5" x 8", 319 page trade paperback titled THE CONTINENTAL OP by Dashiell Hammett/ Vintage Crime - Black Lizard Edition, ISBN # 0-679-72258-0, First Vintage Crime/ Black Lizard Edition, August 1992, Later printing/ Hammett's The Continental Op is series of seven short stories with the detective with no name, who is a sort of blueprint for the tough minded, gritty, street-smart detective we would see in future books and films. In many ways, the Op is the antithesis to the likes of a Marlowe or Spade; he is short, doesn't have the charm or handsome appearance that these detectives have, yet the Op seems more authentic to his job. He has a grittiness and toughness that keeps him indifferent to anything he experiences. He often sees the worst actions in people and barely blinks. Even though he isn't afraid to get help from other operatives, to him solving a case is an art form, a quest. His wry humor is grounded and subtle; he doesn't have to solve a crime with style as long as he gets the job done, and sometimes this involves breaking the rules, or doing things to gain an advantage over the bad guys. Therefore, he has no qualms about bringing help in to get him through. The Op has a habit of stumbling right into the middle of a serious jam, using his instincts to lead him out of trouble and to get his man or woman. Frequently he is called to solve a case, only to find this case take on a life of its own (for example, "The House in Turk Street"), being more complex and complicated than anticipated. False names and cover ups are commonplace in these stories, as well as dangerous dames trying to distract or bring down our protagonist. And, of course, there are plenty of seedy characters, criminals, degenerates, backstabbers, and other thuggish types. The book is complete and in VERY GOOD condition with some overall wear and off-white pages.