Mystery Books Store
Perchance to Dream: Robert B. Parker's Sequel to Raymond Chandler's the Big Sleep
RRP: $21.95
Our Price:
You Save: $ 21.95 ( 100% )
Manufacturer: Thorndike Pr
Author: Robert B. Parker, Raymond Chandler
Publisher: Thorndike Pr
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price:
You Save: $ 21.95 ( 100% )
Manufacturer: Thorndike Pr
Author: Robert B. Parker, Raymond Chandler
Publisher: Thorndike Pr
Average Customer Rating:
Experimental feature: Order Perchance to Dream: Robert B. Parker's Sequel to Raymond Chandler's the Big Sleep from the UK, Canada, Germany or France by clicking an appropriate flag below.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
Perchance to Dream: Robert B. Parker's Sequel to Raymond Chandler's the Big Sleep Description
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.52
EAN: 9781560541868
Format: Large Print
ISBN: 1560541865
Label: Thorndike Pr
Manufacturer: Thorndike Pr
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 275
Publication Date: 1991-09
Publisher: Thorndike Pr
Studio: Thorndike Pr
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.52
EAN: 9781560541868
Format: Large Print
ISBN: 1560541865
Label: Thorndike Pr
Manufacturer: Thorndike Pr
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 275
Publication Date: 1991-09
Publisher: Thorndike Pr
Studio: Thorndike Pr
Editorial Review of Perchance to Dream: Robert B. Parker's Sequel to Raymond Chandler's the Big Sleep
In a sequel to Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep, Marlowe takes on a case involving General Sternwood, who is six feet under, Vivian, who is dating a blackmailer, and Carmen, a sanitorium escapee. Reprint. K.
Customer Reviews of Perchance to Dream: Robert B. Parker's Sequel to Raymond Chandler's the Big Sleep
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Decent Sequel to The Big Sleep
Review: Perchance to Dream is Robert B. Parker's sequel to Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep. Here, once again, Marlowe runs into the crazy sisters Vivian and Carmen Sternwood. In the Big Sleep, as you know, Carmen is totally insane and killed a man and was put away in a sanitarium. Here, she disappears and the Sternwood butler, who has been left a lot of money by the girls' father, hires Marlow to find her. Problem is it seems nobody wants him to look for her, much less find her. Of course Marlow runs into all kinds of shady dealings and nefarious characters in his search and it turns out to be rather standard mystery novel.
Overall, this novel is a bit too much like the Big Sleep. Although the plot is quite different, I almost felt like I was reading the same novel over again. And I never really did find the Sternwood sisters to be all that believable as characters. Nevertheless, it was very entertaining and well done novel so I would recommend it to Parker and Chandler fans.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Marlowe's Last Case
Review: Robert B. Parker has written many mystery novels. This 1991 novel is his sequel to Raymond Chandler's first novel "The Big Sleep". The `Prologue' repeats the ending of "TBS"; it explains how the super-rich use criminals to get rid of problems. Chandler had been an oil company executive and knew things. General Sternwood has died. Marlowe was called to the mansion by Norris the butler. Miss Carmen has disappeared from the sanatorium and Marlowe must find her. Parker embeds quotes from "TBS". Chandler's descriptive prose contrasts. Literary types may admire it but it does not contribute to the story; its inefficient. Parts of "TBS" were taken from Chandler's earlier short stories. Parker's prose has words and descriptions that Chandler could not use.
Marlowe can get no information from Dr. Bonsentir, the owner of the sanatorium. He is well connected. Marlowe interviews others, like Eddie Mars. Then he surreptitiously returns to this sanatorium and gets a clue about Carmen. Who is "Mr. Simpson"? Vivian gives her information to Marlowe. Parker's conversations aren't equal to Chandler's (Chapter 11). This story is set after the war (Chapter 12). Marlowe learns about Simpson's clout (Chapter 14); he is untouchable. [Would the wealthy Sternwoods have only one telephone number?] Would Marlowe get involved with Vivian (Chapter16). Marlowe is warned off the case (Chapter 18), but follows a lead to far out in the country (Chapter 19). He visited Rancho Springs (Chapter 21). A phone call brings Marlowe back to Rancho Springs (Chapter 27).
Marlowe watches Bonsentir and follows him to Fair Harbor. He sees the big yacht offshore and calls Eddie Mars. Marlowe boards the yacht after dark (Chapter 31). The villains are there (Chapter 32). Marlowe rescues Carmen from her fate. The authorities sort things out (Chapter 34). There will be no scandals in the press. Rich Randolph Simpson will be committed. Marlowe left and didn't look back. [I don't think there will be a sequel.]
This is a very good story which continued the characters of "The Big Sleep". I thought the ending was weak. Wouldn't it be better if that ship disappeared at sea during a storm?
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Chandler-light
Review: This book is a good sequil to The Big Sleep, and is much easier to read. You can picture Bogart (albeit 6 foot tall and 190 lbs) trouncing around southern California in search of the missing Carmen Sternwood, with Bacall having a bit part as sister Vivian. Parker is faithful to the characters, and does a nice job. This was a fun read.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Sequel to "Big Sleep" 50 years later: fun and true to form Philip Marlowe !!
Review: We really admire Parker for having the knowledge and creativity to "dream" up a new Philip Marlowe some fifty years after the original "Big Sleep" {1939} was published. We may be influenced by having just recently read Chandler's original first novel (so it was fresh in our mind), but we thought Parker did a great job. First, his use of literal quotation from the original made an effective prologue as well as effective transitions for the plot line that continued in his sequel. Second, his replication of Marlowe, with which he had prior experience in finishing Chandler's last work, Poodle Springs {to which Chandler only contributed the first four chapters}, was so credible we barely missed the masterful prose of the series creator.
In the story, the younger of (now deceased) General Sternwood's daughters, Carmen, is missing from a sanitarium to which she was committed as part of the outcome of "Sleep". Her sister Vivian, with whom Marlowe eventually became infatuated enough to bed, wants her found, but turned to another of her friends from the first book, Eddie Mars, to find. Meanwhile Norris the butler hires Marlowe to do the same, and ironically he and Eddie form an unlikely alliance at times to pursue matters. Before it's over, a scheme to make a millionaire out of the sanitarium founder, in cohorts with a wealthy land baron recluse, is uncovered; as is the perpetrator of a couple more killings along the way. Naturally the urbane but dogged Marlowe finds time in between drinking, smoking, and wowing attractive women, to unravel all and ride off into the sunset as a hero.
Some might quibble that Parker is a mediocre substitute for Mr. Chandler, but who might be up to the task of stringing wordcraft in that author's stead? We found Parker's plot quite entertaining in its own merits and his ability to credibly bring Marlowe back to life after fifty years quite remarkable. We enjoyed the book immensely, and found it no unworthy companion to his main man Spenser. Indeed, we commend this book to Chandler and Marlowe devotees!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Good, but not best, by Parker...
Review: If you know have ever read a book by R.B. Parker you will find yourself in a familiar environment in this book. Parker sets himself a brave task in writing a sequel to Raymond Chandler's "The Big Sleep" and succeeds in pulling it off superbly. Parker is one of the rare modern writers who still believe that characters can have principles, and live by them even in extreme circumstances. Although this is not Parker's best work, I still recommend this book in which, in my opinion, Parker surpasses one of the legends of detective fition, Raymond Chandler.
Review Summary: Decent Sequel to The Big Sleep
Review: Perchance to Dream is Robert B. Parker's sequel to Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep. Here, once again, Marlowe runs into the crazy sisters Vivian and Carmen Sternwood. In the Big Sleep, as you know, Carmen is totally insane and killed a man and was put away in a sanitarium. Here, she disappears and the Sternwood butler, who has been left a lot of money by the girls' father, hires Marlow to find her. Problem is it seems nobody wants him to look for her, much less find her. Of course Marlow runs into all kinds of shady dealings and nefarious characters in his search and it turns out to be rather standard mystery novel.
Overall, this novel is a bit too much like the Big Sleep. Although the plot is quite different, I almost felt like I was reading the same novel over again. And I never really did find the Sternwood sisters to be all that believable as characters. Nevertheless, it was very entertaining and well done novel so I would recommend it to Parker and Chandler fans.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Marlowe's Last Case
Review: Robert B. Parker has written many mystery novels. This 1991 novel is his sequel to Raymond Chandler's first novel "The Big Sleep". The `Prologue' repeats the ending of "TBS"; it explains how the super-rich use criminals to get rid of problems. Chandler had been an oil company executive and knew things. General Sternwood has died. Marlowe was called to the mansion by Norris the butler. Miss Carmen has disappeared from the sanatorium and Marlowe must find her. Parker embeds quotes from "TBS". Chandler's descriptive prose contrasts. Literary types may admire it but it does not contribute to the story; its inefficient. Parts of "TBS" were taken from Chandler's earlier short stories. Parker's prose has words and descriptions that Chandler could not use.
Marlowe can get no information from Dr. Bonsentir, the owner of the sanatorium. He is well connected. Marlowe interviews others, like Eddie Mars. Then he surreptitiously returns to this sanatorium and gets a clue about Carmen. Who is "Mr. Simpson"? Vivian gives her information to Marlowe. Parker's conversations aren't equal to Chandler's (Chapter 11). This story is set after the war (Chapter 12). Marlowe learns about Simpson's clout (Chapter 14); he is untouchable. [Would the wealthy Sternwoods have only one telephone number?] Would Marlowe get involved with Vivian (Chapter16). Marlowe is warned off the case (Chapter 18), but follows a lead to far out in the country (Chapter 19). He visited Rancho Springs (Chapter 21). A phone call brings Marlowe back to Rancho Springs (Chapter 27).
Marlowe watches Bonsentir and follows him to Fair Harbor. He sees the big yacht offshore and calls Eddie Mars. Marlowe boards the yacht after dark (Chapter 31). The villains are there (Chapter 32). Marlowe rescues Carmen from her fate. The authorities sort things out (Chapter 34). There will be no scandals in the press. Rich Randolph Simpson will be committed. Marlowe left and didn't look back. [I don't think there will be a sequel.]
This is a very good story which continued the characters of "The Big Sleep". I thought the ending was weak. Wouldn't it be better if that ship disappeared at sea during a storm?
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Chandler-light
Review: This book is a good sequil to The Big Sleep, and is much easier to read. You can picture Bogart (albeit 6 foot tall and 190 lbs) trouncing around southern California in search of the missing Carmen Sternwood, with Bacall having a bit part as sister Vivian. Parker is faithful to the characters, and does a nice job. This was a fun read.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Sequel to "Big Sleep" 50 years later: fun and true to form Philip Marlowe !!
Review: We really admire Parker for having the knowledge and creativity to "dream" up a new Philip Marlowe some fifty years after the original "Big Sleep" {1939} was published. We may be influenced by having just recently read Chandler's original first novel (so it was fresh in our mind), but we thought Parker did a great job. First, his use of literal quotation from the original made an effective prologue as well as effective transitions for the plot line that continued in his sequel. Second, his replication of Marlowe, with which he had prior experience in finishing Chandler's last work, Poodle Springs {to which Chandler only contributed the first four chapters}, was so credible we barely missed the masterful prose of the series creator.
In the story, the younger of (now deceased) General Sternwood's daughters, Carmen, is missing from a sanitarium to which she was committed as part of the outcome of "Sleep". Her sister Vivian, with whom Marlowe eventually became infatuated enough to bed, wants her found, but turned to another of her friends from the first book, Eddie Mars, to find. Meanwhile Norris the butler hires Marlowe to do the same, and ironically he and Eddie form an unlikely alliance at times to pursue matters. Before it's over, a scheme to make a millionaire out of the sanitarium founder, in cohorts with a wealthy land baron recluse, is uncovered; as is the perpetrator of a couple more killings along the way. Naturally the urbane but dogged Marlowe finds time in between drinking, smoking, and wowing attractive women, to unravel all and ride off into the sunset as a hero.
Some might quibble that Parker is a mediocre substitute for Mr. Chandler, but who might be up to the task of stringing wordcraft in that author's stead? We found Parker's plot quite entertaining in its own merits and his ability to credibly bring Marlowe back to life after fifty years quite remarkable. We enjoyed the book immensely, and found it no unworthy companion to his main man Spenser. Indeed, we commend this book to Chandler and Marlowe devotees!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Good, but not best, by Parker...
Review: If you know have ever read a book by R.B. Parker you will find yourself in a familiar environment in this book. Parker sets himself a brave task in writing a sequel to Raymond Chandler's "The Big Sleep" and succeeds in pulling it off superbly. Parker is one of the rare modern writers who still believe that characters can have principles, and live by them even in extreme circumstances. Although this is not Parker's best work, I still recommend this book in which, in my opinion, Parker surpasses one of the legends of detective fition, Raymond Chandler.