Books

First edition. Slight tape shadows on the front fly, near fine in fine dustwrapper. The tape shadows are from a laid-in (and formerly attached) printed "With the compliments of the Author" that is Inscribed in the card by Arthur C. Clarke to his prot�g�, one-time secretary, and longtime friend Ian Macauley; "Dear Ian believe it or not, I started writing this only three years after *Islands in the Sky*! All the best, Arthur." The card exhibits some small corresponding tape stains. Macauley was the dedicatee of Clarke's first published hardcover novel, *Islands in the Sky*, and was an award-winning *New York Times* journalist. He also edited Clarke's book of collected essays, *Greetings, Carbon-Based Bipeds!* (2000). Clarke wrote the last chapter of *Childhood End*, while visiting Macauley in Atlanta, where he was reportedly greatly influenced by their discussions. A nice association copy of this science-fiction novel.

Imperial Earth is a science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke, set mainly in the year 2276. The story follows Duncan Makenzie, a resident of Titan, the sixth moon of Saturn, as he travels to Earth to attend the 500th anniversary of the United States of America's independence. The novel explores themes such as identity, cloning, and technological advancement.