BRAIN WAVE.
London: William Heinemann Ltd., [1955]. Octavo, boards. First edition. "BRAIN WAVE, perhaps his most famous single novel, remains very nearly his finest. Its premise is simple: for millions of years the part of the galaxy containing our solar system has been moving through a vast force field whose effect has been to inhibit "certain electromagnetic and electrochemical processes", and thus certain neuronic functions; it is a concept Vernor Vinge would exploit and expand in his A FIRE UPON THE DEEP (1992). When Earth escapes the inhibiting field, synapse-speed immediately increases, causing a rise in intelligence; after the book has traced various absorbing consequences of this transformation, a transfigured humanity reaches for the stars, leaving behind (it is a conclusion evocative of Clifford D Simak at his best) former mental defectives and bright animals to inherit the planet." - John Clute, SFE (online). Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-22. A near fine copy, bookstore stamp to front free end paper, some mild foxing to prelims and page edges in a near fine dust jacket, touch of rubbing to corners chip to upper spine panel at rear fold (fingernail size). A nice copy of a difficult book to locate in condition. (11488). Item #11488
Price: $1,000.00