RETURN TO EARTH. London: Printed in Great Britain and Published by Hamilton & Co. (Stafford), Ltd., n.d. [1951]. Octavo, pictorial wrappers. First edition. Hamilton 00. 400 years after a catastrophic atomic war has devastated Earth, humans in its colony on Venus know nothing of their home planet: history has been altered, old books and artifacts locked up in the First Library, and space flight declared to be impossible. The planet is controlled by a council of three, descendants of the leaders of the first settlers, and they are the only colonists who know the truth. Others who discover their origin are immediately put to death. A rogue Venusian scientist builds a space ship, and three rebels, one under sentence of death for stealing forbidden books, flee the planet and travel to Earth. The small tribes of peaceful primitive humans that survive on Earth are threatened by bestial humanoid mutants. The Venusian visitors, armed with high tech weapons, kill many of the mutants and the rest flee. Two Venusians intend to return to Venus to organize an expedition to colonize Earth, but they die before they can carry out their plan. The third likes the Earth as it is and becomes a productive member of a tribe of humans on the now pastoral planet. Clarke, Tale of the Future (1978), p. 86. Reginald 01197. Harbottle and Holland A8. Touch of wear at head tail of spine panel, 9 mm closed tear at top edge of rear panel (repairable), a very bright, nearly fine copy. (#86689).
Price: $75.00
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