Baghdad Noir (Akashic Noir Series)

One of the worlds most war-torn cities is portrayed through a noir lens in this chilling story collection. Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir . Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book. Brand-new stories by : Muhsin al-Ramli, Nassif Falak, Hadia Said, Ahmed Saadawi, Salima Salih, Roy Scranton, Hayet Raies, Mohammed Alwan Jabr, Dheya al-Khalidi, Hussain al-Mozany, Sinan Antoon, Salar Abdoh, Ali Bader, and Layla Qasrany. From I Killed Her Because I Loved Her by contributor Muhsin al-Ramli: The neighborhood, timeless with its narrow, smelly lanes, seemed to have been forgotten since it came into being with the foundation of Baghdad in Abbasid times. The streets were pocked with potholes, noisy with the clamor of children playing and the clatter of peddlers carts. On the pavement there were piles of putrid, smoldering garbage: the smoke mixed with the smell of spices, grilled meat, and other foods cooking. The houses were crammed with people and were built of old bricks and planks of wood. If they hadnt been leaning on each other, the only reason they didnt collapse was that there wasnt enough space on the ground between them. From Post-Traumatic Stress Reality in Qadisiya by contributor Hadia Said: What Im telling you is that Baghdad is coming back. Yes. Weve resumed the necessary insanity. Yes, yes, by God. We removed our suits and stripped to T-shirts and shortsjust like the old days. Exactly like the old days. From Getting to Abu Nuwas Street by contributor Dheya al-Khalidi: Baghdads streets are desolate after midnight. The dark gathers in front of shops and alleyways. Wooden stalls for selling produce are laid down and intertwined like a broken-down train at a station. Id always watch the cats chase each other, hiss and fight by the butchers shop. But odd there werent any stray dogs around, since I used to hear them bark in the capital every day. Maybe they sensed something grave that night, so they were hiding, putting off the hunt for another time. This Unique Anthology Of Iraqi Noir Fiction Collects Fourteen Original Stories Of Crime, Conspiracy, Regret, And Revenge In The Capital Of Iraq. The Centuries-old City Of Baghdad Has Known Many Rulers, Many Troubles, And Many Crimes. But While Most Iraqis Would Agree That Their Life Has Always Been Noir, There Has Not Been A Literary Tradition To Capture This Aspect Of The Culture. By Commissioning The Fourteen Stories Collected Here—most By Iraqi Writers, All By Authors Familiar With Baghdad—editor Samuel Shimon And Akashic Books Have Created What May Be The First Anthology Of Iraqi Crime Fiction Ever Assembled. Here You Will Read Of Life In Baghdad Both During And After The Saddam Hussein Era, With Stories Of Fear In The Shadow Of A Ruthless Dictator; Kidnappings In The Time Of U.s. Occupation; Detectives Who Investigate Political Conspiracies; And Tales Of Revenge, Assassination, Mental Illness, And Family Struggle In The War-torn City Of Peace. Baghdad Noir Includes Brand-new Stories By Sinan Antoon, Ali Bader, Mohammed Alwan Jabr, Nassif Falak, Dheya Al-khalidi, Hussain Al-mozany, Layla Qasrany, Hayet Raies, Muhsin Al-ramli, Ahmed Saadawi, Hadia Said, Salima Salih, Salar Abdoh, And Roy Scranton. "This anthology's status as perhaps the first collection of Iraqi crime fiction ever published makes it a landmark." — Publishers Weekly " Baghdad Noir is the latest addition to the simply outstanding 'Noir' anthology series from Akashic Books...A simply fascinating and at times compulsively driven read." — Midwest Book Review Akashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book comprises all new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective city. Now, one of the world's most war-torn cities is portrayed though a noir lens in this chilling story collection. Brand-new stories by: Sinan Antoon, Ali Bader, Mohammed Alwan Jabr, Nassif Falak, Dheya al-Khalidi, Hussain al-Mozany, Layla Qasrany, Hayet Raies, Muhsin al-Ramli, Ahmed Saadawi, Hadia Said, Salima Salih, Salar Abdoh, and Roy Scranton. From the... ebook,book "Akashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book comprises all new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective city. Now, one of the world's most war-torn cities is portrayed though a noir lens in this chilling story collection."--Provided by publisher