This is a fantastic line that I’ve read (re-read) recently in M. John Harrison’s wonderful, genre re-defining novel, Light. It’s when the character Ed Chianese is in one of the tank farms, imagining himself in a virtual world detective film from the 20th Century, the plot being in the far future. He raises his Colt:
He had two shots left, and it was important he spoiled the first one.
I love it. Isn’t it great when the odd line really, really stands out and slaps you in the face. That’s the whole point of noir in one line.
