Killer in the Rain

Name: Killer in the Rain
ISBN: 9787513328098

Raymond Chandler / 施然New Star Press · ChinaAug 2018

4.1

Word count: 246K words
Chapters: 83
ISBN: 9787513328098

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Summary

The finest dialogue in crime fiction today. Eight never-before-published stories by Raymond Chandler, the hard-boiled soul of the genre. The master whom literary giants from Eliot and Camus to O'Neill, Murakami, and Qian Zhongshu admired. Detective fiction inscribed in the canon of classic literature, translated into more than 30 languages, with sales exceeding 500 million copies. These eight stories are the gateway into Chandler's world, the golden key to Marlowe's past and present. The California sun of the early years shines a little brighter, the cops are a little more human, the world a little more kind. A private detective hacking his way toward the truth is being born—he is "I," he is Dalmas, he is Carmady, he is Evans, and he is also Philip Marlowe! Though the names differ, the sense of justice in his bones never changes: "In his own world he had to be the best man; and for any world he would be a good enough man."

Editor's review

The Simple Art of Murder is a collection of short stories by Raymond Chandler, master of hard-boiled detective fiction, gathering twelve tales of varied style. Unlike Chandler's iconic novel series, these stories reveal another facet of his creative spectrum: the classic scenes of the hard-boiled detective, but also psychological thrillers, black humor, and even urban fables touched with tenderness. Chandler's prose cuts like a precise scalpel, laying open the corruption and loneliness beneath the skin of the glittering city; his characters—private detectives, down-and-out cops, ordinary clerks, mysterious women—all struggle in the gray zone between desire and morality. Though brief, these stories turn with crisp precision, their dialogue sharp as a blade, their atmosphere intensely cinematic, fully embodying Chandler's writing philosophy that "every sentence must mean something." For readers already familiar with Philip Marlowe, this is a rare chance to glimpse the master's wider narrative possibilities; for newcomers, it is a light-footed entrance into Chandler's cold, poetic world.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who love hard-boiled detective fiction and film-noir style
Literature lovers eager to see Raymond Chandler's short-form work beyond the novels
Those who appreciate lean, sharp, witty dialogue
Anyone interested in mid-twentieth-century American urban life and social psychology

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light, cheerful traditional mysteries with tidy endings
Puzzle fans who prefer slower-paced stories built on intricate plots rather than atmosphere and character

Reading tips

Think of it as a collection of miniature films, each story self-contained—ideal for reading in spare moments
Savor Chandler's signature metaphors and descriptive passages; they often hold the key to his characters' moods and the story's tone
If you're left wanting more, move on to his major novels, such as The Long Goodbye, for the fuller Marlowe world

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.

版权信息
雷蒙德·钱德勒作品年表
雨中杀手
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
狗痴
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
帷幕
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
试试那个女孩
中国玉
1.三百克拉翡翠
2.失去客户
3.卢里德
4.赛肯德·哈维斯特
5.灵媒萨克塞恩
6.醉酒的女人
7.死里逃生
8.蛇蝎美人
湾城蓝调
1.灰姑娘自杀了
2.免费的谋杀
3.记者先生
4.红发女人
5.我的死邻居
6.我把枪拿回来了
7.大下巴
8.打针的人
9.硬汉
湖底女人
1.非失踪人口调查局
2.死寂之屋
3.假腿男人
4.湖底女人
5.金踝链
6.梅尔顿加大赌注
7.两只替罪羊
8.留下警长廷奇菲尔德
山中无恶事
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

FAQ

Is the protagonist of this book Philip Marlowe?

Not entirely. This is a short-story collection; some stories feature other detectives or characters created by Chandler, while others do star Marlowe. It presents a broader gallery of Chandler's characters.

How do the short stories compare in quality to the novels?

These stories display the same superb storytelling, austere style, and deep social observation. Compact in plot and distinctive in style, they are an essential part of understanding Chandler's art—brief in length but rich in resonance.

Is this book suitable as an introduction to Chandler?

Very much so. The shorter form lowers the barrier to entry, letting readers quickly experience Chandler's unique language, worldview, and narrative charm. It is an excellent starting point.

Comments

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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.

施然 Author

Public information about Shi Ran is limited. So far it is known only that Shi Ran is a Chinese-language book author with three works in the catalog: Watching Over the Wind, Killer in the Rain, and Solarpunk. Judging from their titles and their common categories, the works span foreign literature and science fiction, covering a fairly wide range of subjects: a watchful theme with lyrical overtones, a suspenseful story about a killer, and an imaginative piece built around the science fiction subgenre of solarpunk. Because basic details such as dates of birth and death, nationality, and English name are unknown, it is difficult to outline the author's personal history or creative development, or to confirm the publishing context and reader response of these works. On the available evidence, Shi Ran's writing seems to move between genre fiction and more literary expression, and warrants closer attention as further information becomes available.