ODD JOHN: A STORY BETWEEN JEST AND EARNEST.
London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., [1935]. Octavo, pp. [i-iv] v [vi] 1-282 + 8-page publisher's catalogue dated "835" at bottom of page 8 inserted at rear, original blue cloth, spine panel stamped in dark blue. First edition, first impression. 3096 copies printed, this copy with later form of inserted catalogue dated "835" on page 8. Stapledon's third novel. "... the most radically thoughtful of the many fictional extrapolations of ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES and one of the least comfortable in its conclusion. Above all it exposes the flimsiness of thinking that 'Superman' will always be on the side of the police, that evolution has stopped, or that from now on evolution will only take place nicely." - Survey of Science Fiction Literature IV, pp. 1583-87. "Although the narrative voices Stapledon's biases, it remains perhaps the finest early novel in which mankind is unable to accept and live with advanced mutations (supermen)." - Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 720. [Reference: Anatomy of Wonder (1976) 3-58; (1981) 2-99; (1987) 2-110; (1995) 2-120; and (2004) II-1070. Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (1993), p. 1152. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 205. Sargent, British and American Utopian Literature, 1516-1985, Additions. Stableford, Scientific Romance in Britain 1890-1950, pp. 206-09. In 333. Bleiler (1978), p. 185. Reginald 13558. Satty and Smith A6.1.1.1]. Some tanning to end papers text block, mild darkening to spine, slight lean, a very good copy in a very good price clipped dust jacket with a 19 mm closed tear with crease to upper left front corner, partial ring stain to front cover, mild dust soiling to spine panel with mild wear to the ends, 20 mm closed tear to upper right rear fold, 25 mm closed tear at upper left rear corner, dust soiling to rear panel and brown tape stains to verso of upper spine and two rear corners. (28415). Item #28415
Price: $950.00