John Lau (Bax Deal) quoted me:
> In the noir story or novel, there is no salvation, no light at the end of
> the tunnel, no success possible, If there is, it isn't noir.
>
> That's not how you do it, but that's how the best noir writers have done
> it. There ain't no noir template.
>
And then added:
"Terrill Lankford proves at the end of Blonde Lightning that the story's
protagonist does not have to be dead, maimed or in prison for a story to be noir living with the bitter taste of ashes is sufficient"
I agree fully, with John/Bax. One need only read Megan Abbott's QUEENPIN or Vicki Hendricks' MIAMI PURITY to see that.
Others have played with the ending of noir as well, another good example, I believe, is Charles Ardai's SONGS OF INNOCENCE is one that shows where noir and the private-eye novel can meet.
In all of the books mentioned salvation seems improbable.
Jack Bludis
Read, read, read. Write, write,write.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 04 Mar 2009 EST