Playback

Name: Playback
ISBN: 9787802253865

Raymond Chandler / 叶美瑶New Star Press · ChinaApr 2017

3.9

Word count: 90K words
ISBN: 9787802253865

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Summary

Marlowe is hired by a lawyer for $450 to follow a young woman at the train station. The job seems simple enough: don't lose her, and just find out which hotel she checks into. But Marlowe immediately realizes that the facts are anything but simple, and he decides to buy a ticket to San Diego and continue the pursuit down the line... First published in 1958, this was Raymond Chandler's last full-length novel — the final performance of his iconic private detective Philip Marlowe.

Editor's review

The Long Goodbye was the last Philip Marlowe novel Raymond Chandler completed in his lifetime, first published in 1958. The book occupies a unique and subtle place in Chandler's career. Compared with the lingering melancholy and disillusionment of The Long Goodbye, Playback seems more introspective in tone, even carrying a touch of autumnal warmth. In the story, Marlowe is hired to protect a beautiful and mysterious female client from blackmail, which draws him into a vortex of Hollywood glamour, family secrets, and past sins. Chandler's signature hard-boiled style remains sharp—those blade-precise similes, cold dialogue, and the corrupt atmosphere seeping through Los Angeles streets are still there. Yet attentive readers can discern that the character of Marlowe himself has changed: he is still cynical and principled, but before the vulnerability and complexity of young women he reveals an almost paternal protectiveness and weary understanding, adding an unprecedented layer of human depth to the classic hard-boiled detective figure. In literary terms, Playback may not match the pioneering quality of The Big Sleep or the philosophical height of The Long Goodbye, but it is the closing work of a mature master, fully presenting all the elements of Chandler's noir aesthetic and drawing a meaningful final period for his legendary detective. For Chandler enthusiasts, reading Playback is not only enjoying a carefully woven mystery but also taking one last, emotionally complex stroll with an old friend.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Raymond Chandler and devoted readers of hard-boiled detective fiction
Those interested in film noir aesthetics and mid-twentieth-century American society
Readers hoping to explore character depth and human complexity within genre fiction
Readers who appreciate concise, sharp, literary language rich in metaphor

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking fast-paced, action-driven modern thrillers
First-time readers expecting a fully standalone work that requires no knowledge of the series background

Reading tips

It is advisable to understand it in the later stage of Chandler's creative sequence, and to read it alongside The Long Goodbye
Pay attention to Marlowe's interactions with female characters and appreciate the subtle changes in his character arc
Savor Chandler's depiction of the Los Angeles cityscape, which is an indispensable 'character' in his stories

About the publisher

New Star Press China · Founded in 1989

New Star Press focuses on classic works, mystery and detective fiction, science fiction, history, foreign literature and art, and its 602 titles in the library show a balance between popular reading and humanistic depth. Representative books include The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Illustrated Collector's Edition, And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, The Player of Games, Local Government in Qing China, A Good Man Is Hard to Find and A Collection of Fine Ukiyo-e Prints, spanning classic literature, detective fiction, science fiction, local history and visual art. Its authors and contributors include William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie and Iain M. Banks, as well as translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Su Fuzhong and illustrators such as John Gilbert and George Cruikshank. Known for the detective series Midnight Library and for social-science and humanities titles, the press emphasizes edition design and reading experience; public information is limited, so this profile highlights the publishing features reflected in the library's books.

FAQ

I haven't read any other Chandler works. Can I go straight to Playback?

Yes, the case itself is standalone. But as the series finale, Playback contains echoes of Marlowe's life as a character; prior knowledge of his background will provide a richer reading experience.

Is this book strongly mystery-driven?

The core of Chandler's works often lies not in mechanical puzzle-solving but in revealing the dark sides of human nature and society through investigation. Playback follows this tradition, with the mystery serving character development and atmosphere.

What are the features of this New Star Press edition?

This edition is a relatively widely available Chinese translation, striving to reproduce Chandler's concise and cold style, and usually includes an introduction or translator's afterword to help readers understand the background and literary value of the work.

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About the author

Raymond Chandler Author · American · 1888–1959

Raymond Chandler (1888–1959) was an American detective novelist and screenwriter. Born in Chicago, he moved to England with his mother in childhood, served in the Canadian army and the Royal Flying Corps during World War I, and returned to the United States in 1919, settling in California. He turned to writing at the age of 45; in 1939, with The Big Sleep, he created the private detective Philip Marlowe and established the hard-boiled style. His other major works include The Long Goodbye and Farewell, My Lovely. His books, often classified as foreign literature and mystery and suspense, are noted for character portrayal and urban atmosphere, and have had a lasting influence on later detective fiction. The collection holds 35 of his works, including the English original of The Long Goodbye and various editions and boxed sets.

叶美瑶 Author

Ye Meiyao is an author for whom public information is currently limited, and her nationality, dates of birth and death, and full writing career cannot yet be confirmed. According to the records available in the database, only one work by her is held, Replay (Chongbo), and it is commonly classified as suspense and mystery fiction, so her writing is presently known to readers mainly through this single work. Its placement in the suspense and mystery genre indicates that her writing involves puzzle construction, the laying out of clues, and the revelation of truth; such works usually sustain narrative tension through plot development and suspense, and require careful structural arrangement. Because more information is lacking, Ye Meiyao's writing style, thematic preferences, and overall creative trajectory are difficult to describe fully, and the place of Replay in her career cannot be determined. The available information shows only that she is an author associated with the suspense and mystery genre, and further public materials are needed to fill in her later works and creative development.