Collector Features & Identification
○ Author: Barbara Hambly
○ Book Series: The Darwath Series (Omnibus: The Silent Tower & The Silicon Mage)
○ Cover Artist / Jacket Design: David G. Klein
○ Publisher & Year: Nelson Doubleday / Science Fiction Book Club (1986)
○ Format: Hardcover with Dust Jacket
○ Edition: First Hardcover Edition / Science Fiction Book Club Edition
○ ISBN: None (Standard for Book Club Editions)
○ Identification: This omnibus marks the first-ever hardcover appearance of these titles, which were originally released as paperbacks. Featuring deep brown boards with darker brown quarter-cloth binding and elegant aqua-blue titling. Verified by its distinct production and lack of standard retail ISBN.
○ Genre: Fantasy, Science-Fantasy, Portal Fantasy
○ Topics: Joanna, Antryg, The Dark Mage, The Silicon Mage, The Silent Tower, Magic vs. Technology
○ Page Count: 512 pages
About the Book (Synopsis)
Barbara Hambly is a master of the "portal fantasy" subgenre. Dark Mage collects the adventures of Joanna, a modern-day computer programmer who finds herself pulled into a world where ancient, high-tech magic is a reality. By pairing the wizard Antryg with a woman from the technological age, Hambly creates one of the most compelling clashes between logic and sorcery in fantasy literature.
Archival Preservation
○ Archival Sleeve: The dust jacket is protected by a professional-grade, 1.5-mil clear Mylar archival cover to prevent edge wear, scuffing, and corner bumping during storage.
○ Archival Backing: The jacket is supported by acid-free, pH-neutral backing paper to preserve the paper quality and prevent any toning or degradation over time.
○ Structural Integrity: Stored upright in a smoke-free, climate-controlled environment.
Condition Report
This omnibus is in Very Good condition, presenting as a highly attractive, sturdy vintage copy.
○ Dust Jacket: Very Good. The jacket remains visually striking. There is moderate scuffing at the top and bottom of the spine, along with a slight crease/crack running along the top edge of the back panel. The Mylar sleeve provides vital structural support and protection.
○ Binding & Boards: Like-New. Boards are deep brown with quarter-cloth binding; they are square, firm, and show no bumping.
○ Text Block: Very Good. The text block is firm with very slight, age-appropriate tanning consistent with its 1986 vintage.
○ Internal: Paste-downs are crisp white. No markings, library stamps, remainder marks, or previous owner names.
Why This Listing Has Premium Pricing
This is a preserved collector asset that respects forensic honesty. You are paying for verified quality and professional curation:
Deep Forensic Research: I conduct meticulous
research on every book, thoroughly checking codes, publisher history, and number lines to guarantee exactly what you are receiving.
The Craft of Preservation: Hardcover books arrive protected by high-grade archival sleeves with acid-free backing.
Unmatched Transparency: I provide honest, detailed descriptions of condition, ensuring you know exactly what is in your collection.
Transparent & Fair Shipping: I do not inflate shipping costs to pad margins. You pay the true, calculated rate for secure transit, whether domestic or international.
360° Video Display & Comprehensive Photography: Please see all pictures and the included video to know exactly what you are getting. I utilize a rotating display platform to provide a full 55-second 360-degree rotation of the actual book. The first half of the video shows the rotation with the dust jacket on, and the second half shows the rotation with the jacket off so you can clearly see the condition of the underlying boards.
Buyer Inquiries
Questions: If you have any questions about this listing or need to see additional details, please reach out. I am always happy to answer any questions you might have.
Shipping & Handling
○ Your books will be shipped with protective padding in a safely padded box or bubble padded mailer. I ship within 1-2 business days.
○ Service: USPS Media Mail
○ Combined Shipping: I offer combined shipping if you are looking to acquire multiple items from the archive. Just send me a direct message before checking out so I can sort the rates for you.
Physical Dimensions (Books Only)
○ Height: 8.50 in
○ Length: 6.00 in
○ Width: 1.50 in
○ Weight: 1 lb 6 oz