Holiday List, D-F
57. DICK, Philip K. Letter and Manuscript Archive 1964-1981. The archive of correspondence from Dick to Cynthia Goldstone, artist, long-time friend, and the dedicatee of Galactic Pot Healer. Including: eleven letters, six original poems, several photographs, 28 typed pages of others' poems (primarily James Stephens), a signed presentation copy of Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said, and two pages of carbon typescript from the same novel.
The eleven letters (two ALS and nine TLS, one with holograph
marginal notations and doodles of religious imagery) comprise 18 pages
of text and cover the years 1964 (4); 1965 (1); 1966 (1); 1967 (3);
1970 (1); and 1981 (1). Dick was as prolific a letter writer as he
was a fiction writer, and the typed letters are single-spaced, densely
written, running to upwards of 1000 words and touching on subjects
ranging from the personal, to the literary, to business matters, to
the philosophical. The main period covered by the correspondence,
1964-1970, coincides with the period in which he was writing many of
his most ground-breaking science fiction novels, including Do
Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Ubik, The Three
Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch and others. In the body of work he
produced during the 1960s, Dick showed a willingness to break the
traditional rules of the science fiction genre and use his novels as
means of exploring not only the possibilities of outer space but those
of inner space. Dick's sensitivity, especially to his own inner
states--which was his curse as an individual but his gift as a
writer--reveals itself abundantly in these letters. He writes of his
depression and the fact that his anti-depressant pills aren't working,
and begins to show signs of the extreme mental duress that led to his
nervous breakdown--and the accompanying philosophical insights he felt
it provided him--in the early '70s. Throughout the letters there are
insights into his novels. In one letter dated "January 3, 1960
something" [actually 1967], he writes "The war depresses me, too. I
think we ought to get out of Viet Nam (I don't usually talk politics,
but on this point I'm rabid). I wrote my feelings out in a recent
Doubleday book of mine, called NOW WAIT FOR LAST YEAR, in which Earth
is on the wrong side in an interstellar war, and is just beginning to
realize it. Earth's political leader wants to get out, but how? ... I
think you and Lou will both approve the underlying theme of the book:
the horrid intimation of being involved on the wrong side in the wrong
war..." Other letters are equally revealing, although more often in
the personal realm than the political. In one, he writes "I think I
would define reality -- my reality -- as everything and
anything I feel strongly about... I mean toward lives and the needs
and fears expressed in all the various lives, including those of
animals. When I see some small bug making its way across the table I
think to myself
Dick was one of the most important science fiction writers of the
modern era, winner of innumerable awards, and one who helped elevate
the genre to the realm of literature. A major award is named after
him, and abroad he is viewed as an important American writer in the
tradition of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. In David Pringle's
book, Science Fiction - The 100 Best Novels, Dick is the only
author with five entries and Pringle indicates that he could have
added more but that "one has to draw the line somewhere." Dick's
writings deal with fundamental questions of the human condition, and
are only secondarily about alien civilizations or space travel.
Terence McKenna, the psychedelic advocates, believes that Dick's
writings anticipated the current explorations into the nature of
reality taking place in the realm of fractal mathematics and chaos
theory; others have compared his metaphysical excursions to those of
Borges and William S. Burroughs.
This is a remarkable archive of unpublished writing by one of the
most extraordinary writers of the second half of the twentieth
century.
Also together with a copy of Flow My Tears, the
Policeman Said (Garden City: Doubleday, 1974), winner of the John
W. Campbell Award for 1975 and a nominee for both the Hugo and Nebula
Awards. This copy is inscribed by Dick to Lou and Cynthia
Goldstone: "...with love to my/ friends whom I miss/ so much./
Philip K. Dick/ 1/27/74." (Although Goldstone was the dedicatee of
Galactic Pot Healer, Dick never inscribed a copy of that title
to her.) Some light staining to boards and a slight tilt from
reading; near fine in a very good dust jacket with several edge tears
and a small chip at the spine base. The letters are folded for
mailing, a few have a couple of light edge spots but are otherwise
fine; all but one have the original mailing envelope. For the
archive:
58. DICK, Philip K. VALIS. (n.p.: n.p., n.d.). The
original manuscript of Dick's science fiction novel, VALIS,
which is considered one of Dick's two greatest works. 311 pages of
ribbon-copy typescript, inscribed by the author on the top page
"with love" to a close friend, and additionally inscribed to "the
best friend I ever had" on the verso of a proof of the novel's
paperback cover. With a letter from the publisher laid in returning
this to Dick for his files, and a photocopy of a letter from Dick to
the publisher requesting that the book's dedication be changed [it
was]. "VALIS" stands for "Vast Active Living Intelligence System" and
is an acronym for the pervasive unseen force he saw as animating the
universe; his entire body of work can be seen as an effort to
penetrate and understand this force, and VALIS stands as the
most complete expression of that understanding outside of the
unpublished diary and journals that he titled Exegesis.
Dick's writings influenced a generation of science fiction
authors and helped move science fiction out of the realm of "little
green men" once and for all, firmly establishing it as a genre for
addressing serious philosophical and metaphysical questions. Dick was
immersed in the Sixties counterculture and his metaphysical
explorations most often were conducted on his own psyche; he put
himself at risk in the service of a spiritual, and literary, quest and
paid the price: by continually entering into uncharted psychological
territory, Dick made himself exceptionally vulnerable; he suffered ill
health, devastating psychosomatic illnesses--leading to a suicide
attempt in 1976--and he finally died of a series of strokes and heart
failure at the relatively young age of 53.
The manuscripts from the first two-thirds of Dick's career are
institutionalized; other writings by Dick in manuscript form show up
on the market only very rarely --a recent listing by a leading
specialist dealer had a four-page story typescript (with a letter of
transmittal and tear-sheet of the story) for $2200, or roughly per page of Dick manuscript. This manuscript of his most important
novel, warmly inscribed (twice) to a close friend, represents the
pinnacle of Dick's achievement, and the best possible association. A
unique item that is a landmark in the career of one of science
fiction's greatest authors. Top sheet a bit wrinkled, otherwise fine
in a literary agency box.
59. DICK, Philip K. Solar Lottery. NY: Ace (1955). First
book, a paperback original, by one of the most innovative science
fiction writers of his time, author of the novel on which Blade
Runner was based. Inscribed by the author to award-winning
science fiction writer, Tim Powers. A fine copy and an excellent
association--Powers and Dick were very close during the last decade of
Dick's life, and Powers has, fittingly, twice won the science fiction
award named after Dick--the Philip K. Dick Award, given for the best
science fiction novel published as a paperback original. An
exceptional copy. 60. DICK, Philip K. Time Out of Joint. Philadelphia:
Lippincott (1959). Dick's first hardcover book in this country, and
one of Pringle's hundred best science fiction novels--the earliest of
the five novels by Dick that made Pringle's list. Pringle called this
story of a man whose mind is capable of transporting him to a world
where appearance and reality change places "a nightmare which may have
seemed far-fetched in 1959, but which now strikes us as strangely
truthful." The theme is similar to Dick's later writings, which were
influenced by his experiences with psychedelic and other drugs, and
which led him to believe that his vision and insights were the result
of a vast network of universal trans-human intelligence to which he,
sometimes unwillingly, had access. A cheaply-made book, this copy has
shelfwear at the extremities of the spine and the lower corners; a
near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket. An important and uncommon
book, particularly scarce in nice condition.
61. DICK, Philip K. The Man in the High Castle. NY: Putnam
(1962). Winner of the Hugo Award. An "alternate history" in which
Germany and Japan have won the Second World War. David
Pringle, in Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels, says that "it
is probably Dick's best work, and the most memorable alternative world
tale...ever written." Foxing to top stain, else fine in a very good
jacket with several edge tears and some minor spotting to the spine,
but no rubbing. Overall, quite a nice copy of one of the high spots
of modern science fiction.
62. DICK, Philip K. "The Android and the Human." (n.p.)
(n.d.) Original manuscript for a speech given by Dick at the
Vancouver SF Convention at the University of British Columbia, in
March 1972. 42 ribbon-copy typewritten pages, with corrections
and emendations throughout in Dick's hand. The speech was later
published in SF Commentary in December, 1972 and then
reprinted in Vector in March-April 1973. In a letter that
accompanied its publication in SF Commentary, Dick wrote
that "this speech [tried]... to sum up an entire lifetime of
developing thought." He concluded that it contained, "I hope,
the seed for my novels to come." An important piece of writing,
which anticipated the themes and concerns of the novels of Dick's
last decade. Manuscript material by Dick is very scarce,
particularly of such significant content. Unfolded sheets, about
fine.
63. DICK, Philip K. Confessions of a Crap Artist.
(London): Magnum, (1979). The first British edition, a paperback, of
this mainstream novel that Dick wrote in 1959 but which was turned
down for publication by Harcourt Brace, who asked him to rewrite it;
it was first published by in the U.S. by Entwhistle in 1975. The
novel portrays the San Francisco of the Beat era, on the verge of
entering the Sixties. Inscribed by the author to his best friend
and fellow science fiction writer Tim Powers: "To Tim Powers -/
this is the only/ autographed UK/ edition copy/ Philip K. Dick." We
do not know if it remains the only signed UK edition, but Dick died
just three years later, and signed copies are likely to be uncommon.
Pages slightly darkened with age, and bumped at the crown, but a near
fine copy in wrappers. A remarkable rarity, perhaps unique, and an
excellent association copy.
64. DICK, Philip K. The Divine Invasion. NY: Timescape
Books (1981). The sequel to Valis, originally to have been
called Valis Regained. Inscribed by Dick to Tim Powers in
the year of publication: "This novel will teach you the
True religion," an affirmation of Dick's belief that his
attempts to understand and describe the "vast active living
intelligence system" that lay behind the appearances of the world was
of dramatic metaphysical import. Dick died just after publication of
this title, and Powers has noted that "not more than a dozen copies of
this title can ever have been inscribed by Dick, and those [are] in
the hands of close friends outside the book world." Near fine in a
near fine dust jacket. An important book; an excellent association;
and an exceptional rarity signed.
65. DIDION, Joan. Run River. NY: Obolensky (1963). First
book, a novel, by this writer whose astringent fiction and essays
comprise one of the defining voices of our time. Inscribed by the
author in 1983. Trace wear to the cloth at the extremities; else
fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket.
66. DIDION, Joan. Slouching Towards Bethlehem. NY: FSG
(1968). Her second book and her first collection of essays, which set
the tone for much of her later writing. The title essay is an early
report on the hippies of Haight-Ashbury that looked at the dark side
of that particular expression of the American dream. This is an
uncorrected proof copy, and comparison with the published book reveals
that Didion made textual changes in her foreword before publication,
including both the addition and deletion of text. Also, Didion
changed the dedication, making her daughter, Quintana, the dedicatee
rather than her husband, John Gregory Dunne. Fine in tall,
spiralbound wrappers. Very scarce.
67. DILLARD, Annie. Tickets for a Prayer Wheel.
(Columbia): U. of Missouri Press (1974). Her first book, a collection
of poetry, published the year before she won the Pulitzer Prize for
her first work of prose, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Light foxing
to top edge; very near fine in like dust jacket with some surface
soiling on the front panel. A scarce and fragile book, published by a
university press-- suggesting that distribution to the mainstream book
trade was quite limited--and bound in thin, flexible cloth boards that
are easily susceptible to wear.
68. DONOSO, JosÉ. The Obscene Bird of Night. NY:
Knopf, 1973. A review copy of the most famous book by this expatriate
Chilean novelist. Donoso moved from Chile to Spain, where he wrote
the novella that Spanish avant garde filmmaker Luis Buñuel made into
the classic film The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.
Warmly and effusively inscribed by the author, covering the
entire front free endpaper: "For ____/ _______/ in awe/ and with/
perfect affection/ Un abrazo/ JosÉ Donoso." Fine in dust
jacket, with review slip and photo laid in. Donoso's signature is
uncommon. A near-perfect copy of his most famous novel.
69. DOS PASSOS, John. State of the Nation. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 1944. Nonfiction, an account of the state of the
nation as the author perceived it in a lengthy trip he took around the
country, in an election year, during wartime. Pages moderately
browned, as is common for a wartime book, otherwise this is a very
near fine copy in a bright, near fine dust jacket with minor spine-fading. Inscribed by the author and with the recipient's
ownership signature and date (1944) under front flap. A nice copy of
an uncommon book.
70. DUBUS, Andre. Original Manuscript of "Dressed Like Summer
Leaves." 41 pages of holograph manuscript in a notebook that also
contains an 18 page essay. The story, an eerie, chilling, and finally
touching story about the dislocation many Vietnam vets felt on
returning home, was first published in The Sewanee Review and
was later collected in The Last Worthless Evening. One of the
finest depictions of the combination of rage, alienation and
vulnerability that characterized many vets' experiences after Vietnam
and have come to be seen as symptoms of post-traumatic stress
disorder, common in the aftermath of Vietnam. In this story about the
meeting between a young boy and a recently returned vet, Dubus conveys
the different worlds the two characters inhabit, even as they share
the time and place of the plot action. The potential for danger looms
as does, finally, the potential for redemption. Dubus, recipient of a
MacArthur Foundation "genius grant," is generally considered the
contemporary master of the novella in American literature, and has
been widely compared to Chekhov. Unique.
71. EDGERTON, Clyde. Raney. Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books,
1985. The author's elusive first book, one of the early literary
debuts from this influential Southern press. Inscribed by the
author in the year of publication on the front flyleaf. Small
patch of white-out on the flyleaf, else fine in a fine dust jacket.
72. EISELEY, Loren. The Immense Journey. NY: Random House
(1957). The first book by this distinguished naturalist and poet, a
precursor to the literary natural history written in recent years by
such authors as Peter Matthiessen, Wendell Berry and Barry Lopez.
Fine in a fine dust jacket. A very attractive copy of a scarce first
book.
73. ELIOT, T.S. Four Quartets. London: Faber & Faber
(1944). The first British edition of this important collection, the
individual poems of which were originally published separately in
England in 1941-42 and then collected in the U.S. in 1943--in an
edition that was, because of a printing error, mostly destroyed.
These were the first of Eliot's poems to reach a wide audience, and
are considered the culminating expression of his religious
sensibility: they were written during the dark, early years of World
War II and reflect, in four short, accessible poems that draw heavily
on English history, on large philosophical questions of time and
permanence. Owner name front flyleaf; minor foxing to endpages; still
a near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with a small chip at the
upper edge of the rear panel and just a touch of the spine and edge-darkening that are typical for this title. A very attractive copy of
a Connolly 100 title.
74. ELIOT, T.S. Ash Wednesday. London: Faber & Faber,
1930. The limited edition. One of 600 numbered copies, 400 of which
were for sale in the U.S. Signed by the author. This copy is
in the original cellophane dust jacket with paper tabs and with the
original slipcase. The book has light offsetting to the endpages, and
is otherwise fine; the jacket has several chips; the slipcase is
defective, missing 1/3 of the spine panel. A Connolly 100 title. A
nice copy of one of Eliot's key works, which is seldom found with the
original jacket.
75. FAULKNER, William. Sherwood Anderson and Other Famous
Creoles. New Orleans: Pelican Bookshop Press, 1926. With
caricatures by William Spratling. Second issue, one of 150 copies,
with label pasted over the original limitation notice so indicating.
One of the scarcest Faulkner limited editions (he wrote the foreword,
which comprises the entire text of the volume, and "arranged" the
portraits by Spratling of the various figures active in the artistic
life of the New Orleans' French Quarter). A remarkable copy,
signed by over twenty of the subjects of Spratling's portraits,
including Roark Bradford, Hamilton Basso, and Grace King. Although
not called for, this copy is also signed by Spratling, twice, and
by Faulkner himself. Very scarce thus; we cannot find any record
of another copy of this title signed by Faulkner coming on the market
in recent years. A scarce and fragile volume, this copy has wear to
the edges of the green boards and the rear joint, but is still at
least very good without dust jacket, as issued. An early Faulkner
appearance, in which he parodies Anderson, whom he had come to know
when he went to New Orleans, an experience he satirized in his novel
Mosquitoes. A nice copy of a difficult book, exceptionally
rare signed by Faulkner. In an attractive, custom quarter leather
clamshell box.
76. FITZGERALD, F. Scott. Dearly Beloved. Iowa City:
Windhover, 1969. A short story by Fitzgerald with illustrations by
Byron Burford. A tall thin folio, quarterbound in leather and paper
boards. One of 300 numbered copies. Corners slightly rubbed; a very
near fine copy of this handsomely designed and printed volume.
77. FORD, Richard. The Sportswriter. NY: Vintage (n.d)
[1986]. The uncorrected proof copy of his third novel and his
"breakthrough" book, the sequel to which, Independence Day, won
the Pulitzer Prize. Publication of The Sportswriter as a
paperback original in the Vintage Contemporaries series brought Ford a
readership ten times as large as the book would have had in hardcover;
and his obvious talent lent credibility to what was at that time a
fledgling paperback series and, in reality, a publishing experiment.
A very scarce proof: proofs in the Vintage Contemporaries series seem
to have been done in smaller quantities than their counterparts slated
for hardcover publication, and to have received much more limited
distribution. Covers evenly and lightly dust-soiled; possibly re-glued at front hinge; near fine in wrappers.
78. FOWLES, John Introduction: Remembering Cruikshank.
(Princeton): (Princeton U. Library Chronicle) (1964). Offprint from
the Chronicle, reportedly fewer than fifty copies printed for
the author's use. This is a fine copy in wrappers and is signed by
the author. An early, very scarce Fowles "A" item.
79. FUENTES, Carlos. Terra Nostra. NY: FSG (1976). A
review copy of the first American edition of his magnum opus, a
massive experimental novel that has been called "the most important
novel published in Latin American in the 1970's." Warmly inscribed
by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket with a micro tear at
the crown. With review slip, photo and promotional information laid
in.