The Condimental Op

A collection of noir, surreal stories, comicbook asides, hardboiled moments, fantasy, dystopia, sci-fi, snapshots of Japanese culture, and the existentialism of contemporary experimental electronic music. This is Bergen's baptismal short story collection, bringing together recent short stories, never-before-seen older material, new comicbook art, and a range of incisive pop-culture articles written about music and Japan from 1999 to 2013. ,

Now for the first time ever in one volume, all twenty-eight stories and two serialized novels starring the Continental Op—one of the greatest characters in storied history of detective fiction. Dashiell Hammett is the father of modern hard-boiled detective stories. His legendary works have been lauded for almost one hundred years by fans, and his novel The Maltese Falcon was adapted into a classic film starring Humphrey Bogart. One of Dashiell Hammett's most memorable characters, the Continental Op made his debut in Black Mask magazine on October 1, 1923, narrating the first of twenty-eight stories and two novels that would change forever the face of detective fiction. The Op is a tough, wry, unglamorous gumshoe who has inspired a following that is both global and enduring. He has been published in periodicals, paperback digests, and short story collections, but until now, he has never, in all his ninety-two years, had the whole of his exploits contained in one book. The book features all twenty-eight of the original standalone Continental Op stories, the original serialized versions of Red Harvest and The Dain Curse, and previously unpublished material. This anthology of Continental Op stories is the only complete, one-volume work of its kind.

The nine Continental Op stories written by Dashiell Hammett in 1924. The Tenth Clew – There were enough clews in this crime to give Mr. Hammett’s nameless detective a year or so of work. But solving a mystery in that length of time didn’t appeal to him. He wanted faster action—and he got it in good measure. So will you if you begin this entertaining novelette. I “Do you know. . . Emil Bonfils?” II “That’s Something!” III “A sleek kitten that dame!” IV “Maybe that ain’t so foolish!” V “Meet Mr. Smith” VI “Those damned horns!” VII “You have a lot of fun, don’t you?” VIII “I hope you swing!” Night Shots Zigzags of Treachery -A twelve chapter novella. One Hour – A three chapter novelette The House In Turk Street – We wouldn’t consider an issue complete without one of Mr. Hammett’s stories in it, and after you’ve read this tale, you’ll understand why. The Girl With The Silver Eyes – Mr. Hammett has written some lively and unusual tales about his realistic detective from the Continental Detective Agency, whose name has never been disclosed; but for action, shrewd detective-work, sheer interest, and surprise, his latest, herewith, surpasses them all.” A nineteen chapter novella. Death On Pine Street The Golden Horseshoe – In our recent voting contest for favorite Black Mask authors, Dashiell Hammett received thousands of votes because of his series of stories of the adventures of his San Francisco detective. He has created one of the most convincing and realistic characters in all detective fiction. The story, herewith, is one of his best to date. We know you’ll enjoy it to the last word.” A nine chapter novelette. Who Killed Bob Teal? – Operative Teal went out to shadow a thief, who didn’t even know he was suspected. Seven hours after Teal left his agency’s office, he was found—shot to death. Whose hand cut him down?”

'He is master of the detective novel, yes, but also one hell of a writer' Boston Globe Dashiell Hammett is the true inventor of modern detective fiction and the creator of the private eye, the isolated hero in a world where treachery is the norm. THE CONTINENTAL OP was his great first contribution to the genre and these seven stories, which first appeared in the magazine Black Mask, are the best examples of Hammett's early writing, in which his formidable literary and moral imagination is already operating at full strength. THE CONTINENAL OP is the dispassionate fat man working for the Continental Detective Agency, modelled on the Pinkerton Agency, whose only interest is in doing his job in a world of violence, passion, desperate action and great excitement.

1928 was a seminal year for Dashiell Hammett. He ended the series of stories known as the Poisonville stories that were later turned into the novel “Red Harvest.” Later in the year he began the series of stories that were turned into the novel “The Dain Curse.” In between those two series, Hammett sent his Op to the Balkans to babysit a naive rich boy who thought he might become a king by backing a coup – a lesser known comic opera done in Hammett’s inimitable style…. Dynamite The Cleansing of Poisonville. A novelette in nine chapters. The 19th Murder The Continental detective cleans up. A novelette in twelve chapters. This King Business The desire to rule is inherent in the breasts of most of us, notwithstanding the number of thrones that have toppled in the past decade. Mr. Hammett tells us of the strange series of events which led an American youth to seek kingship in “the Powder Magazine of Europe”—the Balkans. The consequences were—to put it mildly—exciting. Chapter I – “Yes”—and “No” Chapter II – Romaine Chapter III – Shadowing Chapter IV – Introductions Chapter V – A Flogging Chapter VI – Cards On The Table Chapter VII – Lionel’s Plans Chapter VIII – An Enlightening Interview Chapter IX – Conjectures Chapter X – Einarson In Control Chapter XI – A Romantic Interlude Chapter XII – The Night Before Chapter XIII – Progress Goes “Betune” Chapter XIV – Coronation Chapter XV – Bargain Hunters Chapter XVI – Lionel Rex Chapter XVII – Mob Law Black Lives The Dain Curse (Part 1) A novelette in six chapters The Hollow Temple The Dain Curse (Part 2) A novelette in seven chapters

From ‘The Big Knockover‘ to the beginnings of the Poisonville stories, 1927 was a very important year for Dashiell Hammett and the Continental Op. The Big Knockover was followed by the sequel $106,000 Blood Money. These two stories paved the way for Hammett’s exploration of longer stories that led to novels. At the end of the year Hammett wrote The Cleansing of Poisonville and Crime Wanted – Male or Female. These two novelettes became the first two parts of his novel Red Harvest published in 1929. The Big Knock-Over Before they actually do it, one is inclined to say it isn’t done. But the gang warfare in Illinois, the big mail-truck holdup in Jersey found bandits using airplanes, bombs and machine guns. And now Mr. Hammett pictures a daring action that is almost stunning in its scope and effectiveness—yet can anyone be sure that it isn’t likely to occur? A fifteen chapter novella. $106,000 Blood Money THE BIG KNOCK-OVER told of the looting of two banks by a large band of crooks gathered from all parts of the country for that purpose. Following the successful getaway with the plunder, a number of well-known members of the underworld of various cities are found murdered. These men were seen before the holdup and were suspected leaders of small groups participating in it. It becomes evident that the division of spoils is to be made among a few rather than between many. Murder succeeds murder, as the Continental detective narrows his search for the unknown head of the huge plot. In the end he finds him, only to let him escape, as the price of his own life, without knowing him to be the man he was after. $106,000 BLOOD MONEY is a sequel to THE BIG KNOCK-OVER. A twelve chapter novella. The Main Death A curious tangle of a robbery, a mysterious killing and jealousy. The Cleansing of Poisonville In recent years there have been too many examples where civic politics has degenerated into a business for profit. This story is the first, complete, episode in a series dealing with a city whose administrators have gone mad with power and lust of wealth. It is, also, to our minds, the ideal detective story—the new type of detective fiction which Black Mask is seeking to develop. You go along with the detective, meeting action with him, watching the development as the plot is unfolded, finding the clues as he finds them; and you have the feeling that you are living through the tense, exciting scenes rather than just reading a story. Poisonville is written by a master of his craft. A fourteen chapter novelette Crime Wanted— Male or Female The grim adventures of the Continental detective in The Cleansing of Poisonville. An eleven chapter novelette.

The first five Continental Op stories, written in 1923 by Dashiell Hammett and published in The Black Mask magazine.Written in first person, these are the stories of an unnamed operative for the Continental Detective Agency. The operative deals with the gamut of human crime and cruelty. Arson Plus (1923) Crooked Souls (1923) Slippery Fingers (1923) Bodies Piled Up (1923) It (1923)

The seven Continental Op stories that Dashiell Hammett wrote during 1925 and 1926 for The Black Mask magazine. Written in first person, these are the stories of an unnamed operative for the Continental Detective Agency. The operative deals with the gamut of human crime and cruelty. Mike or Alec or Rufus was published in the January 1925 issue. The Whosis Kid was published in the March 1925 issue. A novelette of thirteen chapters. The Scorched Face was published in the May 1925 issue. A novelette of eleven chapters. Corkscrew was published in the September 1925 issue. A novella of seventeen chapters. Dead Yellow Women was published in the November 1925 issue. A novelette of eleven chapters. The Gutting of Couffignal was published in the December 1925 issue. A novelette of nine chapters. The Creeping Siamese was published in the March 1926 issue. A novelette of two chapters.