Perchance to Dream (novel) Perchance to Dream (novel) Perchance to Dream is a detective crime novel by Robert B. Parker, written as an authorized sequel to "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler. Following his post-mortem collaboration with Chandler on "Poodle Springs", this 1991 release is the second and final Philip Marlowe novel written by Parker. Set a few years after the events of "The Big Sleep", the new novel begins with long passages of text lifted from the original to set the scene, establish the characters, and remind readers of the events of the first book. The story is set in motion by the
Raymond Chandler became the basis for three movie versions adapted by other screenwriters, including the 1944 film "Murder My Sweet", which marked the screen debut of the Marlowe character, played by Dick Powell (whose depiction of Marlowe Chandler reportedly applauded). Literary success and film adaptations led to a demand for Chandler himself as a screenwriter. He and Billy Wilder co-wrote "Double Indemnity" (1944), based on James M. Cain's novel of the same title. The noir screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award. Said Wilder, "I would just guide the structure and I would also do a lot of the dialogue, and he