nicanical
Years ago, after inhaling all of Raymond Chandler's novels, I read The Maltese Falcon looking for a similar flavor from Chandler's predecessor. But, I found that Sam Spade wasn't that, and then I never got around to exploring the rest of Hammett's stuff.
This book though, sates the palate. First: the clear, straightforward prose keeps the action moving, gets punchy in the right places, and is just a pleasure to read. Second: the Continental Op is a cunning smartass with deadpan snarks that Marlowe himself might have quipped. (The Op acts more like a vigilante here than a private dick though, and his morals are a shade darker than Marlowe's).
Plotwise, well, I like hardboiled stuff for the scenes and characterizations, not the plots. The underlying impetus here is vengeance and vigilantism though, not the usual need to solve a mystery. I found this refreshing.
The story felt a little muddy towards the end, like Hammett was tiring and wanted to wrap it up. Still, a very enjoyable read, and now I'll have to see what else of Hammett's I might have overlooked.
Years ago, after inhaling all of Raymond Chandler's novels, I read The Maltese Falcon looking for a similar flavor from Chandler's predecessor. But, I found that Sam Spade wasn't that, and then I never got around to exploring the rest of Hammett's stuff.
This book though, sates the palate. First: the clear, straightforward prose keeps the action moving, gets punchy in the right places, and is just a pleasure to read. Second: the Continental Op is a cunning smartass with deadpan snarks that Marlowe himself might have quipped. (The Op acts more like a vigilante here than a private dick though, and his morals are a shade darker than Marlowe's).
Plotwise, well, I like hardboiled stuff for the scenes and characterizations, not the plots. The underlying impetus here is vengeance and vigilantism though, not the usual need to solve a mystery. I found this refreshing.
The story felt a little muddy towards the end, like Hammett was tiring and wanted to wrap it up. Still, a very enjoyable read, and now I'll have to see what else of Hammett's I might have overlooked.