Black Noir: Mystery, Crime, and Suspense Fiction by African-American Writers [Hardcover]

Otto Penzler (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2009

Some of the best-known and most influential pieces of crime fiction have been from African American writers. Be it Walter Mosley’s great detective Easy Rawlins, or the mean streets of Harlem at the hands of Chester Himes, the stories and characters in this anthology have shaped the mystery genre with their own unique viewpoints and styles. Contributors to the collection include Robert Greer, Chester Himes, Walter Mosley, Cary Phillips, Frankie Bailey, and Richard Wright. 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As mystery fiction expert Penzler notes in his concise overview of African-American crime writing at the start of this welcome anthology, despite the central element linking the 15 short stories, they transcend race and genre to fulfill their primary purpose—to inform and entertain. Contributors include expected names like Walter Mosley and Chester Himes, not to mention Robert Greer, Gary Phillips and Eleanor Taylor Bland, as well as writers rescued from obscurity by their inclusion in this mostly reprint volume. Edward P. Jones's Old Boys, Old Girls is the standout, a powerful if grim psychological portrait of a man after his imprisonment for murder. Of historical interest are Hughes Allison's Corollary (1948), the first story by an African-American to appear in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and Pauline E. Hopkins's Talma Gordon (1900), the first impossible crime tale published by an African-American. (May)
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About the Author

Otto Penzler is the proprietor of the Mysterious Bookshop in New York City. He is the founder of the Mysterious Press and Otto Penzler Books, and has received an Edgar Award, an Ellery Queen Award, and a Raven Award for his contribution to the mystery field. His anthology The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps was a New York Times Bestseller.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Pegasus (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605980390
• ISBN-13: 978-1605980393
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,417,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection, February 20, 2011

By 

Richard C. Jones - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Noir: Mystery, Crime, and Suspense Fiction by African-American Writers (Hardcover)

With most anthologies, there are going to be a few stories that stick with the reader more than others, and for me it was John Archer's Nose by Rudoplh Fisher, Talma Gordon by Pauline E. Hopkins, The Canasta Club by Eleanor Taylor Brand, and Oprah's Song by Robert Greer. Some others made me want to read the complete novels by the authors who contributed or to seek out their other work. I re-read Edward P.Jones' Old Boys, Old Girls several times! I'm glad this collection was put together!