A review of my book, The Inside Story of the British Bureau for the Arcane, by award-winning author Bjorn Larssen, includes the reference to 'grimdark noir'. He admits this is a new sub-genre of fantasy but goes on to explain why he's defined the story in this way. You can read his review here. I will admit the definition does suit the book - I wish I'd thought of the term myself! I Googled it - there were no answers, yet I've read stories that would fit into this category. So had Bjorn, he references them in his review. This post tries to pinpoint what 'grimdark noir' might mean.
Some context
Let me begin by explaining my reasons for writing the story with this specific tone. It began when the opening to the story woke me up one night. Arlo Austin (the main character) appeared fully formed in my head, in the circumstances which would define his anger and bitterness. Arlo defined the tone, it was as simple as that. Childhood trauma, unresolved, untreated, turned him into someone dark and menacing. He's divided reviewers. Some find him heartless, unsympathetic. Others (like Bjorn) like this darkness and how it influences Arlo's behaviour. It was a conscious decision on my part to include another main character to "compensate" for Arlo. Enter Tayn, a young man who is nerdy, introverted and innocent. They become a double act, though neither would claim that to be true! I hoped the pair would strike a balance that enabled the story to become a detective story. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I imagined Arlo Austin to be somewhere between Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade and Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe. Both hard-bitten detectives who are manipulated by others. Some of Hammett's wry tone of voice appealed to me, as did Chandler's darkness. I tried to strike a balance between the two.
With these things in mind, let me now explore the factors that define this story as grimdark. Bjorn Larssen comments on the ugliness of the world in this book. He cites the racism Arlo faces, as a German kid in Britain after the second world war, then later as an East German during the Cold War. Beyond that, being a Dark Elf. I think the ugliness of human nature is a good starting point.
What is grimdark?
In his article, 'Groping the Elephant, Mark Lawrence defines grimdark as 'defiance in the absence of hope'. He goes on, "Grimdark is often called nihilistic, but this misses the idea that you can accept a nihilistic truth and still choose to die for a principle you know is an emotional construct. A grimdark “hero” has a tendency to go all in – to burn their bridges even when they don’t need the warmth. They are, in their way, an allegory for hope, in so much as having been shown there’s no meaning in the world, they still cling to some elements of it. And in those choices they are revealed. The way it’s painted by the disapproving you would think that grimdark fiction was the literature of surrender to the inevitable. When in truth it is the story of the battle against it – sharpened by the knowledge that there’s no ultimate victory to be had. "
This definition matches my perception of the genre and the tone I was looking for. Arlo has had a traumatic early life and suffered the ugliness of other people - yet his motives and his actions are driven by hope. He strives to protect people, particularly arcane species for one simple reason. The man who rescued him, belonged to the British Bureau for the Arcane. Arlo views him as a role model. Sure, his bitter rages and inability to relate to other people makes him an unsympathetic hero but shouldn't we look beyond the surface of people before judging them?
I was recently on a convention panel with Anna Smith Spark, talking about the nature of grimdark. Her opinions can be summed up in this quote from her article written in 2019. "That thin pathetic line between rage and despair: that’s hope. The voice screaming into the abyss: that’s hope. Hold those you love close to you. Recognise that the world is a cruel place."
I appreciate grimdark isn't for everyone. Another reviewer commented in her review that she'd struggled to cope with the tone of the book because of the state of the world at the moment. I get it. We appear to be heading for a truly dystopian future and that is frightening. Reading books that deal with ugliness and cruelty can reinforce that darkness, some people want to avoid it. I've done the same at times. On the other hand, you only have to look at the success of authors like Mark Lawrence, Joe Abercrombie and my good friend, Michael Fletcher, to see the popularity of grimdark.
Defining 'noir'
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, in Gotham Writers writes "the main characters want better things for themselves, but try as they might, they just keep making wrong choices and things go from bad to worse." Ms DeMarco-Barrett explains how she uses this definition to explain the noir genre to her mother. Her mother replies, "Oh, like real life then!" I like this. It's the reason for those poor choices that link to grimdark - they're foisted on the character by their traumatic experiences.
In Masterclass, noir is defined as "Typically feature gritty urban settings, morally compromised protagonists, dark mysteries, and a bleak outlook on human nature." Once again, I have to ask, how does this differ from grimdark in fantasy? That point about 'morally compromised protagonists' is key here - what is the cause of that compromise? What experiences have marred their character growth?
Another reference, A Dark-Adapting Eye "Noir denotes a marked darkness in theme and subject matter, generally featuring a disturbing mixture of sex and violence." The article includes reference to one other ingredient not mentioned so far - institutional corruption. This is another form of human ugliness - that people will compromise organisations for their private gain. This happens in my book and is another cause for my main character's darkness. It brings us back to hope again - when the main character believes they're striving to do good, they're compromised by the corruption of those around them.
What is grimdark noir?
Having defined the two terms of this sub-genre, it's time to put them together. What is grimdark noir?
Both terms cover similar territory, the dark and gritty context of a world filled with human toxicity, in which people are tainted by that same darkness. It's a world filled with corruption, where motives centre on personal gain rather than public benefit. Unsurprisingly, trust and loyalty are uncommon qualities in these people. Such qualities lead to lies and suspicion, where manipulation happens to hide secrets, people are never as they seem. It is within this context investigation takes place to uncover a mystery provoked by these elements. An investigation led by a character with their own faults, as Barbara DeMarco-Barrett explained, faults which cause them to make poor choices that make matters worse. In this respect, they are no different to classic Shakespearian tragic heroes who do the same thing, it is their poor choices that lead to their tragedy.
Conclusion
Grimdark noir is driven by a need to investigate any mystery caused by secrecy and manipulation, where its main character's flaws exacerbate the situation, darkening it still further. Their motives may be honourable but their methods won't be. Ends don't always justify the means. Like Sam Spade and Phillip Marlowe, the investigation may be solved - the cost however is so great, the investigator is the one who truly suffers.
Phil Parker writes fantasy stories, click on the image below to find out more.
