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New "Lost Stories" book uncovers 21 long-lost tales from Dashiell Hammett


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SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- Sep 01, 2005 -- Dashiell Hammett, the bestselling creator of "The Thin Man," Sam Spade, and "The Maltese Falcon," was one of the America's most famous authors. However, many of Hammett's stories -- including some of his best -- have been out of the reach of anyone but a handful of scholars and collectors until today. "Lost Stories," a new book published today, rescues 21 long-lost Hammett stories, all either never before collected or unavailable for decades.

Fans of Hammett's famous mysteries will be surprised by the variety in "Lost Stories." Stories include Hammett's first detective fiction, humorous satires, adventure yarns, a sensitive autobiographical piece, a Thin Man story told with photos, and a tale that Ellery Queen promised "is one of the most startling stories you have ever read." Stories range from the first fiction Hammett ever wrote to his very last. All stories have been restored to their original versions, replacing often-wholesale cuts with the original text for the first time.

For each story, Hammett researcher Vince Emery tells how Hammett's life shaped the story and how the story affected his life. Emery's comments reveal facts about Hammett's life not covered in any other book.

To round out this celebration of Hammett, three-time Edgar Award winner Joe Gores has contributed an introduction describing how Hammett influenced literature, movies, television, and Gores' own life.

Early reviewers are impressed by "Lost Stories." "A hugely important book," writes Otto Penzler in the "New York Sun." "The volume belongs on the shelf of every detective fiction reader and collector."

In a starred review in "Booklist," Connie Fletcher writes: "These 21, long-out-of-print stories find Hammett at or near the top of his game, his signature hard-boiled style shining brightly. Editor and publisher Emery does a fantastic job of bringing Hammett the accomplished writer and Hammett the struggling writer alive."

"Lost Stories" is published by Vince Emery Productions (www.emerybooks.com). It is the first title in The Ace Performer Collection, a new series of books by and about Dashiell Hammett, crowned "the ace performer" by his disciple Raymond Chandler. Beginning today, the new book is available at bookstores and online booksellers throughout the United States and Canada.

"Advance response has been strong," says editor-publisher Emery. "Both the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Mystery Guild selected 'Lost Stories' as a Featured Alternate Selection. The first printing sold out two months before the publication date, so we had to order a second printing before publication."

"Lost Stories" is released in 2005 as part of events held worldwide to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publication of Dashiell Hammett's masterpiece "The Maltese Falcon," often named as one of the twentieth-century's best novels.

About Dashiell Hammett

Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961) was one of the world's most popular and influential writers. Famous as the best-selling creator of Sam Spade, "The Maltese Falcon," and "The Thin Man," Hammett was also a Pinkerton's detective, an advertising man, a soldier in the U.S. Army during both World Wars, an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, a political activist, and a short story writer.

"Lost Stories" by Dashiell Hammett Publication date: September 1, 2005 Cloth hardback; $24.95 U.S./$33.95 Canada; 352 pages; ISBN 0-9725898-1-3 To request a review copy, contact Lee Houskeeper at 1-415-777-4700. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax IPG at 1-312-337-5985 or call 1-800-888- 4741.

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