Free Space

edited by Brad Linaweaver (signed)
and Edward E. Kramer (signed)

Tor Books First Edition

Description: Hardback book published by Tor Books in 1997. The copyright page state 'First Edition: July 1997' and the printing status bar is complete, making this a first printing. Signed by Brad Linaweaver on the title page without inscription or personalization. Inscribed and personalized by editor Edward Kramer on the title page. Signed by the following story authors (quite a few inscribed and/or personalized) Dafydd ab Hugh, J. Neil Schulman, Brad Linaweaver, William F. Wu, James P. Hogan, Gregory Benford, Ray Bradbury, Poul Anderson, Peter Crowther, Victor Koman, Robert J. Sawyer, William Alan Ritch, John DeChancie, Arthur Byron Cover, John Barnes, and Robert Anton Wilson. Bookplate signed by story author William F. Buckley without inscription or personalization, laid in (not attached). Only missing the signatures of three of the story contributors (Wendy McElroy, L. Neil Smith, and Jared Lobdell).

From the flaps: In the future, when humankind has escaped the finite acres of Earth, space - the limitless real estate of the universe - will be available to everyone. Whether based on a planet or floating free, future societies will face new and unique challenges, and potential tyrants will continue to be born as often as they are today.

The adventure stories in Free Space address many of what those challenges may be. Free Space features stories from some of the finest living writers of science fiction, from Hugo and Nebula winners such as Poul Anderson, Gregory Benford, and Robert J. Sawyer, and particularly from winners of the Prometheus Award of the Libertarian Futurist Society such as L. Neil Smith, Victor Koman, James P. Hogan, and Brad Linsweaver. In addition, there is work from William F. Buckley, Jr., Jared Lobdell, John Barnes, and a number of other writers making Free Space a big, rich, and unique compendium of politically engaged science fiction adventure.

"Free Space raises the question, free to do what, and with what? A free human being must have some kind of property as a condition of making and keeping contracts. In libertarian circles, the debate always comes around to the land question. Political radicals of every variety have wrestled with this problem as far back as anyone cares to go.

Free Space is a science fiction answer to the historical problem. Is it possible to own the scenery? Well, no one should object if the land you occupy was created by you! With access to energy and resources on a scale that imspires exaggeration, the frontier of the future is something very different from frontiers past. There are no native peoples in the asteroid belt. No aborigines on Mars. No troublesome animal species grazing on the moon. This time, there's nothing to get in the way. The solar system is easy pickings." - from the Introduction by Brad Linaweaver

Table of Contents:
• Introduction • essay by Brad Linaweaver
• Crisis in Space • (1975) • short story by William F. Buckley, Jr. (signed bookplate)
• Nerfworld • (1997) • novelette by Dafydd ab Hugh (signed)
• Day of Atonement • (1997) • short story by J. Neil Schulman (signed)
• No Market for Justice • (1997) • short story by Brad Linaweaver (signed)
• Kwan Tingui • (1997) • short story by William F. Wu (signed)
• Madam Butterfly • (1997) • novelette by James P. Hogan (signed)
• Early Bird • (1997) • novelette by Gregory Benford (signed)
• Of What Is Past, or Passing, or to Come II • (1997) • poem by Ray Bradbury (signed)
• Tyranny • (1997) • novelette by Poul Anderson (signed)
• The Killing of Davis-Davis • (1997) • novelette by Peter Crowther (signed)
• Demokratus • (1997) • novelette by Victor Koman (signed)
• The Hand You're Dealt • short story by Robert J. Sawyer (signed)
• How Do You Tell the Dreamer from the Dream? • (1997) • short story by Wendy McElroy
• If Pigs Had Wings • (1997) • short story by William Alan Ritch (signed)
• A Matter of Certainty • (1997) • novelette by L. Neil Smith
• Planet in the Balance • (1997) • short story by John DeChancie (signed)
• The Performance of a Lifetime • (1997) • novelette by Arthur Byron Cover (signed)
• The Last Holosong of Christopher Lightning • (1997) • short story by Jared Lobdell
• Between Shepherds and Kings • (1997) • short story by John Barnes (signed)
• Free at Last • (1997) • poem by Robert Anton Wilson (signed)

Condition: Binding - very good, top and bottom of spine bumped, lower front corner a little bumped, page edges slightly soiled and a few page edges are lightly nicked. Dust Jacket - fine, slight edgewear and wrinkling, not price clipped, in dust jacket protector.

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