Books

Octavo, boards. Inscribed and signed by Clarke on the front free endpaper. 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 theme lost in the revised version, is still preferred by many readers. [Reference: Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-245. Survey of Science Fiction Literature I, pp. 374-77]. Some tanning to end papers, some rubs to lower board edges, a nearly fine copy in a nearly fine dust jacket with a 23 mm closed tear to the upper front panel and some very mild shelf wear. (28451).

Against the Fall of Night is a novel by British author Arthur C. Clarke, originally appearing as a novella in the November 1948 issue of 'Startling Stories.' Clarke expanded the story and published it in book form in 1953. The novel takes place a billion years in the future, in the city of Diaspar. Humanity has retreated to this single, opulent city, protected from the harsh outside world by technological marvels. Alvin, the protagonist, is a young man who is not content with the stagnant perfection of Diaspar and seeks to explore the mysterious past and unknown future of mankind.