RAYMOND CHANDLER'S UNKNOWN THRILLER The Screenplay of PLAYBACK [With an Introduction by Robert B. Parker and a Preface by James Pepper]

New York: The Mysterious Press, 1985. First edition, LIMITED ISSUE, one of only 250 hand-numbered copies SIGNED in initials by Robert B. Parker. Book designed by Michael Stetson. 8vo, publisher's original gray cloth, the spine lettered in metallic blue and with metallic blue lines which cross over to the front and back covers, in the original dustjacket designed byJohn Jinks and still in the original gray cloth-covered slipcase. xxi, 168pp. An essentially mint and as new copy. THE LIMITED SIGNED EDITION OF THIS REDISCOVERED WORK BY ONE OF THE GREATEST MYSTERY WRITERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
"Raymond Chandler is generally considered to be the finest exponent of the hardboiled tradition in detective fiction. His novels featuring Philip Marlowe have transcended the myster genre to take a place at the front rank of American literature.
Chandler was equally consummate as a screenwriter and among his credits are DOUBLE INDEMNITY, THE BLUE DAHLIA and STRANGERS ON A TRAIN. A screenplay which he envisioned as being one of his most important works was for a [1947] movie to be called PLAYBACK.
Unfortunately, the movie was never produced, and several years later [1958] he used the title and main female character for a novel. However, the script -an excellent story peppered with memorable dialogue, differed greatly from the novel.
RAYMOND CHANDLER'S UNKNOWN THRILLER is, therefore, a major discovery: an entirely new story by one of the 20th century's most influential and distinguished authors." - Jacket.