(NY), Berkley, (1962). Ballard's first book, a paperback original published in the U.S. prior to its publication anywhere else, that Ballard later omitted from lists of his works, calling it "a piece of hackwork." Signed by the author. Cover copy: "London and New York reduced to rubble as nature goes mad..." Opening line: "The dust came first." One of the founding texts of the genre of contemporary climate fiction, written at a time when the theme still felt somewhat safely speculative. Ballard became one of the most respected novelists to begin publishing in the 1960s, bridging the gap between the Beats and counterculture and the science fiction genre, and then later winning the Booker Prize -- the U.K.'s most prestigious literary prize -- for his autobiographical novel Empire of the Sun. Mild, even toning to pages; trace rubbing to edges; near fine. A landmark book, and extremely uncommon signed. [#033611] SOLD