THE CITY TRILOGY: FIVE JADE DISKS, DEFENDERS OF THE DRAGON CITY, TALE OF A FEATHER ... Translated from the Chinese by John Balcom. New York: Columbia University Press, [2003]. Octavo, boards. First edition in English and first combined edition. "Chang Hsi-kuo (b. 1944) is considered the father of science fiction in Taiwan, and THE CITY TRILOGY is his magnum opus in the genre ... [It is his] most sustained work in the science fiction genre to date and took approximately ten years to complete. It grew out of Chang's story "'City of the Bronze Statute," which was published in the literary supplement of the UNITED DAILY NEWS on August 18, 1980. The story was incorporated as the prologue of the trilogy itself. According to Chang, the story is about the true nature of human society in general and Chinese society in particular. As Chang elaborated upon it, he added a host of well-defined characters, worldviews, and philosophies for all the various peoples ... Chang's imaginary world is one of the most fully realized in all Chinese science fiction. Its scope and complexity will remind readers of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy classic LORD OF THE RINGS." - John Balcom, "Translator's Preface," pp. [vii], [x]-xi. A fine copy in nearly fine dust jacket with several faint spots to rear panel. (#138465).
Price: $25.00
First printing has code "C 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" on copyright page.