Last month, I introduced the concept of “Travel Porn” as a genre that ignites wanderlust through evocative storytelling and vivid descriptions of far-off lands. Think of Paul Theroux’s journeys across Asia in The Great Railway Bazaar, or J. Maarten Troost’s escapades in the Pacific in The Sex Lives of Cannibals. These books, with their ability to transport you to another world, are quintessential “travel porn”—pure escapism through the written word.
“Dig deeper and the tropical paradise reveals a far colder, damp darkness of souls stranded, battered and estranged.”
Finding a worthy successor to review in this vein took some time, despite my continued reading. While Private Dancer, set in Bangkok, leaned too heavily on the “porn” aspect in a different sense, and Tales From A Broad, intended to be humorous about Singapore expat life, unfortunately missed the mark on humor, the search continued. Finally, tucked away in a small bookstore in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area, I discovered Bangkok Noir.
The collection immediately appealed due to the prestigious names among its authors and my growing appreciation for short story anthologies. Stepping away from my usual memoir and humor preferences, the “noir” element promised a completely fresh reading experience.
Inside Bangkok Noir: A Dive into Darkness
Bangkok Noir is a compilation of twelve short stories penned by a diverse group of writers—some renowned, others lesser-known, encompassing both Western expats and native Bangkok Thais. The common thread weaving them together is the “noir” genre. As Christopher G. Moore elucidates in the introduction, “noir,” translating from French to “black” or “dark,” signifies a specific type of crime fiction in contemporary English criticism and authorship. These writers, Moore suggests, built their reputations on portraying a “bleak, nihilistic vision of life… where characters are trapped without hope of redemption.” This darker perspective is what elevates Bangkok Noir beyond typical travel literature and firmly plants it in the realm of compelling “travel porn” for those who crave more than just idyllic landscapes.
The stories within are remarkably diverse in their themes and tones. Here’s a brief overview:
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Gone East by John Burdett: An expat’s marriage into a wealthy Thai family turns sour, leading to resentment and a life-altering encounter with dark magic. This story explores the unsettling undercurrents of cultural immersion, a theme often lurking beneath the surface of “travel porn”.
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Inspector Zhang and the Dead Thai Gangster by Stephen Leather: A concise murder mystery unfolds on a flight between Singapore and Bangkok, featuring a sharp, Southeast Asian take on Sherlock Holmes. This adds a thrilling, suspenseful layer to the Bangkok setting, enhancing its “travel porn” allure for mystery enthusiasts.
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Thousand and One Nights by Pico Iyer: A familiar narrative of an expat navigating Bangkok’s sex industry, but presented with an entirely unique and insightful approach. Iyer’s story delves into the complex realities behind the exotic facade, offering a more nuanced “travel porn” experience.
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Halfhead by Colin Cotterill: A clairvoyant scam artist starts receiving genuine tips from the spirit world, with grim consequences arising from accepting ghostly assistance. This blends supernatural elements with the gritty Bangkok environment, pushing the boundaries of “travel porn” into darker, more fantastical territories.
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Dolphins Inc. by Christopher G. Moore: A blend of The Matrix and The Cove, this story jumps across time and locations, challenging the reader to discern reality from illusion. Its ambitious scope and genre-bending narrative add a layer of intellectual intrigue to the collection’s “travel porn” appeal.
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The Mistress Wants Her Freedom by Tew Bunnag: A classic tale of revenge involving a wealthy Thai couple, a mistress, and a gay lover, where shifting allegiances and hidden agendas keep you guessing. This story offers a glimpse into the intricate social dynamics and underlying tensions of Thai society, a darker side often glossed over in typical “travel porn”.
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Hansum Man by Timothy Hallinan: A Vietnam Veteran expat encounters trouble while searching for a past Thai lover from decades ago. This story explores themes of nostalgia, aging, and the lingering shadows of the past in a foreign land, adding a layer of melancholy to the “travel porn” narrative.
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Daylight by Alex Kerr: A New York reporter investigates a murder that occurs in broad daylight on Bangkok’s Skytrain. This story uses the bustling cityscape as a backdrop for a suspenseful crime narrative, blending the allure of Bangkok with the thrill of investigation, a potent mix for “travel porn” enthusiasts.
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Death of a Legend by Dean Barrett: A dark, intimate look into the daily life of a Thai hitman, where, true to the collection’s spirit, nothing is as it initially appears. This offers a stark and unflinching portrayal of Bangkok’s underbelly, a far cry from typical “travel porn” fantasies, yet compelling in its gritty realism.
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The Sword by Vasit Dejkunjorn: This story delves into police corruption in Thailand and the profound sense of honor it betrays. It tackles serious social issues within the “noir” framework, adding depth and social commentary to the “travel porn” genre.
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The Lunch That Got Away by Eric Stone: Surprisingly fun, this story follows a regular Bangkok visitor who devises a clever revenge scheme against a powerful restaurant owner who wronged his favorite street vendor. This offers a lighter, more comedic take on “noir”, while still exploring themes of justice and retribution in a Bangkok setting, broadening the appeal of “travel porn”.
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Hot Enough to Kill by Colin Piprell: A poor young boy turns to crime to keep pace with his rapidly changing city. This story examines the social costs of urbanization and inequality in Bangkok, adding a layer of social realism to the “travel porn” collection.
The Allure and Drawbacks of Bangkok Noir’s Dark Tourism
Being relatively new to the noir genre and crime fiction, I found myself most drawn to stories grounded in a semblance of reality. The Lunch That Got Away, The Mistress Wants Her Freedom, Thousand and One Nights, and Inspector Zhang stood out. These stories captivated with their quirky characters, intriguing plots, and, indeed, their uniquely bleak atmospheres. This bleakness, paradoxically, is a key ingredient in what makes “travel porn” like Bangkok Noir so compelling—it’s not just about sunshine and smiles, but about the complex, often shadowy, realities of a place.
Conversely, stories venturing into fantasy, magic, or alternate realities, such as Gone East and Dolphins Inc., resonated less with me personally. While The Sword and Halfhead touched on fantastical elements, their strong insights into Thai culture, particularly the fascinating realm of Thai police corruption in The Sword, were redeeming. The collection’s strength lies in its balance; for every story that leaned towards fantasy, another quickly followed, firmly rooted in a more tangible, albeit dark, reality. This is the inherent beauty of short story collections – a diverse palette of narratives to satisfy varied tastes within the broader spectrum of “travel porn”.
Exploring Bangkok by bike offers a deeper perspective, much like “Bangkok Noir” delves beneath the surface of the city.
Of course, these preferences are subjective. Readers who are fans of fantasy or science fiction might find the appeal of Bangkok Noir in precisely those stories I found less engaging. The beauty of “travel porn” literature is its ability to cater to diverse tastes, from escapist fantasies to gritty realism.
Another personal draw to Bangkok Noir is my deep affection for Bangkok, the “City of Angels.” This city, defying simple categorization, fascinates me with its blend of ancient traditions and hyper-modernity, its juxtaposition of luxury and poverty, and its simultaneous fulfillment and contradiction of stereotypes. Bangkok, often criticized for its frenetic pace, grime, and grit, are precisely the elements I find captivating. This book, promising to explore the city’s darker facets, was therefore irresistible. This darker exploration is a crucial aspect of “travel porn”—it’s about seeing beyond the postcard images.
A universal appeal of Bangkok Noir, I believe, lies in its cultural insights into Thailand. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of “the Thai smile,” the concept of “loss of face,” and the pervasive influence of karma. The stories navigate the contrasting worlds of gentrifying slum sois, opulent high-rises, and notorious red-light districts. Like a lover embracing all aspects of their beloved, Bangkok Noir encourages cherishing even the underbelly of enigmatic Thailand. This unflinching portrayal is what sets it apart as compelling “travel porn”—it offers a more complete, less sanitized view of the destination.
Who Should Indulge in This “Travel Porn”?
Bangkok Noir is perfect for those who appreciate noir or crime fiction, those drawn to the complex allure of Bangkok, and those seeking a deeper understanding of Thai culture and beliefs through a somewhat sinister lens. It’s “travel porn” for the intellectually curious, those who crave substance beneath the surface of exotic destinations.
Final Verdict: Is Bangkok Noir Addictive “Travel Porn”?
While the original giveaway is no longer applicable, the essence of Bangkok Noir remains: it’s a compelling collection that offers a potent dose of “travel porn,” not in the typical sense of idyllic escapism, but in a more nuanced, darker, and ultimately more rewarding way. It’s an invitation to explore the shadows of a fascinating city and to appreciate the complexities that lie beneath the surface of any travel destination. For those seeking “travel porn” with depth and bite, Bangkok Noir is a must-read.
