Arthur C. Clarke. AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT. Gnome Press, 1953. 1st HCDJ. Signed

Description: Clarke, Arthur C. AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT. NY: Gnome Press, 1953. 1st edition. With “FIRST EDITION” printed on the copyright page which indicates that this is the correct 1st edition, 1st printing. This is NOT a book-club book. This is NOT an ex-library book. Signed by Arthur C. Clarke on the title page. Buyer beware: there were no later printings of the Gnome Press hardcover edition of AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT. However, there was a science fiction book club hardcover edition of AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT with the same dust jacket artwork that resembled the 1st trade edition, but was published after the 1st trade edition. This is the real deal: the true 1st edition, 1st printing. SCROLL DOWN THIS PAGE IMMEDIATELY TO SEE THE CONDITION OF THIS BOOK AND THIS DUST JACKET. Arthur C. Clarke was born in England in 1917. He died in 2008. His education included being awarded a First-Class degree in mathematics and physics at King’s College London. He was knighted in 2000 by Queen Elizabeth. In World War II, Clarke served in the RAF as a radar specialist and was involved in the Early Warning Radar Defense System, which helped the RAF’s success during the Battle of Britain. He was later appointed chief training instructor of RAF Honiley. Although Clarke was not the originator of the concept of geostationary satellites, one of his most important scientific contributions was his idea that they would be ideal telecommunications relays. In recognition of of some of his contributions, the geostationary orbit, 22,000 miles above the equator, is officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union as a Clarke Orbit. Clarke later moved from England to Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) where he became an expert SCUBA diver. He made a number of important underwater discoveries that were hitherto unknown. He also predicted that space shuttles would be invented, that super-fast computers would be invented, and that humankind would reach the moon, all of which did happen, long after he predicted them. As a boy, Clarke became interested in science fiction by reading old American science fiction pulp magazines. After his first two professional sales, “Loophole” and “Rescue Party,” were published in 1946, Clarke continued to write science fiction and devoted himself to writing full-time from 1951 onward. Clarke corresponded with C.S. Lewis in the 1940’s and 1950’s and they once met in an Oxford pub to discuss science fiction and space travel. In 1948, Clarke wrote “The Sentinel” for a BBC competition. Though the story was rejected, it changed the course of Clarke’s career. Not only was it the basis for 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (offered here), but it also introduced a more cosmic element to Clarke’s later works. Many of his works concerned mankind being confronted by a superior alien intelligence and that intelligence’s technologies, as well as humanity’s acceleration into its next stage of evolution. Novels such as CHILDHOOD’S END, THE CITY AND THE STARS (and its original version, AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT), and the “2001” series made use of these concepts. For much of the later 20th century, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, and Robert A. Heinlein were informally known as the “Big Three” of science fiction writers. Clarke and Heinlein often corresponded for many years. In 1984, Clarke testified before Congress against the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Later, at the home of Larry Niven in California, Heinlein attacked Clarke verbally over his views on United States foreign and space policy (especially the SDI). Although the two reconciled formally, they remained distant until Heinlein’s death in 1988. Clarke and Asimov first met in New York City in 1953, and they traded friendly insults and jibes for decades. They established a verbal agreement, the “Clarke-Asimov Treaty,” that when asked who was best, the two would say Clarke was the best science fiction writer and Asimov was the best science writer. Themes of religion and spirituality often appeared in Clarke’s writings. He said: “Any path to knowledge is a path to God -- or Reality, whichever word one prefers to use.” He also described himself as a logical positivist. He was honored as a Humanist Laureate in the International Academy of Humanism. One of Clarke’s most famous quotations is: “One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion.” He was quoted in Popular Science magazine as saying of religion: “Most malevolent and persistent of all mind viruses. We should get rid of it as quickly as we can.” Arthur C. Clarke was the author of such great and famous and collectible books as AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT (offered here), THE SANDS OF MARS, EXPEDITION TO EARTH, PRELUDE TO SPACE, REACH FOR TOMORROW, CHILDHOOD’S END, THE CITY AND THE STARS, A FALL OF MOONDUST, TALES FROM THE WHITE HART, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SKY, TALES OF TEN WORLDS, THE NINE BILLION NAMES OF GOD, THE WIND FROM THE SUN, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA, IMPERIAL EARTH, THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE, and many, many more. Signed by Arthur C. Clarke on the title page. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Arthur C. Clarke’s Three Laws: 1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong. 2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible. 3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ From the dust jacket: “ . . . AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT . . . by ARTHUR C. CLARKE . . . A billion years in the future is the setting of Mr. Clarke’s latest novel. Once, man’s empire encompassed the entire universe, but now the last vestige of his vanished glory is a solitary city lost in the shifting sands of an age-worn Earth . . . In the glittering city of Dispar legend told of the mysterious Invaders who drove man from his starry kingdom back to the planet of his birth which he must never attempt to leave. To the immortal dwellers in the city nothing lay beyond the walls but endless horizons of sand, senseless, and perhaps dangerous , to explore. The untroubled existence of the city went on until Alvin of Loronei, the only child to be born there in seven thousand years, began to question the age-old ‘truths’ of his elders. The burning curiosity of the boy, so different from the others’ timidity and fear of change, drives him beyond the city walls to discover another city that ancient records said was deserted . . . One after another Alvin goes through astonishing adventures that change him from an immature boy to an inspired young man whose destiny it is to lead frightened mankind back to the millions of sparkling suns in the universe that is his birthright . . . The same skill to combine prophetic fact with exciting fiction that Mr. Clarke displayed in SAND OF MARS is evident in AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT, but with an impressive difference. AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT rises to almost poetic heights, in its descriptions of man’s destiny in time and space, that reveal the author to be an artist of the first rank . . . “ “Expanded and rewritten as THE CITY AND THE STARS (1956). This earlier version utilizing the archetypal youth’s quest and coming of age theme, a them lost in the revised version, is still preferred by many readers.” — ANATOMY OF WONDER (2004). Some of the awards and award nominations that Arthur C. Clarke has been honored with: 1951: THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE. International Fantasy Award winner for Best Nonfiction Book. 1953: CHILDHOOD’S END. 2004 Retro Hugo Award nominee for Best Novel. 1953: CHILDHOOD’S END. 2005 Geffen Award winner for Best Science Fiction Book. 1953: “The Nine Billion Names of God.” 2004 Retro Hugo Award winner for Best Short Story. 1955: “The Star.” Hugo Award winner for Best Short Story. 1961: Arthur C. Clarke is the UNESCO-Kalinga Prize winner for the Popularization of Science. 1961: A FALL OF MOONDUST. 1963 Hugo Award nominee for Best Novel. 1963: Arthur C. Clarke is honored by being named the Stuart Ballantine Medal Award winner. 1968: 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (the novel) and “2001: A Space Odyssey” (the film) are released simultaneously to world-wide acclaim. 1969: “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick are Academy Award nominees for Best Writing, Story, and Screenplay — Written Directly for the Screen. 1971: “A Meeting With Medusa.” Hugo Award nominee for Best Novella. 1971: “A Meeting With Medusa.” Locus Award co-runner-up for Best Short Fiction. 1971: “A Meeting With Medusa.” Nebula Award winner for Best Novella. 1971: “A Meeting With Medusa.” Selun Award winner for Best Foreign Short Story. 1972: THE WIND FROM THE SUN. Locus Award nominee for Best Reprint Anthology/Collection. 1973: RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA. Hugo Award winner for Best Novel. 1973: RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA. Nebula Award winner for Best Novel. 1973: RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA. John W. Campbell Memorial Award winner for Best Novel. 1973: RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA. Locus Award winner for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1973: RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA. British Science Fiction Award winner for Best Novel. 1973: RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA. Jupiter Award winner for Best Novel. 1973: RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA. Selun Award winner for Best Foreign Novel. 1975: IMPERIAL EARTH. Locus Award nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1975: IMPERIAL EARTH. 2001 Gaylactic Spectrum Hall of Fame Award winner. 1979: THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE. Hugo Award winner for Best Novel. 1979: THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE. Nebula Award winner for Best Novel. 1979: THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE. Locus Award 3rd-place winner for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1979: THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE. British Science Fiction Award nominee for Best Novel. 1981: SCIENCE FICTION HALL OF FAME: VOLUME FOUR. (ed.). Locus Award nominee for Best Anthology. 1982: 2010: ODYSSEY TWO. Hugo Award nominee for Best Novel. 1982: 2010: ODYSSEY TWO. Locus Award runner-up for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1982: 2010: ODYSSEY TWO. Science Fiction Chronicle 3rd-place winner for Best Novel. 1982: “New Communications Technologies and the Developing World. AnLab Award winner for Best Fact Article. 1983: THE SENTINEL. Locus Award 3rd-place winner for Best Collection. 1985: Arthur C. Clarke is honored by being named a Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Award winner. 1986: THE SONGS OF DISTANT EARTH. Locus Award nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1988: Arthur C. Clarke is honored in an Interzone Poll as the 2nd-place winner in their poll for the All-Time Best Science Fiction Author. 1988: 2061: ODYSSEY THREE. Locus Award nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1988: Arthur C. Clarke is honored with an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Letters) by the University of Bath. 1989: ASTOUNDING DAYS. Hugo Award nominee for Best Non-fiction Book. 1989: ASTOUNDING DAYS. Locus Award 3rd-place winner for Best Non- fiction Book. 1989: RAMA II. (co-authored with Gentry Lee). Locus Award nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1990: THE GHOST FROM THE GRAND BANKS. Locus Award nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1990: PROJECT SOLAR SAIL. (ed.). Locus Award nominee for Best Anthology. 1991: THE GARDEN OF RAMA. (co-authored with Gentry Lee). Locus Award nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1992: “The Hammer of God.” Locus Award nominee for Best Short Story. 1993: THE HAMMER OF GOD. Locus Award nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1993: RAMA REVEALED. (co-authored with Gentry Lee). Locus Award nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1994: Arthur C. Clarke is honored by being named a Nobel Peace Prize nominee (nominated by law professor Glenn Reynolds). 1996: Arthur C. Clarke is honored by being named a Living Inductee into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. 1997: 3001: THE FINAL ODYSSEY. Locus Award nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel. 1998: “The Wire Continuum.” (co-authored with Stephen Baxter). Locus Award nominee for Best Short Story. 1998: “The Wire Continuum.” (co-authored with Stephen Baxter). Sidewise Award nominee for Best Short Form. 2000: Arthur C. Clarke is honored as an I-CON Gallun Award winner. 2000: THE LIGHT OF OTHER DAYS. (co-authored with Stephen Baxter). Selun Award nominee for Best Foreign Novel. 2000: THE LIGHT OF OTHER DAYS. (co-authored with Stephen Baxter). Phantastik Award nominee for Best Foreign Novel. 2000: Arthur C. Clarke is honored by being named a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association. 2001: Arthur C. Clarke is honored as a First Fandom Award winner. 2001: THE COLLECTED STORIES. Locus Award runner-up for Best Collection. 2001: Arthur C. Clarke is honored when the Mars Odyssey Orbiter is named for his literary works. 2003: Arthur C. Clarke is honored by being named a Heinlein Award winner for Outstanding Achievement in Hard or Science-oriented Science Fiction. 2003: Arthur C. Clarke is the the Telluride Tech Festival Award of Technology winner, where it appeared on stage via a 3-D hologram with a group of old friends that included Jill Tarter, Neil Armstrong, Lewis Branscomb, Charles Townes, Freeman Dyson, Bruce Murray, and Scott Brown. 2005: Arthur C. Clarke is honored by the country of Sri Lanka as the recipient of its highest civilian award, the Sri Lankabhimany (The Pride of Sri Lanka), for his contributions to science and technology and his commitment to his adopted country. The legendary Arthur C. Clarke was (and remains) one of the best, most important, most famous, and most collectible science fiction authors of all time. His contributions to science fiction and to human society in general are incalculable. First edition copies of his books remain (and will always remain) very collectible. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ I grade books and dust jackets: fine, near fine, very good, good, fair, and poor. I describe all faults. If you sell books on EBAY (or anywhere else), it is de rigueur not to list 1st printings of book club books as 1st editions (unless they ARE the 1st edition, which occurs only occasionally); also, a 1st edition, 7th printing, is not a 1st edition. Ex-library books must be noted as such since generally they are of little value to the collector of 1st editions. Condition is also very important to those collectors. Books and dust jackets must be described in detail. In other words, it is incumbent upon the SELLER to know what is and is not a 1st edition. Mistakes can be made (and corrected), of course, but if you DON'T KNOW, don't try to sell a book as a 1st edition. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CONDITION: A NEAR FINE to an ABOUT FINE book in a NEAR FINE (or better) dust jacket. The book is tight and square in its medium blue-green boards binding with bright burgundy lettering on the spine of the book. There is no writing in the book; no bookplates; no remainder marks. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DUST JACKET IS PRICE-CLIPPED. There are no chips or tears or wrinkles to the dust jacket. There is some relatively minor rubbing to the rear panel of the dust jacket; unobtrusive, and less than is usually encountered. The front panel and the spine panel of the dust jacket are in close to FINE condition. A note on the photos in this listing: the photos of the dust jacket were taken while the dust jacket was encased in a protective Brodart dust jacket protector. Any apparent "smudges" or darkening or discolorations or glare is due to the reflections from the dust jacket protector. There are no serious flaws to the dust jacket. I decided not to remove the dust jacket from the dust jacket protector when I took the photos. I can provide photos of the dust jacket without the dust jacket protector on the dust jacket, if necessary. The fantastic and famous artwork is by the legendary genre artist Frank Kelly Freas (infamously misspelled "Frease" on the lower portion of the front flap of the dust jacket). Signed by Arthur C. Clarke on the title page. A MUST FOR THE COLLECTOR OF IMPORTANT MODERN SCIENCE FICTION 1st EDITIONS AND/OR THE COLLECTOR OF GNOME PRESS SCIENCE FICTION 1st EDITIONS AND/OR THE COLLECTOR OF ARTHUR C. CLARKE 1st EDITIONS, ESPECIALLY 1st EDITIONS SIGNED BY ARTHUR C. CLARKE! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Additional photos are available upon request. I am continuing to list some of my best books (especially science fiction, fantasy, and horror 1st editions) on EBAY not so much as auctions (due to the fact that EBAY charges quite a bit to list items for reserve auctions), but more along the lines of listing my “catalogue” of books that I have for sale. I'm not going to “give” these books away, but my opening bids and Buy-It-Now prices are usually a fair amount below market value. Furthermore, however, for certain scarce books in great condition, I do expect to get close to what they're worth. Stay with me; I always have a number of important, collectible, cornerstone science fiction, fantasy, and horror 1st editions listed. Many thanks! All items are being offered for sale elsewhere; I reserve the right to end this listing early if this item sells elsewhere. __________________________________________________________________________________ Note: I own the following two books: Leckie, Anne. ANCILLARY JUSTICE. Subterranean Press, 2014. 1st limited edition. (#2/500). Leckie, Anne. ANCILLARY MERCY. Subterranean Press, 2016. 1st limited edition. (#2/500). I am looking for: Leckie, Anne. ANCILLARY SWORD. Subterranean Press, 2015. 1st limited edition. (#2/500). I would like to round out this set by acquiring the #2/500 copy of ANCILLARY SWORD. If anyone has this copy and is willing to sell it on EBAY, I would be highly interested in obtaining it so that all my copies would have matching numbers. Many thanks. __________________________________________________________________________________ I am happy to set up flexible PAYMENT and/or HOLD PLANS for any book(s) that you bid on and win. Shipping: $4.00 for USPS Media Mail shipping. $10.00 for USPS Priority Mail shipping. Buyers who wish to have packages sent to addresses outside of the U.S. are required to pay for the postage necessary to send such packages. Please note: if you want something other than USPS Media Mail shipping, you must wait for me to send you an EBAY invoice or if you are a buyer outside of the United States, you must wait for me to send you an EBAY invoice. You must be willing to pay for non-USPS Media Mail shipping charges or for international shipping charges. I reserve the right to negate a purchase if you are unwilling to pay for the correct shipping charges either to an address in the U.S. or if international shipping is required. I am happy to set up flexible payment and layaway plans if these options make it easier for you to participate in bidding and winning. Please e-mail me if you have any questions. See my other auctions on EBAY for excellent science fiction, fantasy, and horror 1st editions (and a few other items). I specialize in science fiction, fantasy, and horror 1st editions: award winners, cornerstone books, and generally recognized important books in the genre(s). I GUARANTEE THE CONDITION OF THIS BOOK; IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, SEND IT BACK! If you prefer payment methods other than PayPal (as I do), I am happy to arrange for a different payment method for you. Before you buy from others, check out their return policies and their guarantees and compare them to mine. I stand behind all of my items FULLY. Why deal with a seller who won’t guarantee their books, doesn't have a return policy, or doesn't correctly describe the edition or condition of their book(s)? OTIUM SINE LITTERIS MORS EST ET HOMINIS VIVI SEPULTURA.

Price: 1849.99 USD

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska

End Time: 2024-12-08T07:58:20.000Z

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