Philadelphia, Chamberlain Press, 1954. The author's first hardcover publication, a collection of stories with an introduction by Robert Bloch, later the author of Psycho. About 650 copies of this book had been distributed prior to a flood that destroyed the remaining bound copies, and a fire later destroyed the unbound sheets. Inscribed by Matheson to the horror writer Stanley Wiater, in 1992: "To Stanley -- with many thanks for the excellent interview in Dark Dreamers. Best always, Richard Matheson." Wiater's bookplate on front pastedown. Lower boards show some water damage, text block fine, but still only a good copy in a good, damp-stained dust jacket with effects mostly visible on verso and rear panel. Matheson's career began with placing short stories in the pulp magazines, and he later became one of the most important script writers for "The Twilight Zone." Ray Bradbury has called Matheson "one of the most important writers of the 20th century," and Stephen King cited him as "the author who most influenced me as a writer." A nice association copy. [#030756] SOLD