54 episodes
Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, & Detective Fiction Justin & Kurt
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4.6 • 44 Ratings
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Point Blank is a podcast about hardboiled, noir, and detective fiction. Mixing serious analysis and humor, the co-hosts (Justin and Kurt) discuss a classic or contemporary work of crime fiction each episode. In addition to major works, they offer shorter reviews, and examine noir-ish topics such as alcoholism in detective fiction, the femme fatale, and race and labor in crime fiction. Stroll with Kurt and Justin down the rain drenched alleys and mean streets as they explore the fascinating world of crime fiction.
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E51: Russian Roulette with Kurt & Justin -- First 50 Episodes!
Hello Blankers! In this episode we celebrate our semicentennial by regaling you with memories of our first three years & by answering tough questions about personal favorite (and least favorite) novels, authors, characters, and settings from the first 50 episodes.
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E50 -- Pop. 1280
We made it to 50!
In this golden anniversary of a show we return to the gritty, noir world of Jim Thompson with "Pop. 1280." It's another take on the corrupt sheriff that Thompson writes so well. Which character is more menacing; Lou Ford or Nick Corey? Which is the better novel? Tune in to find out.
Get in touch with the show:
Twitter: @pointblanknoir
Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction
Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868
Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com
Support the show:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime
Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends! -
Bluebird, Bluebird -- Deep Dive -- Cinema Spotlight -- Five Round Burst
In Episode 49, we dive deep into Attica Locke’s contemporary soon-to-be classic Bluebird, Bluebird. Justin reviews the western noir film Blood on the Moon, and we go five rounds in Five Round Burst.
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E48 -- Intro to Bluebird, Bluebird -- Rural Noir -- Forgotten Classics -- Attica Locke
In Episode 48, we introduce Attica Locke's contemporary rural noir soon-to-be classic, Bluebird, Bluebird.
We look more closely at rural noir -- what it is and who the major players are -- in Subject Unknown and take a close look at Chris McGinley's beautiful & disturbing short story collection, Coal Black.
Finally, Kurt offers us up a Forgotten Classic, and we talk a bit about Attica Locke's early yet successful career.
Get in touch with the show:
pointblanknoir@gmail.com
Twitter: @pointblanknoir
Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868
Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com
Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends! -
E47 -- Yakudoshi Age of Calamity -- Chris McKinney -- Scott Kikkawa
Hi Blankers!
This is our second of two episodes dedicated to Hawaiian Noir.
Our deep dive is the short, gritty Yakudoshi: Age of Calamity by Chris McKinney, an under-heralded Hawaiian author who should be getting far more attention than he does.
We also feature a review of Scott Kikkawa's first novel, Kona Winds, a historical detective story set in 1950s Honolulu we both enjoyed.
Get in touch with the show:
pointblanknoir@gmail.com
Twitter: @pointblanknoir
Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868
Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com
Don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends! -
E46 -- For a Song by Rodney Morales -- Hawaiian Noir -- 5 Round Burst
Welcome to episode 46! We head out into the Pacific for a look at Hawaiian Noir.
For our featured book this time we focus on "For a Song" by Rodney Morales a classic detective tale with a lot of local flavor. In Subject Unknown and 5 Round Burst we focus on more reasons to enjoy Hawaiian Noir.
This is part 1 of a 2 part look at the crime fiction of the islands.
Get in touch with the show:
pointblanknoir@gmail.com
Twitter: @pointblanknoir
Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868
Website: www.pointblankpodcast.com
Don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
Customer Reviews
Ep 48
I’m going to go back and listen to more of these. The first thing that impressed me about this podcast was the capital K knowledge of the two hosts. To wit, they UNDERSTAND literature. Specifically, they have a sense what is craft, of what it is that makes a species of fiction shine or fall flat. Right and left these guys make pointed observations and references about specific sub-genres and about subtle stylistic effects in the works under discussion. It’s like they’re university English department faculty, but minus the boredom. Also, the podcast is PROFESSIONAL in its manner. Viz., the hosts have clearly prepared the material beforehand, and the talk flows seamlessly, but it’s NEVER stilted. It’s like they’re having a conversation, but there are no “uhms” and “ahhs.” This is a fantastic podcast for fans of crime fiction.
Point Blank Does Hawai’i Right
Justin and Kurt have done for Hawai’i what they have done for France, Nigeria, Japan, Brazil, Mexico and others: they’ve introduced noir from Hawai’i to the rest of America, and they’ve done it right. They review and discuss with enthusiasm and thought, and Hawai’i writers are in their debt.
Best of all, they recognize that noir is not only the sole province of the line wolf white guy. They’ve introduced me, and probably countless others, to done truly great reads.
Nobody does noir, hardboiled and detective fiction better. Many say the genre is dying, but thanks to these guys I have hope that it’s patently untrue.
Keep up the good work: noir needs you!
Five bullets to the brain
Justin and Kurt review noir and neo noir books in an informative, well thought out way, tinged with humor. They pull no punches, don’t expect every book to be rated five stars. I appreciate the candor these gentlemen share us.