Cyril M. Kornbluth — Takeoff

New York, Doubleday and Company, 1952. First edition. Cloth. A first edition review copy of this pulp-era science fiction novel by the Futurian Cyril Kornbluth. The blurb reads: "The brilliant young ceramics engineer and former government scientist Dr Michael Novak, stumbled into a storm center of intrigue and violence when he accepted employment with the widely derided American Society for Space Flight. By taking this job he unwittingly detonated a series of exciting events involving two beautiful women, high figures in Washington, espionage, and murder, all of which were to culminate in man's first voyage to the moon." A fine example of the cultural phenomenon of mass science fiction writing at the beginning of the space age In the original cloth with the original unclipped dustwrapper, which has been encased in a glassine wrap. Externally excellent with little discernible wear. The dustwrapper is also excellent with only a little wear to the extremities and to the head and tail of the spine. Internally clean and bright and firmly bound. Fine . Ill.: None. Fine/Very Good Indeed.