Books

This is the L.W. Currey Gnome Press Binding A (blue boards with yellow letters) of the first American edition. Shelf 1112 Clean and tight; signed by author on FFEP (just the author name "Arthur C Clarke") paper lightly browned; rough cut edge; small shallow eighth of inch dent to top edge of front board; DJ is covered by mylar and has some wear to surface,edges and corners including price clipped, light browning with some rubbing, very small chips at top and bottom of flap folds, areas of rubbing and small creases especially to head and foot of spine strip. There is a gift inscription on the next to last blank page "Happy Birthday To Billy from Grandma 5/31/60".

Prelude to Space is Arthur C. Clarke's first science fiction novel, first published in 1951. It narrates the events leading up to humanity's first mission to the moon, exploring the ambitious dreams and technological challenges of the space race that was to come. As with much of Clarke's work, it emphasizes the scientific aspects and possibilities of spacefaring, with a mixed focus on engineering issues and human perspectives.