Products
The Terminal Man
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1972. 247 pp. 5 3/4 x 8 1/2"; First Edition. Dust jacket is price clipped, otherwise in very good condition; Grey paper with brown cloth over spine, stated First Edition on copyright page, top edge stained green, in near fine condition. (Clute & Nicholls p. 273)
Michael Crichton (1942 - 2008) graduated from Harvard with an MD, which is apparent in much of his work. He first wrote under the name of John Lange but The Andromeda Strain is the second work of his under his own name, which was very successful. It was made into a movie in 1974 and delves into the morality of using electronic brain implants to control behavior, now a better known method of the use of a neurostimulator.
The Transcendent Man
New York: Rinehart & Co., 1953. 244 pp. Approximately 5 x 7 1/2". First edition, first printing with price of $2.50 on dust jacket flap. Gray boards, red and black spine letters with very minor rubbing to extremities, usual toning to text block, near fine condition. Dust jacket in near fine condition with crease and rubbing on back. NF/NF.
A science fiction story about an unseen alien race, called Capellans, living among us, harvesting "the thought forces released by humans at death."
The Trouble With Eden
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1973. First hardcover printing. Dust jacket is in very good condition with some edge wear, drink water mark, some shelf wear and minor chips, not price clipped. Red cloth over boards with gilt spine title, top edge has small red ink stain, some tanning, otherwise very good contion.
Jill Emerson is a pseudonym of Lawrence Block (b. 1938). Block is an American crime writer best known for two long-running New York–set series, about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, respectively. Block was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America in 1994. This fiction novel, set in New Hope Pennsylvania, has a diverse set of characters, some who struggle against temptation and some who don't.
The Wayward Bus
New York: Viking Press, 1947. 312 pp. Approximately 5 1/2 x 8 1/4". Pictorial jacket is in very good condition, with some wear, slight chipping of the spine, tape repairs to the inside of the jacket, original price of $2.75 intact, first edition first printing dust jacket. Grey cloth over boards with crisp lettering on cover and spine, blindstamp on front cover the same shade as the rest of the binding, top stained red, in near-fine condition. (Goldstone & Payne A23 third issue)
Originally thought to be one of Steinbeck's weaker novels, it was actually financially successful. The interesting thing about it is that no one single character in the book dominates. Rather, the viewpoint shifts from one character to another quite frequently, with access to the character's thoughts through an internal monologue. Adapted to film in 1957 to some success at the box office, it starred Jayne Mansfield, Joan Collins, Dan Dailey and Rick Jason.
The Wayward Bus
New York: Viking Press, 1947. 312 pp. Approximately 5 1/2 x 8 1/4". Pictorial jacket is in very good condition, with some wear, slight chipping of the spine, tape repairs to the inside of the jacket, original price of $2.75 intact. Dark reddish-orange cloth over boards with crisp lettering on cover and spine, blindstamp on front cover a lighter shade then the rest of the binding, top is not stained green and there is no book club dot so likely some variant of first printing, slight edge wear to covers especially along the bottom edges, stained on the upper page edge corners, otherwise in very good condition. (Goldstone & Payne A23a)
Originally thought to be one of Steinbeck's weaker novels, it was actually financially successful. The interesting thing about it is that no one single character in the book dominates. Rather, the viewpoint shifts from one character to another quite frequently, with access to the character's thoughts through an internal monologue. Adapted to film in 1957 to some success at the box office, it starred Jayne Mansfield, Joan Collins, Dan Dailey and Rick Jason.
The Well Known Family Game
Germany: n.p., (ca 1920). First edition presumed. Slipcase with chips and small loss of paper affecting two words of the instructions, glossy illustration to front cover, directions to the game on back cover, in good + condition. Twelve cards, 1 1/2 x 2 1/4", cards titled and crudely illustrated in blue, some with roughly trimmed edges (as issued), in about near fine condition.
An apparently unrecorded gambling card game, manufactured in Germany in the early 20th century from cheap materials. The cards are lettered in pairs from A to F and illustrated with members of several "families" such as George Brown, Mrs. John Smith, etc.
There are Names for Those Acts (Which We Long to Perform)
Lake City, CO: Ravenpress, 2001. (Box) Approximately 1 1/2 x 2 5/8 x 13/16". LIMITED EDITION of 25 copies, this being #11. Outer box is dark wood with brass decorations, in fine condition; Accordion hinged boards with paste and marbled papers, book opens to 2 x 9", color laserprint from original watercolors, numbered and signed on the colophon by the publisher, in fine condition.
This is the first book in the miniature pillow book series. Based on the traditional instructional pillow books given couples on their wedding night, this two-sided accordion contains six secually explicit watercolors paired with six physical and spiritual descriptions of the 'embraces of love' taken from ancient Asian texts. Alicia Bailey began publishing under the Ravenpress imprint in 1996. Ravenpress publications are held in private, public and special collections worldwide. Bailey thinks of the artists' book works she creates as interactive sculptures realized in the form of the book. She works in a wide variety of materials, including those not often associated with the book form, thus necessitating structural redesign and innovations.
This Perfect Day
New York: Random House, 1970. Harcover. 317 pp. Book Club Edition. Dust jacket is in fair condition: some edge wear, shelf wear, creases, several large tears and corner bumping, interior is excellent, clean, some tanning, binding is tight but book is slightly cocked. Very good condition.
A dystopian novel by the author of Rosemary's baby, with the main character being a young man named Chip, "who fights a desperate battle for freedom in a world benumbed by chemistry and computerization."
Three Hearts and Three Lions
New York: Doubleday Science Fiction, 1961. Approximately 5 1/2 x 8 1/2". First Edition. Illustrated dust jacket by Edward Gorey, some creases, small nicks mostly to spine ends, minor rubbing, original price of $3.95 intact, in very good + condition. Red cloth over boards with gold stamped design on cover and gold/black stamped lettering and designs on spine, top edges red, really minor edge wear, slight corner bumping,small pen marks on rear cover, otherwise, in very good + condition. (Toledano D-Anderson)
Poul Anderson (1926 - 2001) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He was awarded three Nebula Awards and seven Hugo awards. This book is listed in Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels by Pringle as number #25. Dust jacket is illustrated by Edward Gorey (1925 - 2000), an American artist and writer, best known for his eccentric imagery and stories, often set in Victorian and Edwardian settings.
To Rule the Night
Philadelphia & New York: A. J. Holman Company, 1973. 5 3/4 x 8 1/2"; First Edition, Second Printing. Photographic dust jacket has some chips and creases, particularly at the spine extremities, a tear on the back cover which has been clumsily taped, in good condition. Black cloth over boards with gilt title on spine, gift inscription on front free endpaper and previous owner's signature on verso of half-title page which was signed by the Jim Irwin, foxing to page edges, otherwise in very good condition.
James Benson Irwin (1930 - 1991) was an American astronaut, US Air Force pilot, aeronautical engineer and test pilot who served as the Apollo 15 Lunar Module pilot. He was the eighth person to walk on the moon. This autobiographical story tells of Jim's boyhood, his marriage, his career, his voyage on Apollo 15 and his spiritual life, which is weaved throughout.