"THE HUMAN RACE HAD CHANGED—AND HE HAD NOT"

CLARKE, Arthur C. Against the Fall of Night. [New York]: Gnome Press, (1953). Octavo, original blue cloth, original dust jacket. $1200.

First edition of this classic Golden Age science fiction adventure, an early Clarke novel—his first when published in novella form in Startling Stories, and only his third when revised and published separately as a full-length novel.

Clarke revised and expanded this early novel and reissued it in 1956 as The City and the Stars. "Partisans are deeply divided between this early work, which first appeared in the plebeian pages of Startling Stories, and the completely revised and expanded version, The City and the Stars. Raw first novel versus smoother, more complex finished work; take your pick. Yes, the initial account of how lonely young Alvin finds his way from the self-satisfied stagnation of the far future city Diaspar to the pastoral community of telepaths known as Lys shows the rough carpentry of its pulp origins. But it also exemplifies in its very simplicity the archetypal quest of a youth for hidden treasure for the regeneration of humanity that is the theme of Joseph Campbell's essay in comparative mythologies, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In the revision, that theme is lost" (Barron). "First Edition" stated on copyright page. Currey, 90. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder II-245*.

Book with mild toning to spine, near-fine; in a near-fine dust jacket with light wear to spine extremities and minor dust-soiling to back panel. A lovely copy in a bright, original dust jacket.