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Crime Factory The First Shift
Crime Factory: The First Shift is an excellent collection of noir short stories. And I say this not because of but in spite of the fact that I'm in it. My tale was an attempt to write a noir in the most unlikely setting that I could possibly think of. No not a cozy English vicarage, that's Dame Agatha's territory but that yuppie Thunderdome known as a squash court. Whether I pulled it off or not you'll have to judge for yourself.
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There are lots of great stories in The First Shift which has been brilliantly assembled and put together by the bright young things of Crime Factory Magazine. You can read a review of TFS here and another one here and you can get it on Amazon or at all quality book shops. How do you know if its a quality bookshop? Ask them if they have TFS and if they don't they're not.
30 comments:
A Squash court? Death by a stray one to the Jackson Pollocks eh?
What was the inspiration for this setting? I've always wondered why you would pay to play squash at a leisure centre when there's a perfectly good wall outside your house.
hmmm...payday today and I could do with a bit reading...so an early xmas present for me it is.
this is good too as i have not heard of a few of these writers so it will be good to get a handy little primer on what's going on with the world of younger crime writers...
thanks mate
Frankie
Can you think of a more yuppie less noirish place? I cant. So I thought it would be a fun setting. Does it work? Well...
Dan
Yes its back full of young and youngish writers and the stories are of a very high standard. Lots of Aussies too.
I don't think our store actually qualifies as a better bookstore then, but I'll see what I can do. I will say that it is available through even less than better bookstores.
I'm happy to see it's in traditional book form and will pick one up for myself in any case.
Seana
If you can get it in your shop then that counts.
Off topic: have you ever heard of Carmen Hermosillo? She lived in SC and her name came up in that Adam Curtis doc All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace which I caught again last night.
I don't know that name, but I just looked it up and she sounds very interesting. I didn't remember the documentary either, but for anyone else following along here, it can be watched free here, which I hope to do this evening. Sounds about on my wavelength.
Seana
Yeah she was a very interesting person. It sounds like she killed herself in a SC apartment building although I think her sister disputes whether it was a suicide or not.
An early review of
The Cold Cold Ground, here
Adrian,
You could probably write a great international political thriller and set part of it on a jai alai court if you felt like it.
Having spent time in Jerusalem, would you ever set a story there?
Anon
Maybe I'm misremembering or mixing something up but wasn't there a jai alai subplot in Mad Men?
Yeah that was a crazy year I spent in Jerusalem. At the very least I should write a short story about December 31 1999 in Jerusalem when the city was filled with people who were expecting the end of the world, the second coming etc.
Yeah, the agency on Mad Men were going to turn jai alai into the next big thing in America - or fleece some millionare's son out of his inheritance.
I picked up The First Shift yesterday, some great stuff in there.
I'd sure like to know if there's going to be backshift.
Adrian,
Never have seen Mad Men, just thought the Basques were an interesting bunch.
You must have met some memorable folks that New Year's Eve. And you've probably already read Damascus Gate by Robert Stone - but if you haven't, you'd enjoy it.
Let's just say that if Hermosillo lived in some of the apartments I've lived in or been offered here over the years, suicide is not altogether impossibleout of the question.
I want that Jerusalem story, please.
Nice shout out for Falling Glass and the Cold Cold Ground on Detectives Beyond Borders here:
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
I was too cheap to add Glass to my shopping list but maybe I'll splurge.
A Mennonite volunteer said she went to NI and built a portable classroom for Traveller pupils, but irritated Traveller teens took it down. She also said the community preferred to memorise things instead of writing them down, but I won't know for sure 'til I finally get the book.
Anon
If 10 bucks is considered a splurge maybe you should hang on to your cash.
Great piece from Hitch on his cancer treatment here:
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/01/hitchens-201201.print
Adrian,
I can get Falling Glass in the States for ten Bucks?
17 dollars in the US with free shipping from the book depository.
Something to consider though I rely on the library for music, books, and Internet, earn 12 bucks an hour and, sadly, do consider 10 dollars something of a splurge
Anon
When I worked at Barnes and Noble I was on 5.50 an hour, but on Christmas Eve I got time and a half which was nice.
Adrian,
When did you work at B and N?
Anon
On and off from 93 - 99.
Hey if you really want the book I'll bet you can get it as a torrent ebook or audiobook for nothing.
That's a good idea.
I'm eager for my copy of The Cold, Cold Ground. Like I said, I don't usually buy books.
I didn't know Barnes and Noble paid so poorly. Did you work with the public, or shift freight in the warehouse?
And did you ever come across Damascus Gate?
I don't buy books either, I half inch em.
Between me and Anon, you can retire early Adrian eh? Te he! (I only nick JK Rowling books honest)
Sorry for my low earning power. And for never having heard the phrase "I half inch 'em" before
I meant no offence Anon. I was just keeping it light. I fear by commenting on Adrian's blog I may be lowering the intellectual tone.
On the subject of libraries, mine has installed new machines that allow a complete self-service experience. Barcodes have replaced librarians. On the plus side its easier to dodge fines as you feel no guilt with a machine.
Frankie,
Sorry I'm thin-skinned. No offense taken. I've never read JK Rowling so you're way ahead of me. (I do remember Paul Zindel, though. Didn't know he had a UK readership.) Sorry about machines replacing your librarians. Hope that doesn't happen at my library.
And why should anyone oppose replacing librarians with machines, you bloody Luddite naysayer? Think of the benefits to the contractors who supply the machines!
======================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
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