Samuel Dashiell Hammett, best known by his pen name Dashiell Hammett, was an American author and screenwriter. He is often regarded as one of the greatest crime writers of the 20th century. Some of his famous works include "The Maltese Falcon", "The Thin Man", and "Red Harvest." Synonyms for Dashiell Hammett could be "master of detective fiction," "pioneer of hard-boiled crime novels," "innovative crime writer," and "creator of classic noir." Hammett's literary contributions have played a significant role in shaping the crime genre, inspiring countless writers in the decades to come to delve deeper into the darker side of human nature and society.