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Noir Detective AU
| Tropes and genres | |
|---|---|
| Synonym(s) | Film Noir AU |
| Related tropes/genres | Historical AU |
| See also | Alternate Universe |
 La Vie in Noir by wandering sayo (2010) | |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
Noir Detective stories in fanfic are usually either realized as complete AUs, in which the characters are put in a typical '40s-'50s film noir environment; or as a homage towards the style, in which the characters are still their canon selves, but plot or aesthetics are given a noir slant.
The former is sometimes realized as a fusion with classic noir movies, for example as part of a reel challenge. The latter is sometimes inspired by canon itself, if the series has noir homage episodes or canonical noir AUs, such as several comic Elseworlds published by DC, or Picard's Dixon Hill holodeck adventures in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
First person narration is far more common in Noir Detective AUs than in fanfic at large as first person is strongly associated with the genre (The Big Sleep was written in the first person).
Because noir trappings offer distinct visuals, this genre is also popular with fanartists, and is a frequent prompt in art challenges.
Examples
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Fanart
- The Big Sleep by Wychwood (Stargate Atlantis) (2006), done for the Reel SGA challenge
- SGA-Noir by Leyna (Stargate Atlantis) (2008), done for the Paintedspires challenge
- Knives in the Water by steam-pilot (Star Trek: AOS) (2008)
Fanfiction
- Metropolis Confidential, by Hope (Smallville) (approx 2001)
- A Little Night Fiction by Briony (Star Wars Prequel Trilogy) (2002)
- Buffy Season Noir by Anna S. (Buffy) (2002-2004)
- Malfoy, P.I. by Nancy (Harry Potter) (2002-2005)
- Who Knackered Aragorn's Catamite? by Earthspot (Lord of the Rings) (2003)
- Trouble is My Business by emungere. Reincarnation fic. (Saiyuki) (2005)
- The Red Angel by Hereticalvision (Harry Potter) (2011)
- Frank Iero, AI by snarkydame. Cyberpunk Detective Noir AU (My Chemical Romance) (2013)
- A Face That Nobody Knows by aesc (SGA) (2008), done for the SGA Big Bang
- Case at Hand by Neevebrody (SGA) (2008)
- Joining with the Jackal Pack by The Drifter (SGA) (2008)
Fanvids
Example Fanart Gallery
Noir by Odella (Harry Potter) (2008)
