- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Knopf (Feb 10 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0307264645
- ISBN-13: 978-0307264640
- Product Dimensions: 15 x 3.5 x 22.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 522 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #250,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
Early praise:
“No one understands Dashiell Hammett better than Joe Gores, and no one but Joe Gores could have produced such a masterful and faithful rendering of the prequel to The Maltese Falcon. Spade & Archer stands on its own as a taut, engrossing existential crime saga set in San Francisco’s vibrant 1920’s, and as an evocation of Hammett’s style and plots is a triumph. Gores’s wondrous talent shines and the shadow it casts of Hammett is smiling.”
–James Grady, author of Six Days of the Condor and Mad Dogs
“Seventy-nine years after The Maltese Falcon was first published, the other (gum)shoe drops. It’s called Spade and Archer and it’s fabulous.”
–Michael Harvey
“It took guts for Joe Gores to attempt a prequel to one of the great American novels. Guts or nuts, had to be one or the other. Lesser writers have attempted to ape Hammett’s style and come off like mannered tough guys wearing their big brothers’ double-breasted suits, but Gores manages to be both true to Hammett's vision and true to his own considerable gifts. Spade & Archer is a triumph–intricately plotted, deft and strongly written, and perhaps most exciting, he shows us Sam Spade at the beginning of his career, deepening our appreciation of the character. I loved it.”
–Robert Ferrigno
“I was amazed at Joe Gore’s Spade & Archer. He's got Hammett’s style down, and the story he tells is every bit as engrossing as anything Hammett ever wrote. I adored it.”
–Joe R. Lansdale
“Edgar-winner Gores has not only pulled off the Herculean task of writing a prequel to The Maltese Falcon but also created a rip-roaring yarn of his own that will please even the crustiest of Hammett devotees . . . The author, who does a brilliant job of bringing Prohibition-era San Francisco to life with street-level detail and a native’s perspective, also captures Hammett’s spare style and tone perfectly.”
–Publishers Weekly (starred)
“Veteran Gores spins the straw of an origin story for the firm of Spade & Archer, violently dissolved in the opening chapters of The Maltese Falcon, into storytelling gold . . . Along with the obligatory pleasures of watching Spade dealing with familiar supporting characters for the first time, Gores, a far more virtuoso plotter than Hammett, keeps multiple pots boiling furiously while providing a pitch-perfect replica of his master’s voice.”
–Kirkus Reviews (starred)
“Here’s another chance to walk the streets of San Francisco with the city’s most memorable fictional character . . . Gores not only creates a compelling backstory for Spade but also does it so completely in the Hammett style that we suspend disbelief in an instant. Rather than marveling at how much Gores sounds like Hammett, we forget all about who’s doing what and let the mood take over. From the clipped dialogue to the emphasis on the geography of San Francisco to the carefully detailed recounting of what a PI does, Gores nails it. He’s equally on the mark with Hammett’s characters.”
–Booklist (starred)
“No one understands Dashiell Hammett better than Joe Gores, and no one but Joe Gores could have produced such a masterful and faithful rendering of the prequel to The Maltese Falcon. Spade & Archer stands on its own as a taut, engrossing existential crime saga set in San Francisco’s vibrant 1920’s, and as an evocation of Hammett’s style and plots is a triumph. Gores’s wondrous talent shines and the shadow it casts of Hammett is smiling.”
–James Grady, author of Six Days of the Condor and Mad Dogs
“Seventy-nine years after The Maltese Falcon was first published, the other (gum)shoe drops. It’s called Spade and Archer and it’s fabulous.”
–Michael Harvey
“It took guts for Joe Gores to attempt a prequel to one of the great American novels. Guts or nuts, had to be one or the other. Lesser writers have attempted to ape Hammett’s style and come off like mannered tough guys wearing their big brothers’ double-breasted suits, but Gores manages to be both true to Hammett's vision and true to his own considerable gifts. Spade & Archer is a triumph–intricately plotted, deft and strongly written, and perhaps most exciting, he shows us Sam Spade at the beginning of his career, deepening our appreciation of the character. I loved it.”
–Robert Ferrigno
“I was amazed at Joe Gore’s Spade & Archer. He's got Hammett’s style down, and the story he tells is every bit as engrossing as anything Hammett ever wrote. I adored it.”
–Joe R. Lansdale
“Edgar-winner Gores has not only pulled off the Herculean task of writing a prequel to The Maltese Falcon but also created a rip-roaring yarn of his own that will please even the crustiest of Hammett devotees . . . The author, who does a brilliant job of bringing Prohibition-era San Francisco to life with street-level detail and a native’s perspective, also captures Hammett’s spare style and tone perfectly.”
–Publishers Weekly (starred)
“Veteran Gores spins the straw of an origin story for the firm of Spade & Archer, violently dissolved in the opening chapters of The Maltese Falcon, into storytelling gold . . . Along with the obligatory pleasures of watching Spade dealing with familiar supporting characters for the first time, Gores, a far more virtuoso plotter than Hammett, keeps multiple pots boiling furiously while providing a pitch-perfect replica of his master’s voice.”
–Kirkus Reviews (starred)
“Here’s another chance to walk the streets of San Francisco with the city’s most memorable fictional character . . . Gores not only creates a compelling backstory for Spade but also does it so completely in the Hammett style that we suspend disbelief in an instant. Rather than marveling at how much Gores sounds like Hammett, we forget all about who’s doing what and let the mood take over. From the clipped dialogue to the emphasis on the geography of San Francisco to the carefully detailed recounting of what a PI does, Gores nails it. He’s equally on the mark with Hammett’s characters.”
–Booklist (starred)
Product Description
When Sam Spade gets drawn into the Maltese Falcon case, we know what to expect: straight talk, hard questions, no favors, and no way for anyone to get underneath the protective shell he wears like a second skin. We know that his late partner, Miles Archer, was a son of a bitch; that Spade is sleeping with Archer’s wife, Iva; that his tomboyish secretary, Effie Perine, is the only innocent in his life. What we don’t know is how Spade became who he is. Spade & Archer completes the picture.
1921: Spade sets up his own agency in San Francisco and clients quickly start coming through the door. The next seven years will see him dealing with booze runners, waterfront thugs, stowaways, banking swindlers, gold smugglers, bumbling cops, and the illegitimate daughter of Sun Yat-sen; with murder, other men’s mistresses, and long-missing money. He’ll bring in Archer as a partner, though it was Archer who stole his girl while he was fighting in World War I. He’ll tangle with a villain who never loses his desire to make Spade pay big for ruining what should’ve been the perfect crime. And he’ll fall in love—though it won’t turn out for the best. It never does with dames . . .
Spade & Archer is a gritty, pitch-perfect, hard-boiled novel—the work of a master mystery writer—destined to become a classic in its own right.
1921: Spade sets up his own agency in San Francisco and clients quickly start coming through the door. The next seven years will see him dealing with booze runners, waterfront thugs, stowaways, banking swindlers, gold smugglers, bumbling cops, and the illegitimate daughter of Sun Yat-sen; with murder, other men’s mistresses, and long-missing money. He’ll bring in Archer as a partner, though it was Archer who stole his girl while he was fighting in World War I. He’ll tangle with a villain who never loses his desire to make Spade pay big for ruining what should’ve been the perfect crime. And he’ll fall in love—though it won’t turn out for the best. It never does with dames . . .
Spade & Archer is a gritty, pitch-perfect, hard-boiled novel—the work of a master mystery writer—destined to become a classic in its own right.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Worthy Look at Life for Sam Spade before The Maltese Falcon,
By Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 112,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (#1 HALL OF FAME)
This review is from: Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon (Hardcover)
"As snow in summer and rain in harvest,So honor is not fitting for a fool." -- Proverbs 26:1 How did Sam Spade and Miles Archer meet and become partners? How did Sam and Miles' wife Iva become an item? Why was Miles such a sap in The Maltese Falcon? Those are questions that probably occurred to you either while reading The Maltese Falcon or watching the classic movie with Humphrey Bogart. You've probably got your own answers, but if you are like me your answers are as murky as a July fog in San Francisco. Into that breach has stepped Joe Gores to flesh out those speculations into a more interesting story than I could have imagined. I'm grateful for the gift. It's hard to write hard-core noir in the 21st century and have it work for portraying so many years earlier. We've had so many cultural influences since then to put us off the mind set and the style. Mr. Gores does an admirable job of keeping out many of the more recent perspectives. Most of the time, you'll feel just a momentary roughness . . . and go back into the world of Dashiell Hammett's story telling. I particularly enjoyed the places where Sam Spade figures out an angle and fast talks people into revealing and doing things that they don't intend. It was pure Hammett at his best. One of the nicest surprises is that this is a standalone story that would provide enjoyment even if you had never read The Maltese Falcon and had no desire to do so. So what doesn't work as well? I felt that the story line involving Sun Yat-sen's daughter didn't flow as well as it might. It seemed more like an affectation from someone who admires E.L. Doctorow rather than being within Hammett's style. The descriptions of violence didn't quite work for me either. All in all, the book was a lot better than I expected . . . and I had high expectations. I think you'll be engrossed and have fun. What more can a noir mystery do?
4.0 out of 5 stars
To hell with you, Sam Spade,
By E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME) (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon (Hardcover)
"The Maltese Falcon" needs no introduction. The murdered partner, the femme fatale, the mysterious statue, and the ultra hardboiled Sam Spade.Strictly speaking, Dashiell Hammett's legendary mystery noir needs no sequel, prequel or anything of the sort. But at the urging of Hammett's daughter, Joe Gores manages to make the prequel not only work, but stand as an enjoyable story all on its own. The fast-moving noir has plenty of sharp dialogue, familiar characters, clever winks to Hammett's legacy, and a spare style that is reminiscent of Hammett's own. After World War I, a hardened Sam Spade returns to San Francisco, where Miles Archer has married Sam's old girlfriend Iva (she of the fast-changing widow's weeds), who still obviously has a big thing for him. Despite his claim that he doesn't really like the detective work since the war ("Too much head knocking, not enough door knocking"), he hires a part-time secretary, Effie Perine, whose innocent perkiness is a complete contrast to him. And he's confronted by some fairly steep cases over the seven years that follow, both before and after Archer becomes his partner -- a young boy who is running away from his wealthy parents, a boatload of stolen gold, bootleggers, a banker's mysterious drowning, a Grecian girl supposedly being shadowed by a Turk, a mysterious Chinese "paper daughter," and the head of a church who isn't all he seems. One of the first things you notice about "Spade and Archer" is that the manner in which Gores writes it -- a lot like Hammett did. The man wrote the novel "Hammett" (basis for the Wim Wenders movie) so he's obviously a mega-Hammett-fanboy, and he saturates the book in rolled cigarettes, quick action, streaks of sin, and a general atmosphere of jaded ennui. And he's managed to capture the smoky, sharp flavor of between-wars San Francisco, as well as providing lots of quick-witted dialogue. It's good enough that you can almost hear Humphrey Bogart speaking some of the lines ("I think if you need to use a gun you're doing a lousy job as a detective"). And we have a few wink-nudge homages to dear ol' Dashiell as well -- note the reference to Black Mark and Continental. But that doesn't mean he can write like Hammett did, or do justice to the legendary, near-untouchable characters he created. It just so happens that he does a pretty good job with it -- not perfect, but quite good. Gores doesn't have quite the knack with evocative description that Hammett had (no "blond Satan" descriptions) but he does have skill. The entire prose style is carved down and spare, with some lean descriptions and sharp-witted dialogue -- thankfully, there are no interludes of self-examination or long meandering thoughts. But though "Spade and Archer" sticks close to the template, Gores does try to flesh out Sam Spade with some background -- a runaway youth, a stint in WWI France, and an engagement to the simpering Iva. Archer is mostly absent in this book, but is suitably depicted as "dumb as a post and greedy as a lawyer," while the innocent Effie is slowly matured by the nastier side of life that she sees as Spade's assistant. "Spade and Archer" is a pretty solid little novel that captures the flavour of Hammett's writing, if not the exact texture. Joe Gores deserves a pat on the back for this one, angel.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A READING ROMP AND APT TRIBUTE TO THE MASTER,
By
This review is from: Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon (Hardcover)
Who can forget the iconic Sam Spade, that terse, tough guy who prowled the streets of San Francisco in the 1930s? No doubt that with Spade Dashiell Hammett created a classic figure, a part of detective story. The Maltese Falcon in book form and on film have indelibly imprinted Spade upon our minds. Yes, we know a lot about this private eye - he's fearless, unlucky in love, fascinating, and smart.But Spade sprung upon our literary scene full-blown; he's used to checking out backgrounds - what about his? The top flight author of 17 novels, including Hammett, and recipient of three Edgar Awards Joe Gores has given us a gift - "Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon." enabling us to meet Spade in 1921. We see him setting up his own agency, and hiring the 17-year-old Effie Perine as his secretary for the princely sum of $10 a week. Once he's assured that she'll learn how to roll a cigarette, he adds, "If you make it through the first month maybe you'll get a pay raise. If you earn it." Of course, she more than makes it through the first month despite dealing with thugs, swindlers, incompetent cops, and almost every manner of human detritus while at the same time trying to look after her boss. Gores piles plot upon plot in his fascinating story, from smugglers to a runaway youth. He writes so succinctly, so crisply that you can almost hear Spade's rough voice as when he describes the dock, "In the bay Alcatraz was baying like an old hound, Land's End lighthouse was yapping back from beyond the Gate." Or, hear it his impression of an unknown secretary in the Flood Building who was "banging on a typewriter as if it were a faithless lover." This story is a romp, great fun to read and apt tribute to the master, Dashiell Hammett. - Gail Cooke
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