Special Deliverance.

New York, NY Ballantine Books: Del Rey, 1982. Paperback First Edition Thus (1982), so stated. First Edition Thus (1982), so stated. Very Near Fine in Wraps: shows only the most minute indications of use: the expected light tanning to the text pages, due to aging; a hint of a bump at the upper corner of the rear panel; the binding shows barely discernible lean, but remains perfectly secure; else flawless; the text is clean. Free of creases to the panels. Free of creases to the backstrip. Free of creased or dog-eared pages in the text. Free of underlining, hi-lighting, notations, or marginalia. Free of ownership names, dates, addresses, notations, inscriptions, stamps, or labels. A handsome very nearly-new copy, structurally sound and tightly bound, showing a couple of minor flaws. Bright and clean. Corners sharp. Very close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 12mo. (6.85 x 4.15 x 0.65 inches). 217 pages. Cover Art by Michael Whelan. Language: English. Weight: 4.9 ounces. Mass Market Paperback. This little allegorical novella is Simak's "Pilgrim's Progress". The author employs simplified symbolic characters to explore the human condition. He dumps them into a strange world on an involuntary journey to solve a puzzle for survival, with no instructions. All is mystery, but with a hint that an omnipotent (but unknown) power must be behind it all. As for the symbolism of the characters, the Brigadier (from a world of perpetual, mechanised warfare) is a extraverted thinker. The Parson (from a grim theocratic world) is an extraverted feeler. The Engineer (from a stable, but static, world where the British Empire never ended) is an introverted thinker. The Poet (from a world of perpetual Greek rennaisance) is an introverted feeler. Altogether, they represent the divisions of the entire human race. They come across as pretty obnoxoius at times, but that is because they are all "unbalanced" aspects of a whole and healthy personality. Simak's view here is that we need to integrate all these views, if not in each of our own personalities, then in one society by recognising and appreciating each others strengths and working together. The other two principle characters are both classic "outsiders." The main character is a professor/reporter type that principly observes, occationally advises, but has no real social power. The Robot, is also an outsider and represents the working class- the people who do the actual labor, but who have no actual control or power in the society. It is interesting that these outsiders are the two most decent and sympathetic of the cast. All-in-all, a most satisfying little morality play.