Mystery and Crime Chandler, Raymond: The Big Sleep ... V1. 2 Jan 2010

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Mike L

By the way, for the benefit of anyone following this thread who hasn't read The Big Sleep yet: don't let this put you off.

There's nothing in this discussion that will be a spoiler. The demise of the chauffeur is only one thread in the novel - and a relatively minor one.

yes, absolutely agree. and i think it was moejoe who said recently something like chandler novels are not really about the plot anyway, they're more about the ambiance, the characters, and all the little details. they're truly brilliant, and really you don't actually care that no-one knows who killed the chauffeur.

(maybe it was a rogue villain from a completely different novel who was on the run from the cops and knocked him off so he wouldn't squeal !)

[jgaiser]

A bit better formatted version from Australia is here.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by Mike L

As far as I remember, I found it in a book of short stories in our public library. They were stories from the American pulp crime magazines, like Black Mask. I'm not even certain of the title of the story.

If I get any more information, I'll post it here.

The story is The Curtain. For another chunk of The Big Sleep, see Killer In The Rain

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

The story is The Curtain. For another chunk of The Big Sleep, see Killer In The Rain

Thanks, Ralph. Now you mention it, I think Killer in the Rain was the name of the collection. There is certainly a copy of that book listed in my local library's catalogue. But I don't remember the name of any stories in the collection.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

A bit better formatted version from Australia is here.

oh, brilliant ! thank you !

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

The story is The Curtain. For another chunk of The Big Sleep, see Killer In The Rain

Originally Posted by Mike L

Thanks, Ralph. Now you mention it, I think Killer in the Rain was the name of the collection. There is certainly a copy of that book listed in my local library's catalogue. But I don't remember the name of any stories in the collection.

it looks like quite a few stories are available at both of the previously mentioned links. it's possible the entire collection is there. the curtain is, anyway.

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

A bit better formatted version from Australia is here.

*Blush* You mean .ua is not Australia? Actually the site is in the Ukraine.

And one should be careful using the site. It's *full* of copyrighted material.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

oh, brilliant ! thank you !




it looks like quite a few stories are available at both of the previously mentioned links. it's possible the entire collection is there. the curtain is, anyway.

Here is the list of short(er) stories written by Chandler (in publication order)

Blackmailers Don't Shoot
Smart-Alec Kill
Finger man
Killer In The Rain
Nevada Gas
Spanish Blood
Guns at Cyrano's
The Man Who Liked Dogs
Pickup on Noon Street
Goldfish
The Curtain
Try the Girl
Mandarin Jade
Red Wind
The King In Yellow
Bay City Blues
The Lady In The Lake
Pearls Are A Nuisance
Trouble Is My Business
I'll Be Waiting
The Bronze Door
There's No Crime in the Mountains
Professor Bingo's Snuff
The Pencil
English Summer

[Mike L]

Very useful and interesting, Ralph.

So I was right about Killer in the Rain being a short story (as well as the name of the collection I referred to earlier).

I'm slightly surprised that Smart-Alec Kill was so early. It seemed to be much more mature than any of the others I can remember reading. I'm also slightly surprised tha The Lady in the Lake is on the list. I thought that was a full-lengh novel.

I've still got an old copy of Tom Hine's biography of Raymond Chandler. I'll have to read it again to refresh my memory of all this.