Prelude to Space by Arthur C. Clarke - 1953

ont> Sidgwick and Jackson Limited : London, 1953 Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. The first hardback edition of this science fiction work by Arthur C. Clarke. First published in paperback form in 1947 as part of the Galaxy Novels series. 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. Prelude to Space is the fictional tale of the launching of Prometheus, the first spacecraft capable of reaching the moon. The work was written before the Apollo program but was written with progandist intentions by Clarke who was an influential member of the astronautics community. Condition: In a red cloth binding in the original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally very smart, with just some slight shelfwear to the extremities and slight bumping to the head and tail of the spine. Dustwrapper is sound, with chipping and closed tears to the extremities. Loss to the head of the spine and front wrap. Archival tape repairs and reinforcements to the reverse of the wrap. Puncture to the front of the wrap, which has been reinforced to the rear. Creasing and handling marks to the wrap. Internally firmly bound. Pages bright and clean with just some marginal age toning due to paper used. Overall Condition: Very Good Indeed in a Good Only dustwrapper.