A short biography
The Continental Op
Blood Money
Red Harvest
The Dain Curse
The Maltese Falcon:
The novel
The movie
The 75th anniversary
The Glass Key
The Thin Man
Woman in the Dark
The short story collections
The novels in one
volume
Books about Hammett
Chronology of Hammett's fiction
Hammett's army days
"Dashiell Hammett Place"
Hammett's Post Street
apartment:
A photo tour (2005)
Declared a
landmark (2005)
The Flood Building
Links to other Hammett sites
Contact Mike
mikehumbert.com homepage
This site is dedicated to all the people like Don Herron, Bill Arney, Richard Layman, William F. Nolan, Josephine Hammett Marshall, Julie M. Rivett, Steven Marcus, Joe Gores and others who have kept 1920s San Francisco in the here and now.
Special thanks to Vince Emery for his many helpful contributions to this website.
Thanks to Stephen Parmelee, who contributed several of the
images on this page.
Entire website copyright 2003, 2004 & 2005 by Mike Humbert.
.
.
· Dashiell Hammett: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001, Library of America
· Nightmare Town, edited by McCauley, Greenberg & Gorman, 1999, Vintage Crime/Black Lizard
· Lost Stories, edited by Vince Emery, 2005, Vince Emery Productions
2) The Dain Curse, 1929 (novel)
3) The Maltese Falcon, 1930 (novel)
4) The Glass Key, 1931 (novel)
5) The Thin Man, 1934 (novel)
6) Blood Money, 1943 (novel written in 1927)
7) The Adventures of Sam Spade, edited by Ellery Queen, 1944 (stories)
8) The Continental Op, edited by Ellery Queen, 1945 (stories)
9) The Return of the Continental Op, edited by Ellery Queen, 1945 (stories)
10) Hammett Homicides, edited by Ellery Queen, 1946 (stories)
11) Dead Yellow Women, edited by Ellery Queen, 1947 (stories)
12) Nightmare Town, edited by Ellery Queen, 1948 (stories)
13) The Creeping Siamese, edited by Ellery Queen, 1950 (stories)
14) Woman in the Dark, edited by Ellery Queen, 1951, (novella and stories)
15) A Man Named Thin, edited by Ellery Queen, 1962 (stories)
16) The Big Knockover, edited by Lillian Hellman, 1966 (stories)
17) The Continental Op, edited by Steven Marcus, 1974 (stories)
18) Woman in the Dark, introduced by Robert B. Parker, 1988 (novella)
19) Nightmare Town, edited by McCauley, Greenberg & Gorman, 1999 (stories)
20) Crime Stories and Other Writings, selected by Steven Marcus, 2001 (stories)
21) Lost Stories, edited by Vince Emery (stories)
It's interesting to note that Hammett never allowed any hardback reprints of his short stories during his lifetime. He wished to be judged on his novels only, and tried to leave no permanent record of his earlier works. Apparently he was unconcerned about the Ellery Queen-edited paperbacks, which he considered "disposable."
Hammett also wrote the introduction (and is credited as the editor ) of the horror anthology Creeps by Night (1931), and his work as writer of the comic strip Secret Agent X-9 (1934) has occasionally been collected in book form. Several times over the years, Hammett’s novels have been collected under one cover, with titles like The Dashiell Hammett Omnibus or The Novels of Dashiell Hammett.
The following is a fairly comprehensive list of Hammett’s fiction, organized by date of publication, along with where these stories can be located today (if anywhere).
Original publication: The Smart Set, October 1922
Most recent reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
"The Great Lovers"
Original publication: The Smart Set, November 1922
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
“Immortality” (by “Daghull Hammett”)
Original publication: 10 Story Book, November 1922
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
“The Barber and His Wife” (by “Peter Collinson”)
Original publication: Brief Stories, December 1922
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
“The Road Home” (by “Peter Collinson”)
Original publication: Black Mask, December 1922
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
Original publication: The Smart Set, January 1923
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
“The Sardonic Star of Tom Doody” (by “Peter Collinson”)
Original publication: Brief Stories, February 1923
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
“From the Memoirs of a Private Detective”
Original publication: The Smart Set, March 1923
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories & Other Writings, 2001
“The Joke on Eloise Morey”
Original publication: Brief Stories, June 1923
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories , 2005
“The Vicious Circle” (by “Peter Collinson”)
Original publication: Black Mask, June 15, 1923
Most recent reprint: Woman in the Dark, 1951, under the title “The Man Who Stood in the Way.”
“Holiday”
Original publication: The New Pearsons, July 1923
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
“The Crusader” (by “Mary Jane Hammett”)
Original publication: The Smart Set, August 1923
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
“Arson Plus” (by “Peter Collinson;" the first Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, October 1, 1923
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories & Other Writings, 2001
“Slippery Fingers” (by “Peter Collinson;” the second Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, October 15, 1923
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“Crooked Souls” (the third Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, October 15, 1923
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001. Also in The Big Knockover, 1966, under the title “The Gatewood Caper.” This is the first Op story credited to “Dashiell Hammett;” oddly enough, it appears in the same issue as another Op story, credited to “Peter Collinson.” (“Slippery Fingers,” directly above)
“The Dimple”
Original publication: Saucy Stories, October 15, 1923
Most recent reprint: A Man Named Thin, 1962, under the title “In the Morgue.”
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
“The Green Elephant”
Original publication: The Smart Set, October 1923
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
“It” (the fourth Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, November 1, 1923
Most recent reprint: Woman in the Dark, 1951, under the title “The Black Hat That Wasn’t There.”
“The Second-Story Angel”
Original publication: Black Mask, November 15, 1923
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“Bodies Piled Up” (The fifth Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, December 1, 1923
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999, under the title “House Dick.”
“Laughing Masks”
Original publication: Action Stories, November 1923
Most recently reprinted in Lost Stories, 2005
Original publication: Black Mask, January 1, 1924
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
Sometimes reprinted as “The Tenth Clue.”
“The Man Who Killed Dan Odams”
Original publication: Black Mask, January 15, 1924
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 2001
“Itchy”
Original publication: Brief Stories, January 1924
Most recent reprint: Lost Stories, 2005
“Esther Entertains”
Original publication: Brief Stories, February 1924
Most recent reprint: Lost Stories, 2005
“Night Shots” (the seventh Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, February 1, 1924
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“The New Racket”
Original publication: Black Mask, February 15, 1924
Most recent reprint: The Adventures of Sam Spade, 1944, under the title “The Judge Laughed Last.”
“Afraid of a Gun”
Original publication: Black Mask, March 1, 1924
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“Zigzags of Treachery” (The eighth Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, March 1, 1924
Recent reprints: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001. Also Nightmare Town, 1999.
“One Hour” (The ninth Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, April 1, 1924
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“The House in Turk Street” (the tenth Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, April 15, 1924
Most recent reprint: Vintage Hammett, 2005. Also Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“The Girl with Silver Eyes” (the 11th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, June 1924
Most recent reprint: Vintage Hammett, 2005. Also Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001.
“Women, Politics and Murder” (the 12th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, September 1924
Recent reprints: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001. Also in Nightmare Town, 1999, under the title “Death on Pine Street.”
“The Golden Horseshoe” (the 13th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, November 1924
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“Who Killed Bob Teal?” (by "Dashiell Hammett of the Continental Detective Agency;" the 14th Continental Op story)
Original publication: True Detective Stories, November 1924
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“Nightmare Town”
Original publication: Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 27, 1924
Recent reprints: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001. Nightmare Town, 1999.
Original publication: Black Mask, January, 1925
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999, under the title “Tom, Dick or Harry?”
“Ber-Bulu”
Original publication: Sunset magazine, March 1925
Most recent reprint: Lost Stories, 2005
“The Whosis Kid” (the 16th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, March 1925
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“The Scorched Face” (the 17th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, May 1925
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“Corkscrew” (the 18th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, September 1925
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“Ruffian’s Wife”
Original publication: Sunset magazine, October 1925
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“Dead Yellow Women” (the 19th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, November 1925
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“The Gutting of Couffignal” (the 20th Continental Op Story)
Original publication: Black Mask, December 1925
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
"Another Perfect Crime"
Original publication: Experience, exact date unknown
Most recent reprint: Lost Stories, 2005
(Until recently, this story was believed to be lost to the ages, but a copy finally surfaced.)
“The Man Who Loved Ugly Women”
Original publication: Experience, exact date unknown
(To the best of my knowledge, no known copies exist of this story)
Original publication: Black Mask, January 1926
Most recent reprint: The Creeping Siamese, 1950.
“The Assistant Murderer” (Featuring Alec Rush, the world's ugliest detective)
Original publication: Black Mask, February 1926
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“Creeping Siamese” (the 21st Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, March 1926
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
Original publication: Judge, February 26, 1927
Most recent reprint: Lost Stories, 2005
“The Big Knockover” (the 22nd Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, February 1927
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“$106,000 Blood Money” (the 23rd Continental Op Story)
Original publication: Black Mask, May 1927
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
Note: “The Big Knockover,” when combined with its sequel, “$106,000 Blood Money,” form Blood Money, which many consider to be Hammett’s true first novel, predating Red Harvest by two years. Since 1966, however, they have usually been presented as two related-but-separate short stories, rather than as a novel.
“The Main Death” (the 24th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, June 1927
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“The Cleansing of Poisonville” (the 25th Continental Op story.
Original publication: Black Mask, November 1927
and
“Crime Wanted - Male or Female” (the 26th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, December 1927
The two stories that became the first half of Red Harvest
Recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
Original publication: Mystery Stories, January 1928
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“Dynamite” (the 28th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, January 1928
and
“The 19th Murder” (the 29th Continental Op story.)
Original publication: Black Mask, February 1928
The two stories that became the second half of Red Harvest
Recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
“Black Lives” (the 30th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, November 1928
and
“The Hollow Temple” (the 31st Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, December 1928
The two stories that, after considerable reworking, became the first half of The Dain Curse
Reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
Original publication: Black Mask, January 1929
and
“Black Riddle” (the 33rd Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, February 1929
The two stories that became the second half of The Dain Curse
Recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
Red Harvest (Hammett's first hardback novel)
Original publication: February 1929
Recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
The Dain Curse (Hammett’s second hardback novel, mere months after the first)
Original publication: July 1929
Recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
“Fly Paper” (the 34th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, August 1929
Most recent reprint: Vintage Hammett, 2005. Also Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“The Maltese Falcon,” parts 1 through 5
Original publication: serialized in Black Mask between Sep. 1929 and Jan. 1930.
Most recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
“Diamond Wager” (by “Samuel Dashiell”)
Original publication: Detective Fiction Weekly, October 19, 1929
Never reprinted in any Hammett collection
Original publication: February, 1930
Recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
“The Farewell Murder” (the 35th Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, February 1930
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“The Glass Key”
Original publication: Black Mask, March 1930
and
“The Cyclone Shot”
Original publication: Black Mask, April 1930
and
“Dagger Point”
Original publication: Black Mask, May 1930
and
“The Shattered Key”
Original publication: Black Mask, June 1930
The four stories that became The Glass Key.
Recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
“Death and Company” (the 36th and final Continental Op story)
Original publication: Black Mask, November 1930
Most recent reprint: Return of the Continental Op, 1945.
Original publication: January, 1931
Recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
Creeps by Night (Hammett wrote the introduction to this 1931 horror anthology, and is credited as editor. Also released as Modern Tales of Horror. In 1961, a shortened version was published, retitled The Red Brain; later still, the title was changed to Breakdown.
· Tudor, 1932 (hardback with dust jacket)
· World, 1941 (hardback with dust jacket)
· Belmont, 1961 (hardback with dust jacket)
· Four Square, 1966 (paperback)
· New English Library, 1968 (paperback)
Original publication: Harper’s Bazaar, March 1932
Never reprinted in any Hammett collection.
“A Man Called Spade” (first of three post-Falcon Sam Spade stories)
Original publication: American Magazine, July 1932
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“Too Many Have Lived” (second of three post-Falcon Sam Spade stories
Original publication: American Magazine, October 1932
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“They Can Only Hang You Once” (third of three post-Falcon Sam Spade stories)
Original publication: Collier’s, November 19, 1932
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
Original publication: Liberty, April 8, 15, & 22, 1933
Most recent reprint: Crime Stories and Other Writings, 2001
“Night Shade”
Original publication: Mystery League Magazine, October 1, 1933
Most recent reprint: Lost Stories, 2005. Also Vintage Hammett, 2005
“Albert Pastor at Home”
Original publication: Esquire, Autumn 1933
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“The Thin Man” (magazine preview of the upcoming novel)
Original publication: Redbook, December 1933
Recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
Original publication: January 1934
Recent reprint: Complete Novels, 1999
“Two Sharp Knives” (Sometimes reprinted as “To a Sharp Knife.”)
Original publication: Collier’s, January 13, 1934
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“His Brother’s Keeper”
Original publication: Collier’s, February 17, 1934
Most recent reprint: Nightmare Town, 1999
“This Little Pig”
Original publication: Collier’s, 24 March 1934
Most recent reprint: Lost Stories, 2005
1942 : Knopf follows up with The Complete Dashiell Hammett, a single-volume hardcover edition of Hammett’s five novels, which are presented in reverse chronological order: The Thin Man first, Red Harvest last. Also in 1942, The Thin Man appears in paperback for the first time. Within three years, all of Hammett’s novels will have paperback editions.
1943 : Nine years after The Thin Man, a “new” Hammett novel is released in softcover (and inexpensive hardcover) under the title Blood Money. In reality, this “new” novel is the joining of two previously published short stories from 1927.
1944 : Ellery Queen edits and introduces The Adventures of Sam Spade, the first of what will eventually become a series of nine softcover collections of previously published Hammett stories.
1961 : Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine publishes the never-before-seen second Robin Thin story, “A Man Named Thin.”
1962 : A Man Named Thin, the ninth and final collection presented by Ellery Queen finally is released.
1965 : Alfred A Knopf once again reissues all five of Hammett’s novels in a single hardcover volume, this time called The Novels of Dashiell Hammett.
1966 : The Big Knockover, edited by Lillian Hellman, is released by Random House. It is the first major hardback collection of Hammett short stories. “Tulip,” a fragment of an unfinished Hammett novel is published here for the first time.
1974 : Steven Marcus edits and introduces The Continental Op, a second hardback short story collection from Random House.
1975: City of San Francisco Magazine publishes an unfinished early draft of The Thin Man, which features neither Nick nor Nora. This fragment was later included in both Crime Stories and Other Writings and Nightmare Town.
1986 : “After the Thin Man,” Hammett’s film treatment for the second Thin Man movie is published in The New Black Mask, issues 5 and 6.
1988 : Promoted as “the lost Hammett novel,” Woman in the Dark is a 76-page story that was serialized in Liberty magazine in 1933, and reprinted as part of a collection in 1951. In 1988, it is published as a major hardback from Knopf, with a new introduction by Robert B. Parker.
1999 : Nightmare Town, edited by Kirby McCauley, Martin H. Greenberg and Ed Gorman, and introduced by William F. Nolan is a third hardback collection of short stories. Also in 1999, Library of America releases Dashiell Hammett: Complete Novels, once again collecting all five novels in one hardcover volume.
2001 : The most ambitious Hammett collection yet, Library of America publishes Dashiell Hammett: Crime Stories and Other Writings in hardback. The stories were selected by Steven Marcus, who included all of his previous selections from 1974’s The Continental Op, plus a good many more.
2003: Richard Layman releases a massive study of Hammett in general and The Maltese Falcon in particular.Its formidable title is Dictionary of Literary Biograqphy, Volume 280: Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon - A Documentary Volume.
2005: 21 long-unseen Hammett stories are collected in Lost Stories, edited by Vince Emery and introduced by Joe Gores. Also in 2005, Vintage Books releases Vintage Hammett, featuring excepts from all five novels, as well as four complete short stories.
And even after all that, you still can't buy "The Complete Works of Dashiell Hammett!"