San Juan Noir (Spanish-language edition)

(Paperback)

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"Santos-Febres and 13 other contributors of Puerto Rican heritage take full advantage of San Juan's wide range of disparities between rich and poor, weak and powerful, tourists and residents, in this fine addition to Akashic's noir anthology series."
--Publishers Weekly

"A welcomed addition to the publisher's popular noir series, San Juan Noir has the distinction of being issued in two editions, English and Spanish, to more accurately reflect the Caribbean island's bilingual culture. Editor Santos-Febres gathers a varied collection of stories she expects will 'reveal a side of Puerto Rico otherwise obscured by the tourist trade and preconception.'"
-- NBC News Latino

"The stories within San Juan Noir stare right into the face of colonialism as they examine the gaps between the city's rich and its poor, its residents and its constant flow of tourists, its colorful exterior and its gritty underbelly. This is noir with a bite, noir that enthralls with its dark tales even as it challenges the reader--do better, do better, do better."
--Literary Hub

"From the interiors of sleazy bars or chic resort hotels, shabby apartments and in open streets and avenues with no escape, the tales of San Juan Noir trace the doomed routes of their victims and villains with an acute social and tragic awareness. These journeys keep the reader transfixed and understanding this Caribbean city in entirely new ways."
--Insights

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: Wilfredo J. Burgos Matos, Ernesto Quionez, Mayra Santos-Febres, Jos Rabelo, Luis Negrn, Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro, Ana Mara Fuster Lavn, Janette Becerra, Manolo Nez Negrn, Tere Dvila, Edmaris Carazo, Alejandro lvarez Nieves, Charlie Vzquez, and Manuel A. Melndez. Translated by Will Vanderhyden.

From the introduction by Mayra Santos-Febres:

"Puerto Rico is often portrayed as sandy beaches, casinos, luxury hotels, relaxation, and never-ending pleasure--a place that satisfies all senses and appetites.Yet the city of San Juan is much more than that. The capital of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is the oldest Spanish settlement in all the territories and colonies of the United States. Since Puerto Rico is economically dependent on the US, the financial downturn of 2008 hit us hard. Many Puerto Ricans have left the island, looking for a better life. Crime has risen and the black market has thrived. As in many crises, art, music, and literature have also flourished. Never before has there been so much literary production. We have responded to our crisis with many stories to tell. And, especially in these times, many of those stories are noir...I hope these stories spark your imagination, and reveal a side of Puerto Rico otherwise obscured by the tourist trade and preconceptions. Maybe it will also pique your curiosity, and you will come visit our 'pearl of the Caribbean.'"

Reviews

I have never been to San Juan, Puerto Rico, but I traveled some of its streets in these stories. Of course, the city is more than noir. That's what I love about the Akashic Noir stories, these are not the Tourist Bureau stories of the city. They are gritty, sometimes nasty, sometimes gross, but always interesting.
--Tonstant Weader Reviews

The stories in this anthology, unrelentingly dark, reflect the woes of the island . . . Set as it is in Puerto Rico, with authors steeped in the Latin tradition, the stories have a common thread of sexuality and sensuality, as well as magical realism. Dreams run through these stories, and sometimes a sense that the whole story could be a dream. They are unsettling stories, to say the least . . . After reading these stories, you may very well want to rethink that tropical vacation.
-- Reviewing the Evidence

San Juan Noir is a brilliantly polished literary gem that showcases life on the fringes of society. Every tale glows in its own darkness, piercingly tugging at the remnants of human decency. We must do better, it screams. Yes, we must. Highly recommended.
--Jamaica Gleaner

Author Bio

Mayra Santos-Febres es una poeta, ensayista, y narradora puertorriquea. Como cuentista ha ganado el Premio Juan Rulfo (1996) por su cuento Oso blanco. En el 2000 public su primera novela Sirena Selena vestida de pena que ya cuenta con traducciones al ingls, italiano, y francs. En el 2006 result primera finalista en el Premio Primavera de la editorial Espasa Calpe con su novela Nuestra Seora de la Noche. Actualmente dirige el taller de narrativa de la Universidad de Puerto Rico.