Description

“A MAJOR LANDMARK”: INSCRIBED FIRST EDITION OF THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES, SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR HAL CLEMENT’S COPY

BRADBURY, Ray. The Martian Chronicles. Garden City: Doubleday, 1950. Octavo, original light green cloth, original dust jacket. Housed in custom protective case.

First edition of this scarce science fiction classic, Bradbury’s first novel and second book, inscribed, “For Alex, friendly wishes from Ray Bradbury, 4/24/80.” From the personal library of celebrated science fiction author Hal Clement, with his bookplate.

“Its closely interwoven stories, linked by recurrent images and themes, tell of the repeated attempts by humans to colonize Mars? All the Bradbury themes that were later to be repeated find their earliest shapes here” (Clute & Nicholls, 151). “This was the book that established Bradbury’s reputation? He put far more emphasis on style and mood than he did on technical detail or scientific plausibility? His reward was a stunning popular and critical success” (Science Fiction 100 3). “By any measure, this work is a major landmark, both as science fiction and as literature” (Anatomy of Wonder II-154). State A dust jacket with $2.50 price (Currey, 45). Bookplate of Harry Clement Stubbs, better known to science fiction readers as Hal Clement, most famous for his “hard science fiction” classic, Mission of Gravity. Book with mild toning to spine and small discolorations to boards. Dust jacket with mild toning to spine and rear panel, very light crease to spine fold. A most attractive and desirable copy with an outstanding association.