This week we mourn the passing of Ray Bradbury, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. The New York Times called Bradbury "the writer most responsible for bringing modern science fiction into the literary mainstream." He was the author of over 27 novels and 600 short stories. This summer will see the release of Shadow Show, All New Stories in Celebration of Ray Bradbury, short stories written by Margaret Atwood, Dave Eggers, Neil Gaiman, Audrey Niffenegger. And Subterranean Press is publishing Nemo! an original Bradbury screenplay based on the 1905 cartoon Nemo in Slumberland - due out later this summer.
A year ago I published the first part of this post, Collecting Bradbury, Pt. I, and this seems an apropos time to post part II.
DEATH IS A LONELY BUSINESS, (Alfred A. Knopf, 1985)
From Library Journal: Dedicated to Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, and Ross Macdonald, Bradbury's 1985 novel is a paean to the hard-boiled mystery. The plot follows a writer who joins ranks with a detective and an actress to get to the bottom of some strange doings.
Signed first editions (cover shown above) list for up to $350 in f/f condition ($75 in vg/vg condition)*. Unsigned firsts are listing around $40-$50 in f/f condition. *There are a lot of signed first editions on the market. So, if you're looking to sell, you may be competing with folks at the $50-$60 price range. On the other hand, if you're looking to buy, you could get a good deal.
A signed presentation edition of 60 was also issued by Knopf, these list for up to $650.
Franklin Library issued a signed, full (green) leather bound, limited edition in 1985 as well. These list for up to $285 currently, but there are quite a few on the market right now, so you can probably find one for less than $75.
From Library Journal: Dedicated to Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, and Ross Macdonald, Bradbury's 1985 novel is a paean to the hard-boiled mystery. The plot follows a writer who joins ranks with a detective and an actress to get to the bottom of some strange doings.
Signed first editions (cover shown above) list for up to $350 in f/f condition ($75 in vg/vg condition)*. Unsigned firsts are listing around $40-$50 in f/f condition. *There are a lot of signed first editions on the market. So, if you're looking to sell, you may be competing with folks at the $50-$60 price range. On the other hand, if you're looking to buy, you could get a good deal.
A signed presentation edition of 60 was also issued by Knopf, these list for up to $650.
A GRAVEYARD FOR LUNATICS, (Alfred A. Knopf, 1990)
From School Library Journal: A multilevel story about a man for whom the movies have been a childhood obsession, an adult vocation, and ultimately a horrible, mysterious collision of past and present. Set in a Hollywood film studio back lot, the book presents an interweaving of real film stars of the past and of current productions. Vivid descriptions of the studio world and the real world take readers on a fascinating tour of reality and illusion, both superbly drawn.
Signed first U.S. editions list for up to $200. Unsigned, they list for up to $45.
Signed first U.K. editions (Grafton, UK, London, 1990) list for up to $150+
(first paperback edition: Bantam Books, 1992. Signed = $60, unsigned = $5-$10)
From School Library Journal: A multilevel story about a man for whom the movies have been a childhood obsession, an adult vocation, and ultimately a horrible, mysterious collision of past and present. Set in a Hollywood film studio back lot, the book presents an interweaving of real film stars of the past and of current productions. Vivid descriptions of the studio world and the real world take readers on a fascinating tour of reality and illusion, both superbly drawn.
Signed first U.S. editions list for up to $200. Unsigned, they list for up to $45.
Signed first U.K. editions (Grafton, UK, London, 1990) list for up to $150+
(first paperback edition: Bantam Books, 1992. Signed = $60, unsigned = $5-$10)
GREEN SHADOWS, WHITE WHALE (Alfred A. Knopf, 1992)
From Kirkus: Bradbury goes mainstream with a hymn to Ireland and alcohol, focusing on writing a screenplay with John Huston for the director's film Moby Dick. Set in Dublin and the Irish countryside where legendary director Huston has settled in as a squire, the story and the Irish gift for gab allow Bradbury's love of metaphor to find a basis he's never known before.
A signed, limited first edition of 50 was published by Ultramarine Press, 1992. These list from $400-$750.
First U.S. editions list for up to $175 (signed); $40 (unsigned)
First U.K. edition, published by Harpercollins, London, 1992, list from $60-$150 (signed); less than $20 (unsigned)
First Canadian edition, published by Random House, Ontario, 1992, list from $40-$200+ (signed)
From Kirkus: Bradbury goes mainstream with a hymn to Ireland and alcohol, focusing on writing a screenplay with John Huston for the director's film Moby Dick. Set in Dublin and the Irish countryside where legendary director Huston has settled in as a squire, the story and the Irish gift for gab allow Bradbury's love of metaphor to find a basis he's never known before.
A signed, limited first edition of 50 was published by Ultramarine Press, 1992. These list from $400-$750.
First U.S. editions list for up to $175 (signed); $40 (unsigned)
First U.K. edition, published by Harpercollins, London, 1992, list from $60-$150 (signed); less than $20 (unsigned)
First Canadian edition, published by Random House, Ontario, 1992, list from $40-$200+ (signed)
FROM THE DUST RETURNED, (William Morrow, 2001)
largely created from a series of short stories Bradbury wrote decades earlier, centering around a family of Illinois-based monsters and ghosts named the Elliotts. [Wikipedia]
Easton Press published a leather bound signed edition in 2001. Listing from $400-$850.
First U.S. edition, William Morrow, 2001, list from $66-$300 (signed); $4-$65 (unsigned)
First U.K. edition, published by Earthlight, London 2001, list from $40-$125 (signed); $12-$35 (unsigned) - dust jacket differs from US version
largely created from a series of short stories Bradbury wrote decades earlier, centering around a family of Illinois-based monsters and ghosts named the Elliotts. [Wikipedia]
Easton Press published a leather bound signed edition in 2001. Listing from $400-$850.
First U.S. edition, William Morrow, 2001, list from $66-$300 (signed); $4-$65 (unsigned)
First U.K. edition, published by Earthlight, London 2001, list from $40-$125 (signed); $12-$35 (unsigned) - dust jacket differs from US version
LET'S ALL KILL CONSTANCE, (William Morrow, 2002)
First U.S. edition, William Morrow, 2003, list from $40-$195 (signed); $10-$35 (unsigned).
Narrated by an unnamed Los Angeles writer and set in 1960, it chronicles an unexpected visit from aging Hollywood actress Constance Rattigan who gives him two death lists of once-famous people — with Constance's name on one of them, and the gradual unraveling of the mystery by the narrator with the help of private investigator Elmo Crumley. [Wikipedia]
First U.S. edition, William Morrow, 2003, list from $40-$195 (signed); $10-$35 (unsigned).
FAREWELL SUMMER, (William Morrow, 2006)
A sequel to the novel, Dandelion Wine
Subterranean Press published a signed, limited edition in 2006 (first edition thus), listing for $200.
First U.S. edition, William Morrow, 2006 lists for $40-$125 (signed); $15-$35 (unsigned).
A sequel to the novel, Dandelion Wine
Subterranean Press published a signed, limited edition in 2006 (first edition thus), listing for $200.
First U.S. edition, William Morrow, 2006 lists for $40-$125 (signed); $15-$35 (unsigned).
Other Interesting links:
The Collectible Ray Bradbury a forum for collectors to display their books.
Ray Bradbury at 90 ABE Books tribute.