will be sure to look up! From Madam Sunderhaven, the near-immortal necromancer, to the canny and sly Nina LaFleur, to the dangerous naiveté of Isis Lavender; these femmes strut fully formed from the pages unto the theater of your mind.
The Femme Fatales, those lovely ladies that seduce and distract all who encounter them and bend men to their wills. Oh gods, I love them. Noir Fatale focuses on these women, their stories, their exploits. All while exploring the extremes of fantasy and science fiction landscapes. This anthology holds 13 stories, written by 14 authors. Those authors are Larry Correia, Kacey Ezell, Laurell K. Hamilton, David Weber, Sarah A. Hoyt, Robert Buettner, Alistair Kimble, Griffin Barber, Michael Massa, Hinkley Correia, Patrick Tracy, Steve Diamond, Christopher L. Smith, and Michael Ferguson.
Anthologies can be fun, because of their nature, being made of short stories; you can choose how to read them. I admit to being gluttonous and reading all of it within a day! I explored catacombs, moon tunnels, seedy city streets and space stations all while being sat upon by my trusty feline divas.
I can honestly say that there isn't a single story that I didn't like! I found new stories by authors I already knew, fleshing out their universes. There are new authors( or at least, new to me), whose works I will be sure to look up! From Madam Sunderhaven, the near-immortal necromancer, to the canny and sly Nina LaFleur, to the dangerous naiveté of Isis Lavender; these femmes strut fully formed from the pages unto the theater of your mind.
April 21, 2019
The Details:
- Short story anthology
- range of genres
I'm going to immediately admit that I wanted to read this anthology mainly because of the new Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter short story that's included in the collection.
I've been a fan of Laurell K. Hamilton's work from the first time that I picked up a copy of Guilty Pleasures over ten years ago and immediately fell in love with the characters, wanting to learn more about them and their world.
The short, sharp writing of Sweet Seduction, the new addiction to the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series, will remind readers of the earlier books in the series and just why they fell in love with the tough, ass-kicking heroine.
This anthology also serves as a great introduction to the other authors work, many of whom I had never read before but will certainly be doing now.
I enjoyed this collection immensely and wish to thank Edelweiss above the treeline for providing me with an advanced copy of the book to review.
Highly Recommended Reading
- Short story anthology
- range of genres
I'm going to immediately admit that I wanted to read this anthology mainly because of the new Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter short story that's included in the collection.
I've been a fan of Laurell K. Hamilton's work from the first time that I picked up a copy of Guilty Pleasures over ten years ago and immediately fell in love with the characters, wanting to learn more about them and their world.
The short, sharp writing of Sweet Seduction, the new addiction to the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series, will remind readers of the earlier books in the series and just why they fell in love with the tough, ass-kicking heroine.
This anthology also serves as a great introduction to the other authors work, many of whom I had never read before but will certainly be doing now.
I enjoyed this collection immensely and wish to thank Edelweiss above the treeline for providing me with an advanced copy of the book to review.
Highly Recommended Reading
May 20, 2019
Noir Fatale: if the title doesn't hook you, you probably weren't paying attention. It is fortunate for me that Good Girls are attracted to Bad Boys; that's how the Motorcycle White Boy, aka Redneck Biker, became a permanent fixture in the life of the Church Lady, aka my gift-from-God, happily-ever-after trophy wife Vanessa, the elegant, foxy, praying black grandmother of Woodstock, GA. Flip the genders: is the opposite true as well? Do Nice Boys fall for Bad Girls? I have not a clue, never having been a Nice Boy. I suspect, though, that whether Naughty of Nice, there is something of danger, need to be rescued, sweetness of lips, with the outside hope of being shot, stabbed, or poisoned that does give these noir fatales something to work with.
MAJOR kudos to Sarah A Hoyt on the cover. She has captured a representative of the genre in the act of....something.
Kacey’s Introduction & Larry’s Introduction. Long, long ago, when I was first discovering the excitement of STORY (!), I always skipped the prefatory material. It took about twenty more years for me to discover that there was often some VERY interesting and important things going on in those ignored sections. Today, I love them! Particularly when, as in this case, we are given a peek backstage, and get an understanding about How It Works. Don't miss these!
Ain’t No Sunshine by Michael J. Ferguson and Christopher L. Smith. Slade and Collier are tough, hard-nosed PI types, not out of place in the 1930s Los Angeles setting, but in this little twister, they are in space. Slade's a bit of a techno-phobe, much to the amusement of others. Their business is (just) scraping by. Under those circumstances, you can't AFFORD to do much pro bono work. However, when an old flame, now one of the most powerful women in the habitat, dies under mysterious circumstances, penniless techno-phobes are on the job. Side characters include a second old flame, and a little sister-type. Remember the little sister in 'The Big Sleep?' The one who kept biting her thumb?
Recruiting Exercise by David Weber. Sometimes, when I read David Weber's work, I want to grab up a couple of history books, and re-examine the entire section of Western Civ that dealt with the various insanities that visited France in the 18th & 19th centuries. However, I just don't like the French very much- sorry – and so I haven't done that. This particular story deals with a young woman, starving, and with food and medicine withheld from her ailing brother, who decides to prostitute herself in order to get the things the utterly corrupt bureaucrats are holding back.
Spoils of War by Kacey Ezell. One day, Kacey Ezell is going to write a bad story. Maybe. From the evidence I've seen so far, though, that day is likely to come after the sun burns out. This gem sits on layer upon layer; the mysterious woman; the gent she seeks out for assistance, a war-time friend of her brother; and what WAS her brother up to, anyway? An evil, wicked Bad Man sends gunsels. And she has found the man of her dreams, and desires nothing more than to run away with him, and just be Joe and Betty Grumble; and Ezell writes in such a way that WE want this for her as well, and we are so very, very glad when it is finally in her grasp...
Apropos of nothing at all, did you know the most famous painting in the world wasn't really THAT famous until it was stolen? And that it's painted on wood, not canvas?
The Privileges of Violence by Steve Diamond Consider: Russia during the darkest days of consolidation of the Soviet Union; secret police everywhere; rebellions internal, and foreign intervention always possible. Therefore, the terror police were perhaps the most active and effective part of the entire country. Did I mention the monsters? Because there are monsters. With secrets. More twists and turns in this one than in the Runaway Mine Car at Six Flags, and I believe it captures the same bleakness of spirit that Orwell painted into '1984.'
A Goddess in Red by Griffin Barber. We use the term 'goddess' to describe a woman who takes our breath away with her beauty. This one is beautiful, and she can CERTAINLY take your breath away, but she also has some pretty creepy powers. She gets involved in a plot, and you have to wonder: what's in it for her? Is this just boredom setting in? Read it with the lights on. In every room. And a German Shepherd at your feet while you clutch a cat and a Browning Hi-Power close.
Kuro by Hinkley Correia. After reading this, I became curious as to the identity of Hinkley Correia, and her relationship to Larry. One thing I can say is this: the inclusion of this story in the collection owes NOTHING to nepotism. Great characters, GREAT story. Lots of depth, and wear your seat belt. Japanese freaky ghosts, and a significant serving of what life is like for the Japanese salaryman. Well done!
Sweet Seduction by Laurell K. Hamilton. I read this story while I was in the hospital, on a clear liquid diet. I wanted all of the cupcakes described in the book, and if they had been available, I just MIGHT have broken the rules. Now aside from that, it's a GREAT detective story, and a very nicely done social commentary as well. But I must have the address of that bakery, do you hear?
A String of Pearls by Alistair Kimble. Alistair has the credentials to write devastatingly fascinating detective fiction. However, none of that is evident here. I hated this story, which is obscure, internal, and boring. If you like internal dialogue from a protagonist who never gets to the point, you'll love this. I grew tired of internal dialogue that skirted the issue of what was really going on, and resolved that this one must be DEFENESTRATED.
Honey Fall by Sarah A. Hoyt The last story in which I didn't care what was going on is followed by a story in which the protagonist doesn't know what is going on. We don't either, BUT we can see that there is a clear path that will take her, and us, there. Taking place in post-war, magic-infused world, a deliciously lovely little tale of the damsel in distress, and the distress of those who wish to harm or help.
Three Kates by Mike Massa I had the great privilege of living in what was then West Germany for two and a half years, and I worked closely with a man who was a veteran of the Wehrmacht, and a woman who was a veteran of the Luftwaffe. Therefore, I know from experience that not all Germans were Nazis, nor evil, nor anything of the sort. It had to be different during the actual conflict, even without the addition of magical themes this story brings us. Our protagonist is a German agent, sent on a mission to discover certain items of power. His crisis of conscience is NOT easily resolved, and is, in fact, perhaps even aggravated by the intervention of three lovely ladies with their own agenda.
Worth the Scars of Dying by Patrick M. Tracy Evidently, story length is of great importance to me, even if I can't define it. What starts out as a simple case of a damsel in distress, seeking assistance form an innkeeper who transforms into a beast, soon devolves into a story that seems interminable. So, I terminated it. Perhaps you will find a different outcome.
The Frost Queen by Robert Buettner If someone had told me that Robert Buettner, cited as one of Heinlein's heirs, author of (among others) the Orphan series, was going to write a sweet YA adventure story about heroism, sacrifice, and falling in love, I would have murmured politely and changed the topic of conversation. BUT HE DID! It's a lovely little story; I think he gets all of the characters down perfectly. Along the way, he tosses in enough references to tension between the Earth dwellers and those on the Moon that we get it, we really do. I pass his house (sort of) every time I go Papa-sit three of my grands, and I'll wave a little more sweetly from this point on. (Not to be stalkerish: I DON'T know where his house is. I just know which exit off the highway it is.)
Bombshell by Larry Correia. If Correia didn't invent a couple of genres, he certainly made them come alive to new generations. My youngest son, the Moose, is a dedicated Monster Hunter and is enormously proud of the fact that he ran into Larry at a DragonCon. But in this delightful little tale, instead of sticking with mainstream Grimnoir-type special talents, he uses a cop with ZERO talent to solve crime, in spite of the specials. It's a great story, and, as is the case with so many others in this volume, keeps you on your toes.
All in all: despite the two stories I chose to dump, it's WELL worth your time. I found this fascinating; I don't know if it can be replicated, but I, for one, would love to see more.
And I want those cupcakes, too.
MAJOR kudos to Sarah A Hoyt on the cover. She has captured a representative of the genre in the act of....something.
Kacey’s Introduction & Larry’s Introduction. Long, long ago, when I was first discovering the excitement of STORY (!), I always skipped the prefatory material. It took about twenty more years for me to discover that there was often some VERY interesting and important things going on in those ignored sections. Today, I love them! Particularly when, as in this case, we are given a peek backstage, and get an understanding about How It Works. Don't miss these!
Ain’t No Sunshine by Michael J. Ferguson and Christopher L. Smith. Slade and Collier are tough, hard-nosed PI types, not out of place in the 1930s Los Angeles setting, but in this little twister, they are in space. Slade's a bit of a techno-phobe, much to the amusement of others. Their business is (just) scraping by. Under those circumstances, you can't AFFORD to do much pro bono work. However, when an old flame, now one of the most powerful women in the habitat, dies under mysterious circumstances, penniless techno-phobes are on the job. Side characters include a second old flame, and a little sister-type. Remember the little sister in 'The Big Sleep?' The one who kept biting her thumb?
Recruiting Exercise by David Weber. Sometimes, when I read David Weber's work, I want to grab up a couple of history books, and re-examine the entire section of Western Civ that dealt with the various insanities that visited France in the 18th & 19th centuries. However, I just don't like the French very much- sorry – and so I haven't done that. This particular story deals with a young woman, starving, and with food and medicine withheld from her ailing brother, who decides to prostitute herself in order to get the things the utterly corrupt bureaucrats are holding back.
Spoils of War by Kacey Ezell. One day, Kacey Ezell is going to write a bad story. Maybe. From the evidence I've seen so far, though, that day is likely to come after the sun burns out. This gem sits on layer upon layer; the mysterious woman; the gent she seeks out for assistance, a war-time friend of her brother; and what WAS her brother up to, anyway? An evil, wicked Bad Man sends gunsels. And she has found the man of her dreams, and desires nothing more than to run away with him, and just be Joe and Betty Grumble; and Ezell writes in such a way that WE want this for her as well, and we are so very, very glad when it is finally in her grasp...
Apropos of nothing at all, did you know the most famous painting in the world wasn't really THAT famous until it was stolen? And that it's painted on wood, not canvas?
The Privileges of Violence by Steve Diamond Consider: Russia during the darkest days of consolidation of the Soviet Union; secret police everywhere; rebellions internal, and foreign intervention always possible. Therefore, the terror police were perhaps the most active and effective part of the entire country. Did I mention the monsters? Because there are monsters. With secrets. More twists and turns in this one than in the Runaway Mine Car at Six Flags, and I believe it captures the same bleakness of spirit that Orwell painted into '1984.'
A Goddess in Red by Griffin Barber. We use the term 'goddess' to describe a woman who takes our breath away with her beauty. This one is beautiful, and she can CERTAINLY take your breath away, but she also has some pretty creepy powers. She gets involved in a plot, and you have to wonder: what's in it for her? Is this just boredom setting in? Read it with the lights on. In every room. And a German Shepherd at your feet while you clutch a cat and a Browning Hi-Power close.
Kuro by Hinkley Correia. After reading this, I became curious as to the identity of Hinkley Correia, and her relationship to Larry. One thing I can say is this: the inclusion of this story in the collection owes NOTHING to nepotism. Great characters, GREAT story. Lots of depth, and wear your seat belt. Japanese freaky ghosts, and a significant serving of what life is like for the Japanese salaryman. Well done!
Sweet Seduction by Laurell K. Hamilton. I read this story while I was in the hospital, on a clear liquid diet. I wanted all of the cupcakes described in the book, and if they had been available, I just MIGHT have broken the rules. Now aside from that, it's a GREAT detective story, and a very nicely done social commentary as well. But I must have the address of that bakery, do you hear?
A String of Pearls by Alistair Kimble. Alistair has the credentials to write devastatingly fascinating detective fiction. However, none of that is evident here. I hated this story, which is obscure, internal, and boring. If you like internal dialogue from a protagonist who never gets to the point, you'll love this. I grew tired of internal dialogue that skirted the issue of what was really going on, and resolved that this one must be DEFENESTRATED.
Honey Fall by Sarah A. Hoyt The last story in which I didn't care what was going on is followed by a story in which the protagonist doesn't know what is going on. We don't either, BUT we can see that there is a clear path that will take her, and us, there. Taking place in post-war, magic-infused world, a deliciously lovely little tale of the damsel in distress, and the distress of those who wish to harm or help.
Three Kates by Mike Massa I had the great privilege of living in what was then West Germany for two and a half years, and I worked closely with a man who was a veteran of the Wehrmacht, and a woman who was a veteran of the Luftwaffe. Therefore, I know from experience that not all Germans were Nazis, nor evil, nor anything of the sort. It had to be different during the actual conflict, even without the addition of magical themes this story brings us. Our protagonist is a German agent, sent on a mission to discover certain items of power. His crisis of conscience is NOT easily resolved, and is, in fact, perhaps even aggravated by the intervention of three lovely ladies with their own agenda.
Worth the Scars of Dying by Patrick M. Tracy Evidently, story length is of great importance to me, even if I can't define it. What starts out as a simple case of a damsel in distress, seeking assistance form an innkeeper who transforms into a beast, soon devolves into a story that seems interminable. So, I terminated it. Perhaps you will find a different outcome.
The Frost Queen by Robert Buettner If someone had told me that Robert Buettner, cited as one of Heinlein's heirs, author of (among others) the Orphan series, was going to write a sweet YA adventure story about heroism, sacrifice, and falling in love, I would have murmured politely and changed the topic of conversation. BUT HE DID! It's a lovely little story; I think he gets all of the characters down perfectly. Along the way, he tosses in enough references to tension between the Earth dwellers and those on the Moon that we get it, we really do. I pass his house (sort of) every time I go Papa-sit three of my grands, and I'll wave a little more sweetly from this point on. (Not to be stalkerish: I DON'T know where his house is. I just know which exit off the highway it is.)
Bombshell by Larry Correia. If Correia didn't invent a couple of genres, he certainly made them come alive to new generations. My youngest son, the Moose, is a dedicated Monster Hunter and is enormously proud of the fact that he ran into Larry at a DragonCon. But in this delightful little tale, instead of sticking with mainstream Grimnoir-type special talents, he uses a cop with ZERO talent to solve crime, in spite of the specials. It's a great story, and, as is the case with so many others in this volume, keeps you on your toes.
All in all: despite the two stories I chose to dump, it's WELL worth your time. I found this fascinating; I don't know if it can be replicated, but I, for one, would love to see more.
And I want those cupcakes, too.
May 24, 2019
Wow, where to begin. I guess with the fact that I was listening to the audio book of this one, so it is entirely possible that my opinions of the stories would have varied had I read it. But on with the review. First, I'm a huge Larry Correia fanboy, so his participation was the reason I got the book in the first place. And his story from his Grimnoir universe is spot on for tone and incredibly well written.
One of my favorite stories was actually "The Frost Queen". Though to be fair, this probably had the least noir feel of all the stories.
My least favorite was "A String of Pearls". I don't know if the author has a larger story universe where it would have made more sense, or if I would have followed it better had a read it rather than listened to the audio book. But for whatever reason, I never felt that I had enough information to be invested in the story. I just felt vaguely confused for most of it.
Still, this is a great anthology, and I certainly recommend it.
One of my favorite stories was actually "The Frost Queen". Though to be fair, this probably had the least noir feel of all the stories.
My least favorite was "A String of Pearls". I don't know if the author has a larger story universe where it would have made more sense, or if I would have followed it better had a read it rather than listened to the audio book. But for whatever reason, I never felt that I had enough information to be invested in the story. I just felt vaguely confused for most of it.
Still, this is a great anthology, and I certainly recommend it.
May 14, 2019
This is a compilation of short stories by various authors. They all have a common thread which is dangerous women. Some of the women in these stories are good and some are very bad but one and all will do whatever it takes to get what they want. I am not going to review each story but I will say that the story by David Weber is set in his Honor Harrington universe but it takes place in the Haven Star System. Larry Correia's story is set in his Grimnoir Chronicles universe. Each story in this book is different but they are all worth the read!
abandoned
June 28, 2019I really should have known better. I only recognized three names in this anthology and have read none of them before. And I usually avoid themed anthologies as they can be monotonous, especially if they are authors trying to write in a "style", which this is. This is a collection of SF and fantasy stories meant to evoke pulpy noir and which feature a femme fatale in some capacity. That's pretty limiting as it is. But I am very into noir crime fiction right now and it seemed like it would be a fun summer read.
All the tropes are there, and in many cases the SF/fantasy elements are superficial, meaning that the story would have worked just as well (or not) without them. The only stories I read that reached the level I require to consider it worth spending my valuable time on were the ones by Kacey Ezell and Hinkley Correia. Griffin Barber's story, a cringey adult-oriented piece that seemed to be aimed at the 50 Shades crowd, was so poorly written I decided to skip it after a few pages. Some of the others were fair on their own merits but I wouldn't want to read a book of them. By the time I got to Laurell K. Hamilton I had completely lost interest. Started it but didn't finish. Same tropes, again and again.
I guess I'll stick with Hard Case Crime; they are generally reliable and their authors are authentic.
All the tropes are there, and in many cases the SF/fantasy elements are superficial, meaning that the story would have worked just as well (or not) without them. The only stories I read that reached the level I require to consider it worth spending my valuable time on were the ones by Kacey Ezell and Hinkley Correia. Griffin Barber's story, a cringey adult-oriented piece that seemed to be aimed at the 50 Shades crowd, was so poorly written I decided to skip it after a few pages. Some of the others were fair on their own merits but I wouldn't want to read a book of them. By the time I got to Laurell K. Hamilton I had completely lost interest. Started it but didn't finish. Same tropes, again and again.
I guess I'll stick with Hard Case Crime; they are generally reliable and their authors are authentic.
June 21, 2019
I like themed anthologies and I like mysteries, so this was a natural to read. With the idea of the feme fatale in a noir setting as the basis for the stories most but not all of them hit the mark. Some of these are samples of new story universes and those I liked a lot more and hopefully will be able to read more in those settings. If detective mysteries in all sorts of settings work for you then this is fun read that takes the Noir idea and plays with it just fine and dandy.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
June 18, 2019
Not a bad one in the bunch.
November 14, 2023
A great anthology on future noir, with a few set back in time. Many of them feature magic or fantasy-related characters which make me wonder if they're all set in the same Universe (I didn't read the back of the book and still haven't).
I originally intended to read this bit-by-bit throughout the year, since it's an anthology with stories that don't connect, but I got tired of seeing it my "Currently Reading", so I finally decided to pull the plug on it.
It was good. I don't remember a handful of the stories I read, but the ones I do remember were for good reason. I enjoyed them. The last one especially was one of my favorites.
Would recommend to any fans of sci-fi, noir or fantasy.
I originally intended to read this bit-by-bit throughout the year, since it's an anthology with stories that don't connect, but I got tired of seeing it my "Currently Reading", so I finally decided to pull the plug on it.
It was good. I don't remember a handful of the stories I read, but the ones I do remember were for good reason. I enjoyed them. The last one especially was one of my favorites.
Would recommend to any fans of sci-fi, noir or fantasy.
February 24, 2019
As always some stories are better than others. I bought this for the Anita Blake story, which I really enjoyed, so 4 stars.
May 10, 2019
So an anthology that is supposed to encorporate femme fatales with only three women (possibly four) listed as authors? Out of 14? Hmmmmm.
July 11, 2022
This book has some decent stories on average but except for a few of them, Noir Fatale missed the mark.
I didn't get the noir or femme fatale feel from them - except for the mentioned few.
For one thing, I don't know how one could write a femme fatale story from the first person when the narrator is supposed to be the said femme fatale. A femme fatale is supposed to a mysterious temptress. I'm sure it can be done but it's difficult to remain a mystery when you're telling you're own story. I was expecting Raymond Chandler by way of Blade Runner but that's not what I got.
For the most part, Nior Fetale is just stories about bad ass women in mystery sci-fi/fantasy stories. Nothing wrong with that but I didn't get the femme fatale vibe at all and even the noir feeling that was supposed to be the point.
I didn't get the noir or femme fatale feel from them - except for the mentioned few.
For one thing, I don't know how one could write a femme fatale story from the first person when the narrator is supposed to be the said femme fatale. A femme fatale is supposed to a mysterious temptress. I'm sure it can be done but it's difficult to remain a mystery when you're telling you're own story. I was expecting Raymond Chandler by way of Blade Runner but that's not what I got.
For the most part, Nior Fetale is just stories about bad ass women in mystery sci-fi/fantasy stories. Nothing wrong with that but I didn't get the femme fatale vibe at all and even the noir feeling that was supposed to be the point.
July 25, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. All of the stories were really good. Not a single one of them got less than four stars.
My favorite story was definitely Worth the Scars of Dying by Patrick M. Tracy. (It featured a DRAGON!)
My least favorite was MAYBE Sweet Seduction by Laurell K. Hamilton. And I only say that because when I think of these stories, every one of them happened in the dark for me, except for Sweet Seduction!
Hamilton's Anita Blake story didn't feature her doing either of her jobs. There was no zombie raising or U.S. Marshal case. It involved one of those cases Bert gets a lot of money for and sends her way that required detecting. And even if it WAS evening or even night for much of this story (and I'm not sure it was), in my mind's eye the sun was shining. Still, though, it was a four-star read for me.
For more of my thoughts, read my status updates below. There aren't any real spoilers in them, so they're safe.
Read June 20-28, but not at all on June 24-25, 2019.
My favorite story was definitely Worth the Scars of Dying by Patrick M. Tracy. (It featured a DRAGON!)
My least favorite was MAYBE Sweet Seduction by Laurell K. Hamilton. And I only say that because when I think of these stories, every one of them happened in the dark for me, except for Sweet Seduction!
Hamilton's Anita Blake story didn't feature her doing either of her jobs. There was no zombie raising or U.S. Marshal case. It involved one of those cases Bert gets a lot of money for and sends her way that required detecting. And even if it WAS evening or even night for much of this story (and I'm not sure it was), in my mind's eye the sun was shining. Still, though, it was a four-star read for me.
For more of my thoughts, read my status updates below. There aren't any real spoilers in them, so they're safe.
Read June 20-28, but not at all on June 24-25, 2019.
May 16, 2019
If Larry Correia is involved, you know it's fun
Another wonderful anthology co-helmed by Correia. Some tales are more noir than others, but they are all fun reads. Buy it.
Another wonderful anthology co-helmed by Correia. Some tales are more noir than others, but they are all fun reads. Buy it.
June 22, 2019
I originally bought this collection only for the LKH story in it, but it's opened me up to so many new writers! Very excited to explore their work further!
May 14, 2023
As with all anthologies, this book is a mixed bag, with some stories more likely to appeal to different readers than others. That said, this anthology, which is thematically structured around the femme fatale trope in all its variations, has far more hits than misses. Personal favorites include Kacey Ezell’s compelling “Spoils Of War”; Steve Diamond’s “The Privileges Of Violence” (which gives us s little more background on Kristoph Vals, the dastardly yet oddly likable secret policemen from “Servants Of War,” the book Diamond co-wrote with Larry Corriea; Hinkley Corriea’s “Kuro,” which introduces a new character, Japanese occult investigator Katie Hikubo, I’d love to see more of in the future; and Larry C’s own “Bombshells,” a short novella set in the Hard Magick universe. The other stories are all well done and imaginative takes on the femme fatale theme, and definitely point me toward some new authors I need to investigate. All in all, this is a very strong, well-curated anthology.
August 3, 2020
This was a really good anthology; I enjoyed almost every story in it. The authors all did a good job of sticking to the theme, which is not always the case. I just wish there had been a Jim Butcher story in it :)
October 3, 2021
I really enjoyed this anthology and a few of the stories really stood out. Found myself ordering books from the various authors featured here which, I suppose, it's one of the intents when putting these together. I especially liked the stories that were told in the femme fatale's point of view.
June 19, 2019
While certainly not completely "noir" or really focusing only on "femme fatales", Noir Fatale is a really enjoyable collection of stories. Ranging from hard SF to urban fantasy, there are some truly good stories in here, including one I was predisposed to dislike based on the fact I assumed it was pure nepotism -- that being the story from Larry Correia's daughter! But it's actually quite good.
In all, a worthwhile collection featuring some rather famous authors as well as lesser knows who do a great job.
In all, a worthwhile collection featuring some rather famous authors as well as lesser knows who do a great job.
June 6, 2019
Good read. I would have liked a little more Sci-fi though. Well maybe in part 2.
September 25, 2020
I'm a sucker for sci-fi noir, and this collection of top-tier stories gave me plenty of that, as well as an interesting mix of other contemporary SF&F genres.
August 17, 2019
I should've taken better notes ... I enjoyed all of the stories. Hinkley Corriea's story was very intriguing, and I hope she's able to publish a full novel in this world. Larry's Bombshell was awesome...and I'm looking forward to more in that setting.
The one story that left a major impact for me was Patrick M Tracy ... Worth the Scars of Dying. Wow, I really enjoyed this one.
I really liked David Weber's story ... but I'm super intimidated by the amount of books he's published. I'm a read from the beginning kind of girl ... and yeah...
Overall, I really enjoyed this take on Noir shorts.
The one story that left a major impact for me was Patrick M Tracy ... Worth the Scars of Dying. Wow, I really enjoyed this one.
I really liked David Weber's story ... but I'm super intimidated by the amount of books he's published. I'm a read from the beginning kind of girl ... and yeah...
Overall, I really enjoyed this take on Noir shorts.
June 3, 2024
Fantastic!!! I am not sure if I should love titles like this or back away from them cause every time I finish one, my list of authors I really enjoy and my to-read list get way bigger! There wasn't a story in this I didn't like, and there were a few that had characters I would love to revisit in other titles someday! I highly recommend this book. It's so dang awesome!
September 22, 2019
Very Good read. Feel is more realistic with the heroine constantly being pummeled by dark forces, but that said it never got to the point of going beyond the human ability. Pretty much what I expect from LC.
January 31, 2020
A powerful collection of stories.
April 5, 2023
Excellent collection. Every story at least good, most very good. Worth reading.
July 31, 2021
Nice little collection. There are some clever spins on the classic Noir genre. I enjoyed stretching the genre to SF and fantasy. Also plan on looking up some of the contributors. David
October 25, 2022
Fun set of noir-inspired stories, most with a femme fatale. Like all of Correia's anthologies, the cast of writers and quality of the stories is great.
Or is it? Larry's view:
I really enjoyed Ain't So Sunshine, Recruiting Exercise, Spoils of War, The Privileges of Violence (maybe my favorite of the set), A Goddess in Red, Kuro, Sweet Seduction, Worth the Scars of Dying, The Frost Queen, and Bombshell. That's most of the book!
Also, the intros from the two editors are quite funny.
Honey Fall and the Three Kates were fine, just maybe not as good as the others.
The only one I didn't enjoy was A String of Pearls. It was, frankly, hard to read. Tough writing style. Confusing. And even when interpretted, just not as good as the others.
The anthology you hold in your hands contains thirteen completely different, totally original stories. Some of the characters will be familiar faces, some will be new loves. Every story contains at least a modicum of the gritty darkness that underlies polite society. And every story contains a unique take on the archetype of a woman with her own agenda, ready to reach her goals by any means necessary. I hope you enjoy this love letter to the femme fatale.
...
...sometimes the hero doesn’t get the girl, but he does the right thing anyway. That, my friends, is my definition of noir.
Or is it? Larry's view:
When putting together a collection of stories, noir is one of those things that can be hard to define. I’m not the kind of writer who gets hung up on arbitrary genre rules. Depending on the creator, noir can be a vibe, a look, a lifestyle, or an attitude. The characters can be morally ambiguous or heroic, jaded or naïve. It can take place in seedy back alleys, or glittering nightclubs…or in this case, nightclubs on spaceships. We’ve assembled some of my favorite authors in this anthology, and they all had different, creative takes on the subject.
I really enjoyed Ain't So Sunshine, Recruiting Exercise, Spoils of War, The Privileges of Violence (maybe my favorite of the set), A Goddess in Red, Kuro, Sweet Seduction, Worth the Scars of Dying, The Frost Queen, and Bombshell. That's most of the book!
Also, the intros from the two editors are quite funny.
“Hey, Larry, thanks so much for doing that panel. Did you enjoy it? What would you say if I said I had an idea for a similar anthology where I’d do all the work, you put your name on it, and we both make lots of money?” Or words to that effect. As you can imagine, an avowed capitalist such as Larry Correia was intrigued by my presentation and listened to my full pitch.
Honey Fall and the Three Kates were fine, just maybe not as good as the others.
The only one I didn't enjoy was A String of Pearls. It was, frankly, hard to read. Tough writing style. Confusing. And even when interpretted, just not as good as the others.
August 6, 2025
This is a collection of 13 short stories all with a femme fatale theme, a major female character that is the source of danger for the protagonist. Some (maybe many) of the stories are set in established universes created for full-length novel series - I know the novel series that are the settings for two of the stories, and am sure others were likewise set in established universes. The femme fatale theme is used in various ways; some have female "victims" in need of saving but who turn out to be the villain, others have straightforward female villains or victims or just women caught up in events, and others have strong likable female characters who are neither villains or victims. A wide range of uses of the femme fatale theme.
The stories range from very good ("The Frost Queen") to ok (most of them) to poor (a couple stories). I did enjoy the collection enough to finish it, reading a story or two interspersed among other books. But the average quality (even considering the few good stories) is pretty low.
I give the book a 3 out of 5 overall, with stories themselves ranging from about 2 to 4.5.
I listened to the audiobook version. The narrators are all decent; none were bad but none were stellar, so overall a 3.5 or 4 on the narration.
My personal rating scale:
5 (one of the best of the genre, highly recommended);
4 (good book, recommend to others who like similar types of books);
3 (decent book, enjoyed reading it but not enough to recommend to others);
2 (has merit, but I didn't enjoy it much, and possibly didn't finish it);
1 (trash that shouldn't have been published).
The stories range from very good ("The Frost Queen") to ok (most of them) to poor (a couple stories). I did enjoy the collection enough to finish it, reading a story or two interspersed among other books. But the average quality (even considering the few good stories) is pretty low.
I give the book a 3 out of 5 overall, with stories themselves ranging from about 2 to 4.5.
I listened to the audiobook version. The narrators are all decent; none were bad but none were stellar, so overall a 3.5 or 4 on the narration.
My personal rating scale:
5 (one of the best of the genre, highly recommended);
4 (good book, recommend to others who like similar types of books);
3 (decent book, enjoyed reading it but not enough to recommend to others);
2 (has merit, but I didn't enjoy it much, and possibly didn't finish it);
1 (trash that shouldn't have been published).
July 17, 2025
I did the first story and originally was going to do a story one at a time in between other books. I had just finished a book that was perfect in every way and didn’t know what I wanted to get into next, so I came back to this for the second story, which hit the mood I was in perfectly. And so I continued each one the rest of the way. Each of these stories are unique and great in their own right. I have my favorites, and I have a few that I don’t have to listen to again. That said, none of the stories failed. Many I can see and would love to see come to life in the Netflix show Love, Death & Robots. Me rating the stories:
1. B
2. Perfect noir feeling paired with sci-fi. A
3. A
4. B
5. B
6. A++ My favorite!! It’s also one of my favorite narrators. Put the author on the list for me to further read, as she is writing a novel in the world of the short.
7. I haven’t read the Anita Blake series at all but this one might get me into them. A
8. B+
9. Was unsure of this one at the beginning but ended up liking it. I have a few books of hers on my shelf I haven’t gotten to but after this story I will. A-
10. Was unsure about this one mostly too. The description of the women was beautifully written but the story at the end left me feeling meh. B-
11. Completely like a D&D side quest. A
12. Expecting the worst at any moment, I did enjoy this one, though was the least noir feeling. A-
13. Not my favorite. But had the proper noir feeling with a magic background. B.
1. B
2. Perfect noir feeling paired with sci-fi. A
3. A
4. B
5. B
6. A++ My favorite!! It’s also one of my favorite narrators. Put the author on the list for me to further read, as she is writing a novel in the world of the short.
7. I haven’t read the Anita Blake series at all but this one might get me into them. A
8. B+
9. Was unsure of this one at the beginning but ended up liking it. I have a few books of hers on my shelf I haven’t gotten to but after this story I will. A-
10. Was unsure about this one mostly too. The description of the women was beautifully written but the story at the end left me feeling meh. B-
11. Completely like a D&D side quest. A
12. Expecting the worst at any moment, I did enjoy this one, though was the least noir feeling. A-
13. Not my favorite. But had the proper noir feeling with a magic background. B.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews