I'll Be Waiting by Raymond Chandler

Guest narrator is Brendan Sullivan. Brendan is an illustrator, artist, and graphic designer from Florida who dabbles in audio storytelling. He’s worked across several industries, from themed attractions to product lines to architecture, and he has a love for using creative color palettes, interesting compositions, and whimsical shapes. He’s admittedly rather fond of oddities and monsters, and will gladly take a detour to study history’s more strange and intriguing paths.
He has a a website where people can see work and get in touch, which is sullivanartco.com.
He is on Instagram as @sullivanartco.
Raymond Chandler, born on July 23, 1888, in Chicago, Illinois, was a British-American novelist and screenwriter who left an indelible mark on the hardboiled detective fiction genre. Spending much of his early life in England, Chandler had a diverse career that included stints in the British Civil Service and the Canadian Army during World War I. It wasn't until he was 44 that he turned to fiction writing. His breakthrough came with the publication of "The Big Sleep" in 1939, introducing the iconic private detective Philip Marlowe. Chandler's gritty realism, sharp dialogue, and keen insight into human nature defined his writing, making him a prominent figure in 20th-century literature. Beyond novels like "The Big Sleep" and "The Long Goodbye," Chandler also made significant contributions to Hollywood as a screenwriter.
"I'll Be Waiting" is a compelling short story by Raymond Chandler, first published in 1939. Set in a fictional Latin American city, the narrative follows Tony Reseck, a former cop turned night manager at a hotel. The story revolves around Reseck's involvement with a troubled couple, Eloise and Floyd Thursby. Eloise seeks refuge from her abusive husband, and Reseck, despite his cynical exterior, becomes entangled in their complex relationship. Chandler's signature noir style shines through in this tale, with sharp dialogue, a mysterious atmosphere, and a cynical view of human nature, showcasing his mastery of the short story format.
"I'll Be Waiting" holds a significant place in the realm of noir hardboiled detective fiction. Chandler's storytelling in this narrative reflects the core elements of the genre - a morally ambiguous protagonist, a gritty urban setting, and a plot laced with suspense and intrigue. The story exemplifies Chandler's ability to navigate the complexities of human relationships within a dark and shadowy backdrop. As a master of the genre, Chandler's influence extends beyond his novels, leaving an enduring legacy in both literature and film, shaping the conventions of noir storytelling for generations to come.

[@roxyabrooks864]

Oh, my evening plans are going to be settled in right here ! Thank you, Sir Tony! 💯

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Excellent narrator for Chandler's work. Thanks Tony and Brendan.

[@thurayya8905]

A Raymond Chandler! Oh, this is going to be GOOD!❤

[@martiwilliams4592]

Good ol` fashioned hard-boiled, with dames, cops, cons hanging off on runningbords, whisky-cigarette throats, gangster'eese, deal-making in front of seedy hotels. Vivid, word-painting narration. Very enjoyable!!!Thanks to you both!

[@GM-yn9nc]

Great reading voice. Love that thumbnail, well done.

[@classicdetective]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@janegreen9340]

Excellent, “radio” noir. Brilliant storytelling well characterised.

[@MaggieatPlay]

Enjoying these detective stories each with a different narrator. It's like a little surprise gift with each new story. Always enjoyed reading Raymond Chandler. Thank you, Brendan, for a well narrated tale. Thank you, Tony, for doing the work of talent searcher. I like both hard-boiled and softer detective fiction. Actually, I just like a good story that holds my attention. Being read to by all the different narrators and you, Tony is a plus (especially during days I have trouble reading).

[@classicdetective]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@user-cf2np4gd9l]

Thanks guys for a good story well narrated. I thought Brendon improved as it went on. I found myself soon not thinking about the narration at all and for me, at least, that’s a good thing. 👍

[@SilvanaTheNonCraftingCrafter]

Another great yarn well told! I enjoy variety, so any detective is cool with me (as long as it's well written)

[@thurayya8905]

Perfect.

[@garywhite5674]

I love Raymond Chandler, one of the greatest novelists of all time in my view.

[@jonathanpashley4845]

Top notch short Chandler story, reading excellent and good choice of music. Thanks 😊 Jonathan

[@otempora5799]

Chandler! Loved this! Thank you for talking about the writing and the genre afterwards - just the best - thoughtful, informative and really appreciated!

[@classicdetective]

Glad you appreciated it

[@mirmcnabb]

Really enjoyed this! Thanks so much for the collaboration!

[@user-pl6wk3wg6d]

Chandler was a genius, a 'one-off' in the detective style of writing that fitted well into modern American culture. He definately had a major influence on the TV detective characters, especially Mickey Spillane's' 'Mike Hammer'', but unlike Spillane (who spoke as if he came out of a 'gutter') Chandler was well-educated and knew what he was doing with words! It's amazing that his real-life 'persona' was that of a 'dilattente''--this 'rough-neck' 'heavy' Robert Mitcheum said that Chandler appeared wearing gloves and never took them off at parties and was far from the 'tough guy' image he projected in his stories! Yes, very well narrated here and treated with 'respect' for his writing in this presentation.

[@classicdetective]

Great comment

[@ainemoroney9965]

That accent really is a pleasure to listen to Brendan❤👌. I'll be keeping an eye out for more of your work.

[@classicdetective]

He’s a good un

[@vivilad3181]

Great narration skills combined with Chandler's crisp, rhythmic writing made this very enjoyable to listen to.

[@classicdetective]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cleewestgard]

I've read a lot of Chandler. Thank you for selecting something other than a "famous work". Excellent narration.

[@classicdetective]

You're very welcome!

[@leonorsantos9355]

Thanks!

[@classicdetective]

Welcome!

[@rosainecalmeyer4428]

Brendan, your commentary alone adds to the genre; absolutely fascinating.

[@classicdetective]

Glad you liked it.

[@suitov]

Excellently read. Good work by Brendan. Personally, I like any detective author who can turn a phrase to make me growl "Yeah, that's the good stuff." Chandler regularly achieves that.

[@classicdetective]

We will do more Chandler

[@teresawilson9530]

Fantastic 👍

[@doorbasher77unwellnews52]

Great story and well read

[@otempora5799]

Oh my goodness! Aaron Kenny composed the score for the Aussie film Crushed - my son did post-production sound for that film! 😊

[@classicdetective]

very interesting!

[@janegrubb7411]

Your commentary is much appreciated and enjoyed.

[@classicdetective]

that is very gratifying to hear . thank you

[@PippaAT]

What a welcome surprise to hear your voice at the end! I really enjoyed this.

[@classicdetective]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@applthorn]

Great story, great reader. Thank you!

[@classicdetective]

Thanks for listening

[@comshawqueen2534]

A great story and a wonderful narration! Casper was a great choice and his “American” accent fooled this American. 👏

[@classicdetective]

He’s got a talent

[@rutimizrachi]

Just discovered this channel. Wow! I love the style, very much including your commentary at the end. The narrators I've heard so far (you, Brendan Sullivan and Casper Stokhuyzen) have been marvelous. Keep 'em coming! I will definitely share.

[@classicdetective]

Thank you very much!

[@jeanette6396]

This was incredibly good! The narrator is able to do justice to the writing so that you can enter into the story. Voices are different , pacing is right. Congratulations. I hope to hear more from Brendan.

[@classicdetective]

Yes , he’s very good

[@ropeburnsrussell]

Hardboiled!! Thats the ticket ,see.

[@shirleyshin6186]

I like em both and Brendan is very very good at narrating.

[@classicdetective]

I agree

[@Gretschbeach]

One of the aspects of the hard boiled anti-heroes that is often implied but rarely said is that most of these guys were war vets with PTSD. Many of the authors would have been introduced to weapons of mass destruction like gas, and explosives bigger than the world had never known by witnessing it first hand. The scale of moral ambiguity and attitudes to faceless violence were new. I mean, if any one was looking for arm-chair psychology.

[@classicdetective]

Loved this comment and it really helps illuminate the genre . Thank you 🙏

[@lunablue745]

I hear the intro music and I think of a man in a rumpled suit with a cigarette hanging out one corner of his mouth. His top lip twitching while he speaks; "yeah, see, I'm gonna blow ya away see, yeah." Great narration Brendan! Also, is it me, or were there just a little too many adjectives in the beginning?😮

[@classicdetective]

Glad you liked it. As for the adjectives, that’s down to old Chandler

[@thurayya8905]

Wil-shure.

[@sullivanartco]

Aaaahhh you're right! I totally biffed that pronunciation 😅

[@stephaniehand503]

great

[@judikingsman6132]

❤❤❤

[@KathyComplex]

This was great. Thank you. Love your commentary. Let's think about the morality issue. Philip Marlowe,i think you'll agree, was practically a saint, was he not? Not conventionally "moral." Certainly not amoral. He followed his own inner moral compass. He was pretty highly evolved, i think. What say you?

[@classicdetective]

This is something I think of a lot when I come to these stories. I think it is forced by a current modern preoccupation with splitting the world into a false dichotomy of good guys and bad guys. And if you fall into the bad guy category, then you are erased and cannot be listened to or heard in anything you say. then we found out that the people making these damming judgements of others live in glasshouses themselves

[@AlgorithmEngagementEntity]

Pleased to find you working with this genre as well, one of my favorites. Sadly, born too late for a career with a fedora, a bottle in the drawer and lighting cigarettes of femme fatales.

[@classicdetective]

You can always try. you may attract the odd femme fatale which may or may not be a good thing

[@sunflowerhelen9933]

I enjoyed this, but the description is confusing where it mentions a couple with problems. The names don't match the ones in the narrative.

[@classicdetective]

I’m sorry about that

[@ropeburnsrussell]

Good narration, but i still want Tony to read one.

[@classicdetective]

I do the next one

[@ropeburnsrussell]

@@classicdetective yay!!!

[@askhams]

Bing

[@marisadallavalle393]

Thank you!

[@classicdetective]

You're welcome!

[@pamsmith519]

Hugh frasier would have been better in reading this

[@classicdetective]

His fee might have been a bit much for my budget

[@Faretheewell608]

Chandlers would have liked that.

[@Brembelia]

You should get Benedict Cumberbatch to narrate these. The current reader's voice is flat and raspy. Very distracting. Not listening to the story. The voice is so distracting. You need an experienced, versatile actor to read these.

[@classicdetective]

How much do you think Benedict would charge ? will you split the costs with me ?