Noir Fatale

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 ofBlack Mask Magazinein the 1920s and 30s, through the film noir era of the 1940s, to today, noir fiction has lured many a reader and moviegoer away from the light and into the dark underbelly of society. Names such as Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and James M. Cain; titles likeThe 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 out: that of the femme fatale. Here thenNoir 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 MikeMassa Christopher L. Smith and Michael J.Ferguson Hinkley Correia Patrick M. Tracy Steve Diamond AboutNoir Fatale: "Marvelous is a good word to describe all of the stories in the book. . . .Noir Fataleis a book that will charm both noir fans, and general science fiction and fantasy readers. Correia and Ezell have created a captivating mix of stories."-TheGalveston County Daily News "[A]wonderfully diverse collection of stories from a broad range of authors and it delivers in spades . . .It is a diverse and exciting slice of Noir and Fatale and a great read."-SFRevu About Larry Correia and the Monster Hunter International series: "[E]verything I like in fantasy: intense action scenes, evil in horrifying array, good struggling against the darkness, and most of all people-gorgeously flawed human beings faced with horrible moral choices that force them to question and change and grow."-Jim Butcher "[A] no-holds-barred all-out page turner that is part science fiction, part horror, and an absolute blast to read."-Bookreporter.com "If you love monsters and action, you'll love this book. If you love guns, you'll love this book. If you love fantasy, and especially horror fantasy, you'll love this book."-Knotclan.com "A gun person who likes science fiction-or, heck, anyone who likes science fiction-will enjoy [these books] . . . The plotting is excellent, and Correia makes you care about the characters . . .I read both books without putting them down except for work . . . so whaddaya waitin' for? Go and buy some . . . for yourself and for stocking stuffers."-Massad Ayoob "This lighthearted, testosterone-soaked sequel to 2009'sMonster Hunter Internationalwill delight fans of action horror with elaborate weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, disgusting monsters, and an endless stream of blood and body parts."-Publishers WeeklyonMonster Hunter Vendetta About the work of Kacey Ezell: "Gritty, dark and damp. Much like the war itself."-Michael Z. Williamson, best-selling author ofA Long Time Until Now "I lovedMinds of Men."-D.J. Butler,best-selling author ofWitchy Eye "A lot of good scifi writers write war, but sometimes forget that it is fought by actual people, and even in the midst of war, you don't stop being people while you fight. If you want a good read that dares you to think about what it is like to go to war when you can't hide behind the masks you learn to wear, check it out."-John T. Mainer