Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, & Detective Fiction

Good podcast

As a Chandler fan, my intro to Point Blank was the Big Sleep episode (3). I binged ten more over the next couple of days and I continue to sample random episodes here and there. It’s obvious after a few minutes that Justin and Kurt have a sincere love and deep knowledge of the genre(s). Their excitement is infectious, even when I’m not particularly into a book or author, or disagree with their opinions. Yet they’re not annoyingly geeky or over-caffeinated, which ruins a lot of other podcasts. Like good writers, they have a great sense of pacing, something else other podcasts could learn from. They’re able to take deep dives without exhausting the subject (or being exhausting), and their short reviews and analyses don’t feel shallow or slight. Another refreshing aspect is that I feel I’m listening to actual people talking, not “performers.” They’re just professional enough to keep it smooth and listenable, but it feels intimate and real (most of the time — see below). They’re opinionated without being obnoxious or pretentious, humble enough to allow the existence of other points of view, and aren’t afraid to call out their own biases. They have distinct personalities and approaches that helps keep things interesting. My one big critique is far from a deal-breaker, but bears mentioning… The discussions are fresh and natural, yet many solo reviews feel too formal, where it’s obvious they’re reading from prepared texts. Podcasts aren’t audiobooks or lectures. A minor criticism, which is admittedly out of their control, is that they agree too much! I’d love to hear more Siskel and Ebert-like (dating myself…) arguments. Overall, I can’t see a serious crime fiction/noir fan not finding Point Blank interesting and entertaining, and I think it would be a great intro for an avid reader who’s not familiar with the genres but would like to dive in. PS: A few reviews here call out PB for being “political” or “woke.” This is extremely misleading, as the podcast is anything but. They only broach such subjects as race, sexuality, gender, etc when it’s integral to the material itself, or context is required in analyzing books from the 1920s-70s in the 21st century. While they don’t attempt to be neutral or “fair and balanced,” they don’t preach, at all.

Sierra Madre! Iceberg Slim! This show is heating up!! I’m very excited. I’d love to hear your guys experience reading the great work of Donald Goines.

Very much enjoy this podcast, 5 stars