Here's an interesting trip down the mean street called Chandler Lane. Mr. C didn't want these stories reprinted, because he chopped them up and pieced them back together to form three of his first four novels. If you haven't read those books in awhile, this is a great chance to see where they came from.
Killer in the Rain made it's first appearance in 1964, five years after Chandler's death. You won't find Philip Marlowe here, but you'll meet two of his main prototypes. Here's a look at what lies within:
This story from January 1935 featured an unnamed narrator, with characters who later appeared in John Dalmas tales. It later became a piece of the first Marlowe novel, The Big Sleep.
The detective here is Ted Carmady, who later appeared in "Goldfish" and the next two stories. This one was canibalized for Farewell, My Lovely,
Another Ted Carmady adventure, that found its way into The Big Sleep.
This issue featured "Try the Girl," the final Camady story, and part of Farewell, My Lovely.
"Mandarin's Jade," in the Nov. 1937 issue of Dime, introduced John Dalmas, who later appeared in the non-cannibalized stories "Red Wind" and "Trouble is My Business." It became another piece of Farewell.
The Dalmas story "Bay City Blues," from 1938, was used in The Lady in the Lake.
Another Dalmas story, from Jan. 1939, gave the novel its title.
Still another Dalmas tale, "No Crime in the Mountains," from Sept. 1941, formed a piece of Lady.
