Death Is a Lonely Business [One of 70 Presentation Copies + Proof Dust Jacket]

Author: Bradbury, Ray
Title: Death Is a Lonely Business [One of 70 Presentation Copies + Proof Dust Jacket]
Publication: New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1985

Description: Hardcover. Bradbury's first detective novel, and his first novel in two decades, a tribute to the hard-boiled detective novels of Chandler and Hammett. The book is set in Venice, California, in 1949. The unnamed main character is a writer who enlists a private detective to help solve crimes. This is the first of three mysteries with the same protagonists.

One of 70 specially bound copies for presentation. The binding is black cloth with the title in gilt design on the front cover. Near fine.

First edition (first printing; one of 70 copies specially bound for the author). Issued without a dust jacket. This copy is a bit scuffed, but otherwise near fine. It is inscribed at length, "For Gammon Sharpley! Chauffeur-extraordinaire! With good & friendly wishes & thanks! From Ray Bradbury. 4/22/86. One of 70 special gift copies."

This copy comes with a supplied example of the variant jacket, with the title set in two lines on the front cover. There has been some question about what this jacket is—the first state of the jacket or a trial jacket. This copy is stamped "proof" on the verso (back), strongly suggesting the latter. Your cataloguer is aware of another copy of the 1/70 issue with this same jacket; it is possible that Bradbury is the source for them. The jacket is foxed on the back. Laid in with this copy is a Bradbury business card from the 1964 World's Fair.

From the collection of Tom Garner and housed in one of his black-cloth clamshell boxes.

Seller ID: 324881

Subject: MYSTERY, Ray Bradbury, SF / SCIENCE FICTION