Chains of the Sea: Three Original Novellas of Science Fiction

1973 copyrights for introduction by Robert Silverberg and each of the three novellas. Rare hardcover edition in original dust wrapper. This title of futuristic, predictive, potential scenarios from the 'sea' of 'a.i.' was published as a paperback in 1974, but does not appear to have ever been published as a trade hardcover edition. Sea blue boards, silver impressed spine titles, slight shelf wear. Deckled pages, fine; no writing. Bind fine, square; hinges intact. Pictorial dust wrapper, light shelf wear, rub, bleed; protected in new clear sleeve. Code 5997 at back flap. Classic '70's wrapper design by Dan Quest features yellow bubbled titles over wrap-around swirling waves in varying hues of blue and green. Near fine rarity in same wrapper. These three tales are cerebral and semi-ambivalent in nature, cosmic in tone, and lumber along in a wide open sea of cloaked and disturbed tranquility. A calm well natured other-worldly milieu embodies these timeless cautionary scenarios of a subtly encroaching menace upon humanity. Conceived at a time prior the advent of personal computing, when computational machines nearly just still filled up large rooms with less capabilities than are now - decades into the 21st century - carried in the pockets or skin of the less than average humans being navigated by them. Some have speculated that these futuristic dystopian tales are forms of a predictive template for human annihilation through alien intervention and computer based control aka artificial intelligence. From front flap summary description: "The 1970's are a period of creative ferment in the field of science fiction. These three novellas are published for the first time anywhere and the authors among the most highly regarded of the newer talents. All three belong unarguably to the literary generation of the 1970's. Aside from one story by Dozois that appeared in 1966, none of their work saw print professionally before 1970. They are still young. Yet they are not novices; as evidence of this volume shows, their writing is skillful, evocative, thoughtful, and approaching profound. "And Us, Too, I Guess," by Geo. Alec Effinger: "It saddened Paul. He loved his pet mollies, and now every single one of them was dead. Then he discovered that across the world the entire species of this small tropical fish had suddenly and inexplicably perished - had become extinct on that same Sunday. That was how it began." "Chains of the Sea," by Gardner R. Dozois: "Tommy, as far as he knew, was the only one who could speak with, or even see, the Other People. He dared not tell anyone about them. At last, from his fear and terrible alienation, he did cry out a warning to the other children, but it wasn't heard. It was too late." "The Shrine of Sebastian," by Gordon Eklund: "Pope Julian traveled across the devastated land in confusion and despair. On this pilgrimage he had taken with him the body of his wife, his predecessor to the papacy, and Andrew, a robot. When Julian reached the Shrine of Sebastian to pit his soul against the devil-saint, he learned from Andrew a strange truth about himself." From back flap: "Robert Silverberg, a former president of the Science Fiction Writers of America, has won two Hugo Awards and in 1970 received the Nebula Award for the best science-fiction short story of the year. His books for Nelson include: 'Worlds of Maybe; Mind to Mind; The Science Fiction Bestiary; Beyond Control; and, Deep Space.' Nelson's fiction trilogy of 1973, 'The Day the Sun Stood Still,' was exceptionally well reviewed and a Science Fiction Book Club selection." Printed in the U.S.A. 181 pages. Insured post. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall.…