book data
234 ratings,
3.97
average rating, 16 reviews
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published
August 17th 2006
by Waking Lion Press
(first published 1999)
details
Paperback, 352 pages
isbn
1600960847
(isbn13: 9781600960840)
description
A collection of some of the finest stories from Dashiell Hammett, author of The Maltese Falcon. This publication from Boomer Books is specially design…more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 359)
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avg 3.97
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in December, 1999
Nightmare Town contains 20 stories by Dashiell Hammett that haven't seen the light of day in decades. It is definitely a nice surprise to have more stories from a writer who left us with too few works.
The stories in </I>Nightmare Town</I> are mostly what you would expect from Hammett. Seven of the stories are about his character, the Continental Op, his qunitessential detective. The Continental Op is everything a hardboiled detective should be- but not quite the Hollywood...more
The stories in </I>Nightmare Town</I> are mostly what you would expect from Hammett. Seven of the stories are about his character, the Continental Op, his qunitessential detective. The Continental Op is everything a hardboiled detective should be- but not quite the Hollywood...more
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2 comments
Hammett is Hammett. It's tough to conceive of him churning out anything less than 100 percent platinum ... except towards the end when his craft fell off by a bit a notch and he was reduced to 24 karat gold. This is a short story collection, and seven of the stories feature the Continental Op, probably his best if not most well known creation. True, the stories are in the hard-boiled private eye vein, but those who really know the genre also know that the originators -- Hammett, Chandler, and...more
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Read in February, 2008
A fun, relaxing read. Very tightly paced stories that build up to a surprise ending. In some cases, the trick conclusions are very satisfying ("The Man Who Killed Don Adams"). Others are more subtle in their characterization ("Ruffian Wife"). Always interesting how the plots turn from action to exposition at the moment the climax gives way to denouement ("Nightmare Town")---a trait of pulp, for better or worse. Of course, what will be most interesting for the class ...more
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Read in December, 2009
The different perspectives and voices he uses show what a versatile writer he was. Includes an interesting foreword.
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Read in April, 2007
This collection of short stories by Dashiell Hammett is as diverse as it is exciting. There is no central character or plot, but this package does provide Hammett’s signature fast paced adventure coupled with his illustrations of who we are as human animals. Some are better than others, but all are generally good at least. Some seem to have been written to provide action-packed pulp that would produce more of a paycheck than substance, but overall this collection is solid and is always ente...more
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Read in February, 2009
If you like Hammett, you'll like this collection of shorts and novelettes.
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Read in January, 2009
Hammett has a brusque, decidedly masculine tone that's different from what I usually read, but it suits the dark subject matter. The author's first-hand experience as a detective means his writing feels authentic and is full of suspenseful and impressive sleuthing. Most of the stories are pretty short, so it's good for picking up when you've got a bit of time.
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Read in February, 2007
entertaining; all the stories have the same basic form; i.e., a twist ending with little foreshadowing and very few ways to figure out the puzzle. Unlike, say, Sherlock Holmes, you never feel as if there's an impenetrable puzzle that will be solved by a brilliant wit. Rather, you just wait until the author's revelation.
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bookshelves:
2010,
dashiell-hammett,
hardboiled-crime,
hardboiled-detective,
short-story-collections
Read in March, 2010
Vintage Hammet writing in the stories of this collection.
I read it most for The 7 Continental OP stories but there were several other stories of quality that was about people that wasnt detectives.
Hammett could have written any kind of story he wanted and pulled it off.
I read it most for The 7 Continental OP stories but there were several other stories of quality that was about people that wasnt detectives.
Hammett could have written any kind of story he wanted and pulled it off.
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A collection of various Hammett short stories, including some Op stories, the only Sam Spade short stories, and the memorable title story: about a drunk who fights with a cane.
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This is my favorite of the Continental Op collections, though it's not as much fun as Red Harvest. But what is? I love 'Who Killed Bob Teal?'
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Read in July, 2009
This book reads like leather, cigar smoke and cheap whiskey. It was comforting and made me want to go out and rumble at the same time.
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Dashiell Hammet. One of the innovators of the modern Murder mystery. For that he gets the stars. Good read too
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a book that follows you down a street then mugs you in a dark alley.
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Hard hitting, hardboiled, it doesn't get much better than Hammett.
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great collection of Mr Hammett's short stories, always loved the SF factor
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