Short Story Detective Noir

[Nighthawk]

I have a situation that I think would benefit from the input of many of the posters on this forum. In the coming year, I'll be teaching an introductory fiction class (1000 level, undergrad) on detective fiction. Because it will be a first-year class, I need to limit my reading list to short stories and perhaps one or two especially short novels. What noir(ish) short stories and/or short novels would you recommend? I already have some ideas, but I'd really appreciate any input you have. Their original publication dates can be anywhere from the earliest years of the 20th Century to now, and as long as they incorporate the basic elements of detective fiction, they are fair game (so, for example, sci-fi noir is welcome).

[spress]

In the anthology, Detroit Noir, edited by E J Olsen & John C Hocking, check out "Kill the Cat" by Loren Estleman (with his Detroit PI Amos Walker), "Pride" by P J Parrish, and "Snow Angel" by E J Olsen.

Another Detroit collection is Rob Kantner's Trouble is What I Do, stories about his PI, Ben Perkins.

For the classics, 4 Chandler collections, The Simple Art of Murder, Killer in the Rain, Pickup on Noon Street, & Trouble is My Business; and two of Hammett's, The Continental Op & The Big Knockover.

That oughta get you started.

[Nighthawk]

I'm definitely planning on using Chandler and Hammett, but I hadn't heard of either of the more recent anthologies you mentioned. Thanks for the tip.

[Andrew666]

You wouldn't go far wrong if you bought this as a class text:

http://www.amazon.com/Hardboiled-Ant...ref=pd_sim_b_3

[emfoxwell]

I'd suggest looking at the following:

--_Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories_, ed. Penzler. Includes major icons of the genre such as Carroll John Daly, commonly believed to have written the first hardboiled story, and Horace McCoy (best known for _They Shoot Horses, Don't They?_ but also author of the gangster novel _Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye_).

--David Goodis, _Black Friday and Other Stories_ (best known for _Shoot the Piano Player_)

--_Fifty Best Mysteries_ ed. Sullivan. Includes a story by W. R. Burnett (best known for _Asphalt Jungle_,_ Little Caesar_)

Elizabeth Foxwell
Managing Editor, _Clues: A Journal of Detection_ (the only US scholarly journal on mystery and detective fiction_
http://www.cluesjournal.com

[detectiveindia]

What about Sherlock Holmes detective novel and movies too.

[Bob]

In that David Goodis anthology that includes the novel BLACK FRIDAY, there is a great short story about a police detective who is at the "end of his rope." It's called "The Plunge", and incorporates what could be an entire 90 minute film in about 15-20 pages.