definition of hard-boiled tales (that doesn't refer to crime fiction)

[donnach]

The O. Henry Prizes Stories 2008 continues to reward the same type of story they’ve been championing for the past decade: conventional, hard-boiled tales told in the third-person.

What does hard-boiled mean when referring to short stories that are not of the crime fiction genre?

Thank you,

Donna

[bhaisahab]

What does hard-boiled mean when referring to short stories that are not of the crime fiction genre?

Thank you,

Donna

Could be domestic/family drama.

[donnach]

Hard-boiled = domestic/family drama?

Doesn't sound right at all to me.

I think it describes a writing style. What that style is I am not sure, but I'd like to find out.

[bhaisahab]

Hi again, actually, if you google "o henry 2008" you will find a list of the winning stories and information about them.

[donnach]

I already know all about the O. Henry Prize Stories. That is not what I am asking about.

What I want is someone with some knowledge of literary criticism to define the term as it is used in the quote I provided.

Thanks,

Donna

[Tdol]

Could it mean the style? Would the style of writing have anything to do with hard-boiled slang/writing (Raymond Chandler, etc) miskatonic.org/slang.html