Neptune Noir

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Neptune Noir

Unauthorized Investigations into Veronica Mars

Edited by Veronica Mars Creator Rob Thomas

Neptune (n): California home of teen sleuth Veronica Mars

Noir (n): Film style characterized by moral ambiguity, corrupt authority . . . and a tiny blonde armed with a quip and a taser?

More than just a high school drama, Veronica Mars is a smart and savvy teen detective show that offers complex mysteries, rapier wit, and engaging social commentary. The show is so snarky, so smart, and so savvy that the detective show's biggest mystery was why more people didn't watch.

This collection of essays on the show's first two seasons, edited by Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas, explores the noir roots of Veronica's blond locks, as well as the sharp writing and killer plot twists that catapulted the show to the top of smart viewers' must-watch lists.

Read Excerpts

Introduction: Neptune Noir
Rob Thomas
Welcome to Camp Noir
Lani Diane Rich
Story Structure and Veronica Mars
Geoff Klock
Veronica Mars: Girl. Detective.
Evelyn Vaughn
Daddy's Girl
Joyce Millman
Daddy Dualities
Amy Berner
On the Down-Low
Lynne Edwards
The Noir of Neptune
Amanda Ann Klein
Reality on Mars and Neptune
Jesse Hassenger
"I Cannot Tell a Lie. And If You Believe That..."
John Ramos
Lawless Neptune
Alafair Burke
The New Normal
Kristen Kidder
The Duck and the Detective
Chris McCubbin (IMGS, Inc.)
The United States of Veronica
Deanna Carlyle
I'm in Love with My Car
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Boom Goes the Dynamite
Misty K. Hook, Ph.D.
Innocence Lost
Samantha Bornemann
From Golden Girl to Rich Dude Kryptonite
Judy Fitzwater
The Importance of Not Being Earnest
Heather Havrilesky

On Our Blog

Best of Smart Pop essays: Editors picks

Posted May 3rd | 5 Comments »

Since this site gives us the opportunity to highlight not just our books, but the individual essays our authors have written for us (and, okay, since it also gives you the opportunity to buy those individual essays), we wanted to figure out more ways to showcase them. Thus: Editors Picks. Periodically we—and/or some of our past guest editors or book contributors—will select 3 essays we particularly love from our Smart Pop titles and offer a little commentary on why we think you’ll love them, too.

From Leah:

My three picks today have...

What Smart Pop book do you wish we’d make?

Posted April 20th | 46 Comments »

Even though officially Leah and I love all our Smart Pop titles equally (said in the most diplomatic voice possible), secretly we still have our favorites. Unlike parents, I think it’s okay to admit that. Leah harbors a special affection for our James Bond anthology. Even though my personal favorite property we’ve covered is Veronica Mars (I’m still torn up over it’s early cancellation, the one that happened three years ago), my favorite Smart Pop title was Coffee at Luke’s. I read the book before watching...