The Nine Billion Names of God

New York: Harcourt, Brace and World Inc., 1967. First edition. Cloth. Near Fine/Near Fine. 8.5" by 5.5". None. The first collected edition of these science fiction stories by noted author Arthur C. Clarke. Includes twenty five of Clarke's short stories, including 'I Remember Babylon' and 'Summertime on Icarus'. This collection of stories is regarded as Clarke's personal favourite works. The titular short story, 'The Nine Billion Names of God' was first published in 1953 in the anthology 'Star Science Fiction Stories No. 1' and was among a number of stories included in the 1970 Science Fiction Writers of America list of the best works of science fiction published before the creation of the Nebula Awards. Arthur C. Clarke was a British science fiction writer and inventor, who is widely regarded as a key figure in the popularisation of space travel. His screenplay for the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was co-written with Stanley Kubrick, is considered to be one of the most influential films of all time. For many years Arthur C. Clarke, along with Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asmiov, were considered the 'Big Three' of science fiction writing. In a blue cloth binding in the original dustwrapper. Externally very smart, with some slight bumping to the head and tail of the spine. Personal bookplate to front pastedown and evidence of bookplate removal to front and rear pastedowns. Dustwrapper is very smart with some minor chipping and creasing to the extremities and the head and tail of the spine. Offsetting from archival tape to flyleaves. Red on the front of the wrap has remained bright. Internally firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. Near Fine