Unraveling the Legacy: Max Allan Collins Discusses Carrying Forth Dashiell Hammett's Craftership
In an insightful account of his creative process, author Max Allan Collins offers insights into the writing of his latest novel, Return of the Maltese Falcon. The tale pays homage to Dashiell Hammett's iconic 1929 detective novel, while maintaining a unique voice and style of its own.
Collins recalls reading the 1961 paperback edition of The Maltese Falcon at age thirteen, resonating with its contemporary portrayal of Casper Gutman, Brigid O'Shaughnessy, and Wilmer Cook. The book, he notes, was treated as just another mystery novel, twenty years after John Huston's groundbreaking film adaptation had graced theaters.
Two editions of the book proved particularly valuable to Collins during the writing process. The Modern Library publication from 1934 includes Hammett's introduction, shedding light on the novel's evolution from the author's experiences as a Pinkerton detective. Hammett discusses the reworking of elements from short stories he felt hadn't reached their full potential, and essentially admits writing The Maltese Falcon without a clearly defined plot or outline.
The other edition Collins relied upon is the 1984 publication from North Point Press, a San Francisco-based publisher that features full-page, mostly period, photos of locations mentioned or implied in the novel. A valuable aspect of this edition is the extensive collection of end notes, packed with useful information about the historical context of the story.
Collins also delved into the initial pulp serialization of the novel in Otto Penzler's anthology, The Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories (2010), and drew upon Don Herron's The Dashiell Hammett Tour to gain a deeper understanding of the novel's geographical settings.
For those unfamiliar with the City by the Bay, Don Herron's guidebook offers essential information, including a comprehensive biography of Hammett, walking and driving maps, and theories about the real-life locations depicted in the novel. Herron's guidebook is an indispensable resource for Hammett enthusiasts.
While researching for Return of the Maltese Falcon, Collins primarily relied on the work of Hammett, refraining from revisiting film adaptations or later works inspired by the book. The novel is a continuation of Hammett's original story, not incorporating elements from any later adaptations or the author's subsequent writings.
Collins explains his approach to writing Return of the Maltese Falcon as balancing homage to the original work with a nod to his native style, all while remaining faithful to the novel's historical context. He highlights Hammett's subjective narrator, his tendency to call certain characters by their full names, and the author's distinctive style as inspirations for his own writing.
Collins notes that Sam Spade's impact on popular culture and the private eye genre is substantial, having been extended by John Huston's film and subsequent radio shows. It is his hope that readers, frustrated by the brevity of Hammett's body of work, will enjoy and accept Return of the Maltese Falcon as a loving tribute to Dashiell Hammett and the private eye genre.
[1] "Dashiell Hammett Biography." Biography.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2022.[2] "Dashiell Hammett." The Novelists' Library. The Novelists' Library, n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2022.[3] "Hard-Boiled Detective Fiction." Literary Genre.com. Independence STRATEGY, n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2022.
[1] "Max Allan Collins' hardboiled books, such as Return of the Maltese Falcon, showcase his dedication to the hard-boiled detective fiction genre, emulating the style and voice of Dashiell Hammett."
[2] "For Collins, reading Hammett's books like The Maltese Falcon and delving into resources like Don Herron's guidebook and Otto Penzler's anthology served as invaluable sources of entertainment and inspiration, shaping his own unique writing style."
