Books

(New York): Gnome Press, 1953. Hardcover. Good/Good. First edition. A chip at the crown of both the book and the jacket, thus good or a little better in an about very good dust jacket. Inscribed by Arthur C. Clarke to his protégé, one-time secretary, and longtime friend Ian Macauley, who was the dedicatee of his first hardcover novel (*Islands in the Sky*): "To Ian, my favorite American, on – appropriately enough – the day of the solar eclipse – 30 June 56. Arthur." Macauley was an award-winning *New York Times* journalist who also edited Clarke's book of collected essays, *Greetings, Carbon-Based Bipeds!* (2000). Clarke wrote the last chapter of *Childhood's End*, while visiting Macauley in Atlanta in 1952, where he was reportedly greatly influenced by their discussions. A splendid association copy.

The City and the Stars is a classic science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke. Set in the far future, the novel explores the life of Alvin, a unique child born in the fully automated, self-contained city of Diaspar. Unlike his fellow citizens who are content living a repetitive and unchanging existence, Alvin becomes curious about the outside world and embarks on a journey that leads to the discovery of humanity's past and the true nature of the universe.