I've delved into a significant amount of parody within this particular genre, despite not having extensively read the original works of the genre itself.

To be completely honest, I found it highly enjoyable. In each of these stories, it seems that not much truly changes for Marlowe. However, there is an undeniable and palpable thrill that comes with the act of reading.

I'm not entirely certain if I would actively seek out more of these types of stories. Nevertheless, I can't deny that I did have a genuine liking for the ones I've already read.

It's an interesting phenomenon where the parodies can offer a unique form of entertainment and engagement, even without a deep understanding of the original genre.

Perhaps it's the creativity and playfulness within the parodies that吸引了 my attention and made the reading experience so enjoyable.

Regardless, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to explore this aspect of the literary world, even if it's through the lens of parody.

Who knows, maybe in the future, I'll be more inclined to venture into the original works of the genre and see how they compare to the parodies I've come to appreciate.

For now, though, I'll continue to enjoy the stories I have and look forward to any new parodies that might come my way.

This was my very first introduction to the shorter stories about Marlowe.

I was truly overjoyed to discover that Marlowe's voice remained as genuine as ever.

It was filled to the brim with those perfectly apt analogies and similes that he is so renowned for.

The stories seemed to come alive with his unique style of writing, transporting me into a world of vivid imagery and engaging narratives.

Each analogy and simile was like a precious gem, adding depth and color to the tales.

I found myself completely immersed in Marlowe's literary universe, eagerly devouring each word and sentence.

His ability to create such powerful and evocative descriptions through the use of analogies and similes is truly a remarkable talent.

It made me appreciate his work even more and left me longing for more of his shorter stories.

I can't wait to explore further and see what other wonderful literary treasures Marlowe has in store for me.

The actual score: three and a half.

I liked the story of "The Red Badge of Courage" more.

The rest of it was interesting, but there were some places where one felt there were some flaws. Overall, it was a good read.

The translator also wrote an introduction about the American Western frontier in the early decades of the 20th century and its influence on the formation of the American working-class novel. Although it didn't have many details, it was good to read. I didn't have any problems with the translation either, and I don't remember any particular mistakes when I was getting to the essence of it.

This book offers a unique perspective on American history and literature. The story of "The Red Badge of Courage" is engaging and full of action, while the other stories provide a glimpse into different aspects of American life. The introduction by the translator adds another layer of depth to the book, helping readers to better understand the historical and cultural context in which the stories were written.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in American literature or history. It is a great read that will leave you with a better understanding of the country and its people.

A great entry point for Raymond Chandler is this collection of short stories. Technically, I'm reading it after the first Marlow book, "The Big Sleep."

It consists of a bunch of short stories with winding and truly unpredictable mysteries. Through these, Chandler brings to life the elusive, sad, and always hopeful private investigator Marlowe. What's especially enjoyable is how Chandler's stories here defy the stereotypes of the genre and the era. The women are usually closer to thirty or even older and are as fully developed as the other male characters. That is, Chandler writes them as real people with motives and lives, just like everyone else. Marlowe takes far more beatings than he dishes out, he experiences genuine emotions (oh dear, his friendship in one of the stories really tugged at my heartstrings), and he works through mysteries with a great deal of confusion and effort. It's all very refreshing.

If you're looking for a primer on noir or Los Angeles fiction in short format, this is highly recommended. However, I dare you not to come back for more of Marlowe.

I had to read "Trouble is my Business" for my crime and conspiracy fiction class.

It was truly a drag. The story was extremely confusing, making it difficult for me to follow along.

Moreover, there were simply too many characters, which only added to the chaos.

I found myself constantly getting lost and struggling to keep track of who was who and what their roles were.

Based on my experience with this particular story, I would rate it a mere 1 star.

Given how unenjoyable it was, I have no intention of continuing with this anthology.

I'm hoping to find other works in the crime and conspiracy genre that are more engaging and easier to understand.

Perhaps then, I'll have a more positive experience and a greater appreciation for this type of fiction.

Trouble Is My Business is an incredibly wonderful and highly enjoyable collection of short stories. The protagonist, Phillip Marlowe, brings these tales to life with his unique charm. Filled with layers of humor, a touch of soul, and numerous unexpected twists, this collection truly transcends the typical detective genre. Each and every one of these stories has the potential to be my absolute favorite. However, the title story, "Red Wind," and "Goldfish" have already made me eager to return and reread them.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from "Red Wind." "There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen." This vivid description sets the mood perfectly and makes you feel as if you are right there in the midst of that hot and tense night.

Another great quote is "The kid's face had as much expression as a cut of round steak and was about the same color." This humorous and yet brutally honest observation adds a touch of levity to the story while also painting a clear picture of the character.

This material is very dated, but that isn't a criticism nor does it detract from my enjoyment of the material.

It just pointed out that times have changed. Detectives have changed, etc. These were fun detective stories about Philip Marlowe.

Someone loaned me The Big Sleep and I wanted to read this one first.

Not only is it a great portrait of 1940s Los Angeles, these are also fun hard boiled detective stories with really strong characters and some great writing.

I love Raymond Chandler's descriptions and writing style.

The way he brings the city to life and the way he develops his characters is truly remarkable.

The stories are full of mystery, intrigue, and danger, and I couldn't put them down.

Overall, I would highly recommend these detective stories to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

Thumbs up!

Raymond Chandler was undoubtedly a great writer.

However, I feel a bit uncomfortable giving this collection of short stories three stars.

While he was a great writer, I found the stories superficially entertaining but lacking much depth. These are tales from 1930s Los Angeles. The characters are painted skillfully, yet without much sentiment or exploration of their deeper motivations. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place for deeper motivations. In terms of motives for crimes, these are clear, and this is a tale of what a tough, cynical, hard-drinking private eye witnesses in his work. The written portraits of the main characters are colourful and vivid. The stories capture something of the glamour and horror of the Los Angeles where the crimes occur. The body count is high, and a couple of the coincidences felt a little contrived.

That said, given the obvious gifts with which these short stories are written, I would be interested to read some of Chandler's longer works. I believe that in his longer novels, he might have more space to develop the characters and explore their motives more deeply. Maybe then, I would be able to fully appreciate his genius as a writer.

There's a wealth of top-notch storytelling encapsulated within these delicious little bundles. When compared to Chandler's full-length narratives, they do lack a bit in Marlowe's sharply perceptive and often melancholy self-reflections. However, this is to be anticipated in a shorter format. Highly recommended for Chandler enthusiasts, it also serves as an excellent starting point for those new to his masterful touch.

Trouble is My Business (4.0) - There are a few too many tenuous plot threads and twists, making this more challenging to follow than it ought to be.

Finger Man (4.0) - It's a departure from the typical Marlowe storylines as he is directly involved as a key witness to a murder, without a client to speak of. Additionally, it's a bit unusual that there's someone he actually deems a friend (who would have known!), and he receives some cooperation from the law, with whom he is usually at odds to some degree.

Goldfish (5.0) - Marlowe embarks on a mission to recover some stolen pearls, engaging in a sort of treasure hunt, albeit a deadly one. There are a few too many convenient coincidences, but it's an outstanding story that lies quite far outside the usual murder/blackmail noir tales.

Red Wind (5.0) - Another departure that commences with Marlowe as a witness to a cold-blooded murder, and then目睹 him getting embroiled with a femme fatale and some bad apples in a blackmailing scheme that goes horribly wrong.

Five short stories offer a thrilling and captivating look into the seedy underbelly of 1930s LA.

In "Trouble is my Business," a wealthy man hires PI Dalmas to investigate a woman who has her sights set on his stepson. As the bodies start to stack up, Dalmas discovers a web of greed and murder, with Jeeter using his chauffeur George to kill the stepson for the inheritance.

"Red Wind" stands out as the best of the bunch. A man is brutally gunned down in front of Dalmas in a bar, and he is saved by a woman being blackmailed by the victim. Dalmas uncovers a convoluted plot involving a conman and valuable pearls, ultimately destroying them to preserve the woman's memories of true love, all against the backdrop of a mysterious red wind that seems to drive people to strange acts.

"I’ll be waiting" follows a hotel detective who protects a woman being targeted by a gang to pressure her boyfriend into paying his debts. When the boyfriend shows up, a violent gunfight ensues, resulting in his death, unbeknownst to the girl.

"Goldfish" sees Dalmas on the hunt for a reward for stolen pearls. The thief has been caught but never revealed the location of the pearls. Now released, the crook becomes the target of others, and as the bodies pile up again, Dalmas finally discovers the pearls hidden in some goldfish.

Finally, in "Guns at Cyrano’s," Ted Malvern, wealthy from his crooked father, gets involved with a woman who is pretending to be a crooked Senator’s daughter and blackmailing him. After a series of murders, they end up together.

The stories are filled with atmosphere and humor, and it's interesting to note that the detective was later changed to Philip Marlowe.

Stories are indeed quite good. They have the ability to engage and captivate the reader. However, one aspect that stands out is that the author gets a little heavy on the slang.

The use of slang can add a certain authenticity and flavor to the narrative, making it feel more contemporary and relatable. It can create a sense of informality and make the characters seem more real.

Nevertheless, when the slang is overused, it can sometimes become a distraction. It might make it difficult for some readers to fully understand the story or connect with the characters on a deeper level.

A balance needs to be struck between using enough slang to enhance the story and not going overboard. This way, the story can retain its charm and appeal while still being accessible to a wider audience.

Lamentably, I only managed to obtain the title story and not the entire collection. However, it was truly good! In a really excellent pulp-fiction kind of way.

UPDATE: Subsequently, I embarked on a search for the remaining stories online. To my surprise, I discovered that there are numerous different Chandler collections bearing the title "Trouble is My Business." I proceeded to read an entire one and snippets of others on my phone. They were all good, again, in that really great pulp-fiction style.

The title story had already piqued my interest, and I was eager to explore more of Chandler's work. The online search opened up a whole new world of his stories for me. Although I couldn't read every single one in its entirety, the bits and pieces I managed to consume left me longing for more. Chandler's writing has a certain charm and allure that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. I look forward to delving deeper into his collections and experiencing more of his captivating tales.