A Gun a Car a Blonde (1977)

The story's hero Richard has lost much of his spine and the love of his life, due to cancer. He's in remission; but decimated in body, shattered in mind, and separated from inner\spiritual peace. He uses "object therapy" suggested by his lifelong pal Duncan to project his consciousness into an alternative reality, where he becomes "Rick Stone" - a soft-hearted, tough acting, Private Dick (P.I.) It is here that he works through his existential fight to survive and transcend life.