Helsinki Noir (Akashic Noir Series) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 161775241X ISBN 13: 9781617752414

Verlag: Akashic Books,U.S., 2014

Inhaltsangabe

"Readers should be prepared to keep the lights on at night after finishing this unnerving collection."
--Publishers Weekly

"A gripping collection...Whether you are already a fan of the gloomy Finns or are new to the uniquely sinister aspect of Scandinavian literature, this book will provide steady entertainment."
--Reviewing the Evidence

"This is a good collection of all kinds of stories."
--Journey of a Bookseller

"Mystery and true crime readers will appreciate the styles from all over the world, and embrace the darkness that every culture shares--no matter how hard they try to hide it."
--Mom Read It

Launched with the summer '04 award-winning best seller Brooklyn Noir, Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies. Each book is comprised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.

Featuring brand-new stories by: Leena Lehtolainen, Johanna Holmström, James Thompson, Antti Tuomainen, Jesse Itkonen, Joe L. Murr, Jukka Petäjä, Tapani Bagge, Pekka Hiltunen, Teemu Käskinen, Tuomas Lius, Riikka Ala-Harja, Karo Hämäläinen, and Jarkko Sipila.

From the introduction by James Thompson:

"Finland, the myths and truths. Internationally, it has a reputation as perhaps the best place in the world to live. A great economy. A low crime rate. Good and nearly cost-free health care. The needy are provided for by the state and live in reasonable comfort. Finns: peaceful and quiet people, living in the perfect example of a social democracy functioning as it should. A tourist, or even a person who has lived here for a length of time, might well view Finland as such. There is some truth to this, but like every country, Finland has many truths...

Finland is, like the theme so often explored in Star Trek, a parallel universe in which, on the surface, all seems normal, but under that shell lie vast differences...As this book demonstrates, Finland is a noir nation [and] this anthology is, I believe, the best representation of Finnish noir ever offered to the international community. Every word rings true. It holds Finland up in a way that not only exposes this wonderful and fascinating country to the world, but acts as a mirror that reflects its people and culture in a way every Finn will recognize, vocalizing those truths that are so seldom spoken here amongst ourselves."

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorinnen und Autoren

James Thompson (1964–2014) lived in Finland for over fifteen years and was one of the most popular representatives of Nordic noir, with his work being published in a dozen countries. His novel Snow Angels, the first book in his acclaimed Kari Vaara series, was one of Booklist's Best Crime Novel Debuts of the Year and was nominated for Edgar, Anthony, and Strand Critics awards. Kirkus selected Lucifer's Tears, the second book in the series, as one of the best books of 2011. G.P. Putnam's Sons will release Helsinki Dead, the fifth installment in the series, in 2014. Jim was a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books and held a master's degree from the University of Helsinki. He was the editor of Helsinki Noir.

James Thompson (1964–2014) lived in Finland for over fifteen years and was one of the most popular representatives of Nordic noir, with his work being published in a dozen countries. His novel Snow Angels, the first book in his acclaimed Kari Vaara series, was one of Booklist's Best Crime Novel Debuts of the Year and was nominated for Edgar, Anthony, and Strand Critics awards. Kirkus selected Lucifer's Tears, the second book in the series, as one of the best books of 2011. G.P. Putnam's Sons will release Helsinki Dead, the fifth installment in the series, in 2014. Jim was a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books and held a master's degree from the University of Helsinki. He was the editor of Helsinki Noir.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Helsinki Noir

By James Thompson

Akashic Books

Copyright © 2014 Akashic Books
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-61775-241-4

Contents

Introduction, 11, 
PART I: DEEP CUTS, 
Pekka Hiltunen Jenkem Töölö, 17, 
Leena Lehtolainen Kiss of Santa Stockmann Department Store, 32, 
James Thompson The Hand of Ai Kallio, 57, 
Riikka Ala-Harja St. Peter's Street Eira, 75, 
Tapani Bagge Hard Rain Esplanadi, 79, 
PART II: BROKEN BLADES, 
Joe L. Murr The Silent Woman Munkkiniemi, 97, 
Teemu Kaskinen Little Black Aurinkolahti, 112, 
Jarkko Sipila Silent Night East Pasila, 133, 
Jukka Petäjä Snowy Sarcophagus Meilahti, 155, 
Tuomas Lius Dead Cinch Central Train Station, 174, 
PART III: WINDS OF VIOLENCE, 
Jesse Itkonen Good Intentions Itäkeskus, 207, 
Karo Hämäläinen The Broker Fabianinkatu, 222, 
Antti Tuomainen The Script Lintulahti, 246, 
JoHanna Holmström Stolen Lives Vuosaari, 262, 
About the Contributors, 284, 

INTRODUCTION

A Parallel Universe

Finland, the myths and truths. Internationally, it has a reputation as perhaps the best place in the world to live. A great economy. A low crime rate. Good and nearly cost-free health care. The needy are provided for by the state and live in reasonable comfort. Finns: peaceful and quiet people, living in the perfect example of a social democracy functioning as it should. A tourist, or even a person who has lived here for a length of time, might well view Finland as such. There is some truth to this, but like every country, Finland has many truths.

Finnish literature, traditionally, with the exception of the work of a handful of authors such as Leena Lehtolainen (she has publishers in around thirty countries), a contributor to this anthology, hasn't sold well abroad, especially in the noir genre. The reason for this is likely related to the fact that Finland is a quirky country, with customs, traditions, and ways of doing things that mystify some foreigners. In certain translated books, foreign readers are often wondering: Why would a person do or think that? It stops readers dead in their tracks.

The problem is one of language—and Finnish is in certain ways a difficult and bizarre language. I sometimes consider something in Finnish, then again in English, and reach different conclusions. Finland is, like the theme so often explored in Star Trek, a parallel universe in which, on the surface, all seems normal, but under that shell lie vast differences. Finland is Oz. Like Dorothy in Kansas, Finns usually live internal lives full of dreams, of tin men and witches, lions seeking hearts and flying monkeys. And they hide their frustrations and anger—until they don't. As this book demonstrates, Finland is a noir nation.

The true Finland exists in the Finnish mind, in the Finnish soul, and without an occasional explanation as a guide, some readers can't grasp the Finnish mind. Without a glimmer of understanding of the reasons belying thoughts and actions, stories can confuse and fall flat. This book has no such difficulties.

Being chosen as the editor of Helsinki Noir brought me mixed emotions. I felt tremendous pride, because although I'm considered by most to be a Finnish author, I was given the honor of working with some of Finland's finest and most popular writers. I felt trepidation for the same reason. I've lived in Finland for fifteen years, but it's a fact of Finnish culture that if I live here for a hundred years, even if I take dual citizenship and become a Finn, I will never truly be considered Finnish. I'm frequently referred to as a Finnish-American. People often aren't quite sure what to make of me. Would I gain the respect of the authors in the anthology, or would they be dismissive, working under an American? Scary.

On the practical side, the stories in this volume were originally written in Finnish, English, and Swedish, whichever language the individual author saw fit to write in, so I suppose the pool of writers who are also experienced editors and able to work in those three languages was rather limited. I focus on the pride of being chosen editor in spite of this.

That duality of cultural experience gives me the ability to see things about Finns that they might take for granted, things that might never occur to them as being uniquely Finnish. As it turned out, I had no reason to be nervous about editing Helsinki Noir; every author treated me and my suggestions with respect, and the process of writing and editing the book went seamlessly.

This anthology is, I believe, the best representation of Finnish noir ever offered to the international community. Every word rings true. It holds Finland up in a way that not only exposes this wonderful and fascinating country to the world, but acts as a mirror that reflects its people and culture in a way every Finn will recognize, vocalizing those truths that are so seldom spoken here amongst ourselves.

Enjoy.

James Thompson July 2014

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Helsinki Noir by James Thompson. Copyright © 2014 Akashic Books. Excerpted by permission of Akashic Books.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Akashic Books,U.S.
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2014
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 161775241X
• ISBN 13: 9781617752414
• Einband: Tapa blanda
• Anzahl der Seiten: 288
• Herausgeber: Thompson James
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar