No House Limit

by Steve Fisher

Book Overview

Casino owner Joe Martin faces down a Syndicate-backed gambler in a marathon craps game, with millions of dollars---and possibly even his life---at stake. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0843959630
• ISBN13: 9780843959635
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Hard Crime Case
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Terrific Vegas atmosphere

Joe Martin runs the Rainbow's End, the only independent casino left in Las Vegas; the rest are all run by the Syndicate (better known to the uninitiated as the Mafia). The Syndicate wants Joe out of business, so they surreptitiously challenge him on his own turf -- by sending Bello, the world's greatest gambler, to win millions of dollars at Joe's craps table. With Bello on their side, how can they lose? But a man like Joe Martin doesn't get where he is by taking unnecessary risks. He's got an ace in the hole of his own, namely an innocent schoolteacher from Utah. Steve Fisher, screenwriter of such beloved films as Lady in the Lake and Song of the Thin Man -- and Oscar-nominated for Destination Tokyo for his original story -- was the author of over 100 novels, as many screenplays for film and TV, and nearly 1,000 short stories. Any author who can produce that much understands the need for a brisk pace, and his novel No House Limit doesn't let up from the start. If other Fisher works are this briskly paced, I'll definitely be on the lookout for more. But the main reason for No House Limit's success is the atmosphere. Fisher's portrait of Las Vegas in the 1950s, especially the casino environment, is so rich and detailed, it's a character in itself. I would have believed that he was a denizen of the city himself. But according to his son Michael's afterword, he just really enjoyed gambling -- the rest came from research, in particular time spent with famous real-life gambler Nick the Greek. The portrayal of the inside of a busy casino: the overlapping voices (game callers on top of conversations) and the loneliness of crowds combines with his insightful characterizations to make No House Limit -- which is essentially a simple story, well told -- into a memorable reading experience.

An affectionate look at Vegas in the late 50's

Steve Fisher was a prolific writer in the 40's through the 60's and is best known for his I WAKE UP SCREAMING which was twice made into films. Here, he shows a deft style and a first rate flair for characterization as he details a marathon craps game between an independent casino owner and a well known and skillful gambler (modeled after the real life Nick The Greek) who's been hired by the syndicate to break the owner so that they can acquire the establishment.Along the way, we're introduced to the pianist/singer who's the principle entertainer and who becomes dangerously enamored of the gambler's current woman. Add to that mix the head of the casino's security who's efficiency makes him a target, and you have an enjoyable multi-layered story. This is 50's style writing, but don't expect a lot of pulpy action because it's not here. But you grow to care for not only these three characters, but for minor ones who typify those who float in and out of the gambling mecca.Fisher injects enough information about gambling and craps in particular so that one unfamiliar with the game can still enjoy the story. You also get a feeling for the background of Vegas as it was at the time. I quite recommend this for an enjoyable read.

No House Limit

Steve Fisher writes a fantastic novel. No House Limit is a marvellous, suspenseful, exciting, almost addictive piece of fiction. From the prologue, we get a glimpse behind the scenes at Joe Martin's independant casiono. The waitresses, the entertainment, the powerful owner, and the syndicate. Bello is called in to break Joe Martin and winner takes all. With his empire at stake, Martin must be at his best! Fishers' writing is packed with characterization, plots, and oozes passion for his craft. Simply outstanding. Wow! Hard Case Crime has yet another winner in the series. Steve Fisher was a popular author who penned screenplays, and original novels in a long career.

Well worth the $6.99 gamble

Among the twenty-plus movies that Fox has put out as part of its film noir series, one of my favorites has been I Wake Up Screaming, a gem with Victor Mature, Betty Grable, Elisha Cook and - in a scene-stealing performance - Laird Cregar. The movie was based on a novel by an almost-forgotten writer named Steve Fisher. Hard Case Crime, which has been reissuing a lot of out-of-print works from decades past, has given readers a chance to be introduced to Fisher with his 1958 novel, No House Limit. No House Limit is a tale of early Las Vegas, that is, the period when the city was really taking off with all new (often mob-financed) casinos. This was not a place for family vacations; all there was to do was gamble and occasionally see a show or go swimming. Joe Martin owns the Rainbow's End, a big casino that is independent from the syndicate; fortunately, Martin is savvy enough to prosper, but the syndicate has decided it's time to take him down. This doesn't involve anything as crude as murder; instead, the syndicate has staked the best craps player around, the infamous Bello, to win $10,000,000 from the Rainbow's End, ruining Martin in the process. Bello comes in early on a Sunday morning, and Martin - knowing what's coming - needs to monitor the gambler's play and okay the high bets that will be laid down. To some extent, the next few days will be a test of endurance as much as skill, as a marathon gambling session will occur with very little in the way of breaks. Complicating matters are little distractions that the syndicate has prepared to keep Martin and his security chief Sprig on their toes, a lounge singer who has caught the eye of Bello's girlfriend, and a beautiful schoolteacher who has enamored Martin. Fisher's prose has a nice lean quality to it that draws the reader in quickly and wastes few words. In addition, he begins most chapters with a little description of the workings of Vegas, establishing the city as a cruel town of superficial pleasures and desperate people. It's good stuff; actually, it's great stuff, the type of tough, short crime novel that you rarely see nowadays. Steve Fisher wrote a lot of books (and films) in his day, but with most of them forgotten, No House Limit is one of the rare chances to read him.