OurColony.net

Works in Progress

Customer Rating:
I have reviewed Raymond Chandler's seven full Phillip Marlowe epics elsewhere in this space. For those who doubt that a mere plebian detective in a once seedy genre can hold your attention and win your admiration as very, very good literature then try these short pieces to work up the 'big' boys. You will not be disappointed. Moreover, you will get a fair peek at what makes Marlowe tick in his previous guises-his sense of honor, his doggedness in the face of adversity and his tilting after windmills when he gets his teeth in a case. And it does not hurt if there is a good-looking 'dame' in the bargain.

ON BECOMING PHILLIP MARLOWE


Apparently there are many, many editions of this work listed under the Trouble is My Business label. I have reviewed the one that has Chandler's introduction about his take on the place of the detective novel in American literature circa 1950. Since then I have found a copy under the same title that has 12 stories in it many of which are different from the above. If you can find it- Vintage Paperback-1988- you will be justly rewarded because what you will get are snatches of stories with various charcters, locales, named detectives and different ending that will later go on to become The Big Sleep, Farewell, My Lovely and Lady in the Lake. Get it if you can, if for no other reason than to see how the master noir detective writer moved the work forward. Amazing.

Excellent collection of short stories and an excellent bargain

Customer Rating:
I'm a big fan of Raymond Chandler, and I'm also a big fan of Everyman's library.

I purchased this book after completing all of Chandler's novels. As usual with Everyman's Library, this is a very high quality hardcover edition with a cloth cover and high quality paper at a bargain price. Also, I believe this is the most complete set of Chandler's short stories you can currently buy (if I recall correctly, the Library of America collection, which is also quite a good buy, leaves out several stories).

One word of caution - if you plan to read both, I'd recommend reading Chandler's novels before the short stories, as he cannabalized a good amount of his earlier short stories when constructing some of his novels, so you'll end up reading some of the material twice. That said, for the most part, these stories are every bit as satisfying as his full length novels and I'd highly recommend this edition for any fan of Chandler's writing.

Great look at the development of an unforgettable character

Customer Rating:
Yes, there are a lot of great stories in this book, but for me the real interest is seeing Chandler develop the traits and try out the plotlines that will be fully fleshed out with the definitive Philip Marlowe. I was introduced to Chandler by a good friend (thanks, Darlene) about 25 years ago, and I still read his novels at least once a year. I would read The Big Sleep, The Long Goodbye, and Farewell, My Lovely first to get a sense of who Marlowe is and then backtrack into these stories to find out where Marlowe comes from. Marlowe has been my favorite literary character for a very long time. Down these mean pages, a man must go. An excellent collection and an excellent value.

Amazon asks me to review a book they still haven't sent me!!!

Customer Rating:
I'm giving the book five stars anyway, since I've read most of these stories before BUT ESPECIALLY because it is the only ABSOLUTELY COMPLETE COLLECTION of Chandler's short stories, including the ones he cannibalized to write three of the Marlowe novels which the late Chandler did not want to see reprinted, and several other rarely-seen stories including two fantasy ones!

AMAZON IS USUALLLY ACE WHEN IT COMES TO FILLING ORDERS, BUT IT SEEMS SILLY THAT THEY ASKED ME TO WRITE A REVIEW OF A PURCHASE THEY SHOULD KNOW THEY HAVEN'T SENT ME YET!!!

THE GREATEST WRITER OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Customer Rating:
WANT TO KNOW HOW TO WRITE. READ CHANDLER.
WHAT A MASTER.
AND YES! IT'S FUN TO READ.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES HIM A MASTER.
SUBSTANCE AND PROFUNDITY AND A HECK OF A GOOD YARN.
THAT'S A MASTERWORK.
AND CHANDLER IS THE ULTIMATE WRITER'S WRITER.