If my inner dialogue sounded like this, I'd never get bored. It would be a constant stream of interesting thoughts and ideas flowing through my mind. I could imagine having deep conversations with myself about various topics, from the meaning of life to the latest scientific discoveries.

I might explore my emotions and feelings, trying to understand why I react the way I do in certain situations. This inner dialogue could also serve as a source of inspiration for my writing, art, or other creative pursuits.

With such a rich and engaging inner world, I would always have something to think about and something to keep me occupied. I wouldn't need to rely on external distractions to pass the time. Instead, I could simply tune in to my own thoughts and let my imagination run wild.

Overall, if my inner dialogue sounded like this, it would be a wonderful and fulfilling experience, allowing me to grow and learn in ways that I never thought possible.

Certainly not from the best moments of his, but Chandler is that!

Chandler, a character known for his unique sense of humor and sarcastic remarks, has had his fair share of ups and downs. This statement implies that the current situation or moment is not one of his finest. However, despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, Chandler remains true to himself.

He has a distinct charm and personality that shines through even in the face of adversity. His ability to find humor in difficult situations and his unwavering loyalty to his friends make him a beloved character. Whether it's cracking a joke to lighten the mood or providing support when needed, Chandler always manages to have an impact.

So, while this may not be the best moment for Chandler, we know that he will continue to bring laughter and joy with his antics. He is a complex and multi-faceted character, and we can't wait to see what he does next!

Marlowe short stories? How will that work out? Well, I'm happy (though not at all surprised) to say it works out very well indeed. With fewer suspects and quicker resolutions, we still have the same snarky private detective going about his business, pretending not to care about anything yet always getting back up whenever he's knocked down. This collection consists of four stories.

In "Trouble is My Business", it's a typical day in the life of Marlowe: there are three bodies, he's held at gunpoint at least that many times, gets hit in the head once, and consumes at least one full bottle of Scotch within sixty pages. Compared to the other three stories, this one feels a bit rough around the edges, with the motives of the villains being a bit muddled. My guess, without doing any research, is that these stories are arranged in the chronological order of their writing, as each one seems to have a finer form than the previous one.

"Finger Man" feels especially fresh if you've read all of Chandler's novels and are accustomed to the setup of Marlowe getting a case and chasing down leads despite threats and concussions. In this story, Marlowe is actually the titular character, a witness to a murder and trying to stay alive long enough to testify, all while simultaneously looking out for a stupid buddy who thinks he can rip off the mob and live to tell the tale. Giving Marlowe a personal history with this character ups the stakes from the previous story. Chandler is truly skilled at trampling on his protagonist's heart as well as inflicting bodily harm. The former is always more challenging for the writer and more moving for the reader.

"Goldfish" - I sort of guessed the big secret in this one (I mean, if I wasn't supposed to, the title might have needed some reconsideration). But it's still a good read nonetheless. A lead surfaces regarding long-lost stolen pearls, and of course, the bodies start to pile up as humans do what they do, chasing the promise of wealth without a thought for the consequences. The twist here is that Marlowe gets financially well compensated for his work. I'm not sure that has happened before in this entire series.

"Red Wind" is by far the best story of the lot. This (even more so than the others) is the kind of prose I've come to expect from Chandler, as evidenced by the opening paragraph: "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. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge." Marlowe gets pulled into a mystery when a man is shot dead in front of him (in the aforementioned cocktail lounge), and he's kept in the thick of things by his concern for a woman who's caught in the middle. It's a sad and lovely story, a perfect closing to the collection.

My edition includes the foreword by Chandler, and I love his honest perspective on the evolution of the genre and his thoughts on what a detective story is and isn't, as well as his ideas about the "perfect" example of his genre not yet being written. I'm looking forward to completing all of Chandler's currently published works with "The Simple Art of Murder".

This is a truly very entertaining collection that consists of four long Philip Marlowe stories.

Interestingly, all of these stories were written before the famous "The Big Sleep".

The narrative is filled with plenty of wisecracks, which add a touch of humor and lightness to the otherwise gritty and noir atmosphere.

We also encounter dumb cops who seem to be always one step behind Marlowe, and sinister goons who pose a constant threat.

One of the most remarkable things about Marlowe is that he gets sapped unconscious so frequently. It's almost astonishing that he doesn't end up with permanent brain damage.

Despite this, his tenacity and determination shine through, making him a captivating protagonist.

Overall, I absolutely loved this collection. It offers a great insight into the early works of the Philip Marlowe series and is a must-read for any fan of detective fiction.

There was a desert wind blowing that night.

It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes with a vengeance.

These winds have the power to curl your hair, make your nerves jump like live wires, and cause your skin to itch unbearably.

On nights such as this, every booze party seems to inevitably end in a fight.

Even the meekest of little wives start to feel the sharp edge of the carving knife and gaze at their husbands' necks with a strange intensity.

Anything can truly happen on a night like this.

You might even be able to get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge, a feat that seems almost miraculous in such a charged atmosphere.

And THAT is Chandler, masterfully描绘ing a scene that is both tense and full of the unexpected.

His words draw you in and make you feel as if you are right there in the midst of it all, experiencing the heat, the wind, and the palpable sense of danger.

I read Raymond Chandler primarily for the language. The way he deploys words is truly magical. The opening of his short story "Red Wind," which is included in this collection of four, is iconic within detective fiction.

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.

If you don't get goosebumps while reading that passage, I have to question your humanity.

He, together with Dashiell Hammett, was responsible for an entire sub-genre. If some of what they wrote now seems cliched, one must remember that they invented it and countless writers have followed in their footsteps.

However, the stories are beginning to show their age. Chandler was born in 1888 and published his first story in 1933. Some of his wonderful language consists of slang that is no longer in use, making the references obscure and disrupting the flow of the stories. Reading these stories reminded me of reading Shakespeare in school, with a wonderful English teacher who could place the language and references in the context of the history and culture of the Elizabethan Age. Except that I had no teacher to explain the references in Chandler's stories.

The other aspect I noticed was the significant amount of drinking and smoking in the stories. Philip Marlowe, his detective, drinks at any time of day or night and appears none the worse for wear despite this habit. We live in different times, and smoking and excessive drinking have gone out of fashion.

So I award this book four stars instead of five. But I'm still in awe of the writing.

The undisputed master of noir and pulp fiction, Chandler stands tall in the literary world.

In this volume, the four stories presented are by no means subpar when contrasted with the novels starring Chandler's LA private eye, Philip Marlow. Marlow navigates a seedy underworld filled with double-crossing criminals, alluring femme fatales, and corrupt cops. The stories are replete with classic metaphorical phrases that are straight out of the hard-boiled crime dictionary which Chandler himself helped to create.

If you are a devotee of John D MacDonald, Ross Macdonald, Robert B Parker, or Robert Crais, or any other writers operating within this genre, it is an absolute must for you to read Chandler. By doing so, you can at least experience the evolution of pulp fiction and gain a deeper understanding of the roots and development of this captivating literary style.

The last of the Marlowe books that I have read is “Trouble Is My Business”. In fact, it is a collection of short stories (or what Chandler refers to as long stories), which vividly details Marlowe in his prime.

Overall, the stories had a rather mediocre quality. The first two were extremely convoluted, making it a bit of a challenge to follow. However, the third story was by far my favorite. It had a certain charm and complexity that really engaged me. The last story was also quite good, with an interesting plot and well-developed characters.

Just like in other Marlowe books, the main attraction here was the writing. Chandler truly knows how to craft a story and draw the reader in. His use of language and descriptive power is remarkable. Overall, it is a fun little read that provides some entertainment. However, if given the choice, I would much rather have read a full-length Marlowe novel. Maybe I’ll go back and start “The Big Sleep” again. Now that was a novel that really left an impression on me!

Although the four stories in this volume all center around Philip Marlowe, he is not precisely the Marlowe we come to know in the novels - yet he is nearly there.

Raymond Chandler's "Trouble is my Business" is set in Los Angeles, with the detective residing in Hollywood near Franklin Avenue. By far, the best story is "Red Wind," which flawlessly conveys the insanity of our dry Santa Ana winds. When the wind blows in from the desert, it pushes the smog off to sea, only for it to come tumbling back when the wind direction changes. In this story, Chandler begins to reach the stylistic heights of his novels.

I went out of the bar without looking back at her, got into my car and drove west on Sunset and down all the way to the Coast Highway. Everywhere along the way, gardens were full of withered and blackened leaves and flowers that the hot wind had burned.

But the ocean looked cool and languid and just the same as ever. I drove on almost to Malibu and then parked and went and sat on a big rock that was inside somebody's wire fence. It was about half-tide and coming in. The air smelled of kelp. I watched the water for a while and then I pulled a string of Bohemian glass imitation pearls out of my pocket and cut the knot at one end and slipped the pearls off one by one.

If you have a passion for Chandler like I do, you will surely want to read these stories. However, as for the stories that preceded Marlowe's creation, they are only moderately engaging.

A collection of short stories awaits, filled with real classic gems. One can't help but wonder if these masterpieces might have their roots in his days at the Black Mask magazine. The allure of such a collection is undeniable. Each story within is like a precious stone, shining with its own unique brilliance.

Perhaps these tales were born out of the creative cauldron that was the Black Mask magazine, a place known for nurturing some of the greatest minds in the genre. The stories might have been crafted with precision and care, captivating readers with their engaging plots and vivid characters.

As one delves into this collection, they are transported to a world of mystery, adventure, and intrigue. The words on the page come alive, painting a vivid picture in the reader's mind. It's a journey through the imagination of a master storyteller, and one that is not to be missed. Whether you're a fan of classic literature or simply looking for a good read, this collection of short stories is sure to satisfy.

I'm truly surprised at the remarkable number of scenes within these four short stories that were skillfully incorporated into the film version of The Big Sleep. It seems almost不可思议 how closely the filmmakers were able to capture the essence of Chandler's work. But then again, Chandler is Chandler, and Marlowe is Marlowe. Their unique charm and style are simply iconic.

The stories are filled with vivid descriptions, complex characters, and thrilling plotlines that translate beautifully to the big screen. Each scene in the film feels like a homage to Chandler's genius, bringing his words to life in a way that is both captivating and engaging.

Perhaps it's the allure of Marlowe himself, with his tough exterior and soft interior, that makes these stories so enduring. Or maybe it's Chandler's masterful use of language, painting a picture of a seedy underworld that is both fascinating and terrifying. Whatever the reason, The Big Sleep remains a classic, and the film version does justice to the original stories.

Overall, I'm impressed with how well the filmmakers were able to adapt these short stories into a full-length feature film. It's a testament to the power of Chandler's writing and the enduring popularity of his work.

Goldfish was my favorite.

When I was a child, I had a small goldfish tank in my room. Every day, I would spend hours watching those beautiful goldfish swim around. Their colorful scales sparkled in the light, like precious jewels.

I loved to feed them and see how they would rush to the surface to eat the food. Sometimes, they would play tricks on me, hiding behind the rocks or plants in the tank.

I would wait patiently for them to come out, and when they did, I would be so happy.

Goldfish brought a lot of joy and fun to my childhood. They were not just pets, but also my good friends. Even though I have grown up now, I still remember those happy days with my goldfish.