Catalog 164, W-Z
238. WALLACE, David Foster. Infinite Jest. Boston: Little Brown (1996). The advance reading copy of his magnum opus. Signed by the author. A huge book (nearly 1100 pages), which impressed many critics and readers with its scope and its satirical critique of popular culture as well as with the author's erudition. When Wallace committed suicide in 2008 he had published only two novels -- his first book, The Broom of the System, and this one. His other books were collections of short pieces, including nonfiction. Nonetheless, he was widely viewed as one of the leading American writers, largely on the basis of the impact of this novel. In 2005 Time magazine selected it as one of the 100 best American novels published since 1923. There were reportedly 1000 copies of this issue sent out for promotional purposes. Shallow corner creasing to cover and some pages; and small nick and scratch to lower covers. Near fine in wrappers, with reader response card laid in.
239. WALLACE, David Foster. A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again. Boston: Little Brown (1997). The uncorrected proof copy of this collection of essays and other short pieces. Textual variations exist between this and the published version. The piece "Joseph Frank's Dostoevsky" only appears in the proof; it was later published in Consider the Lobster. Tiny spine tap, else fine in wrappers.
240. (WALLACE, David Foster). Sonora Review 11, 12, and 13. (Tucson): (University of Arizona)(1987). The literary magazine of the University of Arizona, where Wallace went to pursue his Master of Fine Arts degree, after graduating from Amherst College in 1985. Wallace completed his MFA in 1987. Three issues. Wallace served as fiction editor for Issues 11 and 12. In Issue 13 he is no longer on the staff and instead has contributed the 27 page story "Solomon Silverfish." Republished in the 2009 tribute issue of Sonora Review; not otherwise collected. All volumes are very near fine in wrappers.
241. -. Same title. Issue 13 only, with his story "Solomon Silverfish." Trace wear at crown, else fine in wrappers.
242. WARREN, Ed and Lorraine. Graveyard. True Hauntings from an Old New England Cemetery. (NY): (St. Martin's)(1992). A "special collector edition" of this book about New England ghosts and haunted buildings. Inscribed by the authors in 1994. Flyer for a program featuring the Warrens laid in -- "America's Top Ghostbusters!" -- along with the recipient's notes on the evening. The pair were well known for investigating paranormal occurrences, including the Amityville case, which was the basis for a book and later a movie. Recipient's stamp inside the front cover; fine in stapled wrappers. From the library of modern horror writer Stanley Wiater.
243. WATTS, Alan. The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are. NY: Pantheon (1966). The book that most succinctly stated Watts's case for an interpretation of human nature that borrowed from Eastern religions and the mystical experience to attempt to shed the mind-body dualism of Western culture and religion, which he argues artificially -- and incorrectly -- separates us from our environment, our world, and ultimately ourselves. Watts was one of the early advocates of Zen in the West, and his books typically have an aspect of comparative religion, translating one culture's concepts into another's vocabulary. This one is the one that attempts most resolutely to delineate his insights and definitions in terms that are secular and Western; it also helped to provide the vocabulary for a generation that was experimenting with consciousness-altering psychedelic drugs, whose effects were often described in terms borrowed from the literature of Eastern mysticism. Inscribed by the author. Large but light stains to boards; very good in a very good, spine and edge-sunned dust jacket with a couple closed edge tears. A key volume in Watt's oeuvre, and seldom encountered signed.
244. WEIR, Andy. The Martian. (n.p.): Del Rey (2014). The advance reading copy (marked "Uncorrected Proof") of the first British edition of the novel that Weir initially self-published on Amazon in 2012. Reportedly being made into a Ridley Scott/Matt Damon film in 2015. The first "physical" edition of a book that previously existed only in digital -- virtual -- format. Not surprisingly, the physical preview edition seems to be scarce; we've only seen this one copy. Presumably, like most other books these days, most publicity and prepublication materials will be digital rather than "hard copy." Near fine in wrappers.
245. WHITE, Randy Wayne. The Man Who Invented Florida. NY: St. Martin's (1993). A dedication copy of the third of White's popular Florida mysteries featuring marine biologist, Doc Ford. Inscribed by White to the author Peter Matthiessen: "For Peter Matthiessen, to whom this book is dedicated. Thanks for your friendship over many years. Randy Wayne White/ Pineland, Florida/ January, 1994." Matthiessen is the sixth of 15 people White names on the dedication page as "allies who have, during many travels and trails, proven steadfast in their friendship and unfailing in their support." White has been called "the rightful heir to John D. MacDonald" for his Doc Ford series; Ford is a marine biologist and the mysteries have been highly praised for their sensitivity to the Florida environment and ecology. Light foxing to the endpages and page edges; near fine in a near fine dust jacket with a bit of wear to the crown.
246. WILSON, Gahan and WIATER, Stanley. Mysteries of the Word. Holyoke: Crossroads Press, 1994. A pamphlet printing "a dark fable" by Wiater -- a retelling of an "urban legend" -- with illustrations by Wilson and an introduction by Jack Ketchum. Copy No. 247 of 250 numbered copies, signed by the author, the illustrator, and Ketchum. Fine in stapled wrappers. Together with 9" x 12" prints of the three Wilson illustrations, on heavy cardstock. Fine.
247. WILSON, S. Clay. Wilson's Grimm. San Francisco: Cottage Classics (1999). Wilson provides the illustrations for seven tales by the Brothers Grimm, and he makes it impossible to miss the dark side of such stories as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Hansel and Gretel." Of a total edition of 1250 copies, this is Copy 176 of 300 hardbound numbered copies signed by Wilson. Fine.
248. -. Same title. One of 1250 copies of the trade edition. Fine in wrappers.
249. WOLFE, Tom. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. NY: FSG (1968). Wolfe's landmark account of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and their bus trip across the country. An example of, and perhaps the epitome of, the "New Journalism" that Wolfe helped to bring about in the Sixties; it was called at the time "the most penetrating piece of writing yet done on the ethos and dynamics of the hippie," and it remains a classic of the time, and the most definitive, sympathetic and insightful account of the seminal events of the 1960s counterculture -- the cross-country bus trip taken by Kesey and the Pranksters and the LSD-fueled gatherings -- "acid tests" -- that defined the Bay Area counterculture community in the mid-1960s, when LSD was still legal. Fading to and foxing to top edge and a couple faint foredge smudges, else fine in a fine dust jacket. A beautiful copy.
250. YATES, Richard. Revolutionary Road. Boston: Little Brown (1961). His influential first novel, made into a well-received film almost fifty years after the book's publication. Inscribed by the author in 1980. Yates was nominated for the National Book Award for this novel, along with Joseph Heller's Catch-22 and Walker Percy's The Moviegoer, also first novels. (Percy won.) Yates later taught at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where he became a mentor to a group of writers that included Raymond Carver and Andre Dubus, among others. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with one light, blended stain and the faint edge-shadows of a previous dust jacket protector.