Prague Noir

“Prague’s top writers explore the hidden corners of the ‘City of a Hundred Spires,’ pulling back the curtain to reveal gloom and despair, in this entry in Akashic’s noir series.” —Publishers Weekly

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. The noir quotient of this legendary Eastern European city will enthrall and terrify readers from across that globe.

Brand-new stories by: Martin Goffa, Štepán Kopriva, Miloš Urban, Jirí W. Procházka, Chaim Cigan, Ondrej Neff, Petr Stancík, Katerina Tucková, Markéta Pilátová, Michal Sýkora, Michaela Klevisová, Petra Soukupová, Irena Hejdová, and Petr Šabach.

From the introduction by Pavel Mandys:

"How do you write noir in a city where, until 1990, the profession of private detective didn’t even exist? Where the censors cultivated a positive image of the police in both media and literature? Where, in essence, organized crime was nowhere to be found, and the largest criminal group was the secret police? . . . If, however, the concept of noir is extended and considered a label for literary works that contain elements of crime, danger, and menace, or where main characters find themselves in a critical situation, then you will find fourteen such stories in this collection . . .

I see Prague Noir as a chance for Czech authors to introduce themselves to international audiences . . . Contemporary Czech literature is vivid, vibrant, and informed by contemporary world literature which—thanks to active translators—is usually available in Czech very fast. It is global and local, poetic and humorous, filled with stories from the past, present, and from imaginary worlds. And it is waiting for when, in addition to all the enthusiastic Czech readers, it will also gain a great international audience."