A comparison between hard-boiled detective fiction and postmodern detective fiction with references to The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, and The New York Trilogy

The aim of this study is to compare hard-boiled detective fiction and postmodern detective fiction in a profound way, particularly to emphasize the importance of The New York Trilogy as a prominent example of postmodern detective fiction. In this respect, from its starting point preliminaries of detective genre are delineated with examples from its progenitors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie. Furthermore, the development of the genre through the historical process and variety of both detective prototype and the genre are summarized under main titles. Regarding postmodern or metaphysical or anti-detective fiction, Paul Auster?s trilogy puts forth the genre?s differences into consideration although it seems that postmodern detective fiction is a continuation of hard-boiled one at first glance. In other words, the trilogy deconstructs all pivotal characteristics of hard-boiled fiction with references to postmodern literary theory such as uncertainty, identity crisis, multiplicity, intertextuality, and urban life. Therefore, this study focuses on a transformation from hard-boiled detective fiction to postmodern detective fiction using examples from notable representatives of both genres like Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Paul Auster comparatively.Key Words: Detective Prototypes, Hard-Boiled Detective Fiction, Anti-Detective Fiction, Characteristics Of Postmodern Literary Theory.