Playback is in many ways Chandler's farewell work, at once typical in taking a hard look at contemporary society, and atypical in turning into a self-conscious and, at times, almost nostalgic retrospective of his literary career. In forming your response to this unique novel you may wish to consider the following questions: 1. In what ways does Marlowe differ from the stereotype of the hard-boiled detective?

2. Are Mitchell and Chang victims of murder or of accident and suicide, respectively? What are the implications of either interpretation for the novel?

3. What elements of this novel set it apart from others of the genre?

4. Do you find Chandler's style vivid and colorful? If so, why?

5. How would you describe the mood of the novel and how is it evoked?

6. What is the significance of Henry Clarendon's philosophical musings for the rest of the novel?

7. Why doesn't Marlowe report Brandon...