The Story & Significance
Originally serialized in Galaxy magazine before its 1970 hardcover release, Robert Heinlein’s I Will Fear No Evil is a provocative landmark of the late Golden Age. Moving away from the "hard" science fiction of his earlier career, Heinlein here explores the frontiers of identity, gender, and consciousness. The narrative follows an aging billionaire who attempts to achieve immortality by transplanting his brain into a new body—only to find himself sharing a mind with the body’s previous inhabitant. This work is a quintessential example of Heinlein's "New Wave" era, marked by deep philosophical musings and a characteristically sharp wit.
Physical Description & Provenance
Edition: First Edition, First Printing (1970).
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York.
Binding: Original black cloth boards with sharp corners and no visible fading. The gilt lettering on the spine is especially bright, a rarity for this specific production run which often suffers from dulling or oxidation.
Dust Jacket: Original jacket in Good condition, featuring the iconic minimalist design by the Paul Bacon Studio. It remains vibrant with minimal shelf wear, noting only a small tear along the top edge of the spine.
Condition: The volume is in Very Good condition. The binding is firm and square, and the internal pages are notably crisp, clean, and bright.
Collector’s Note
The condition of the gilt on the spine is the standout feature of this copy. For the serious Heinlein collector, finding a 1970 Putnam first edition where the metallic stamping hasn't turned "flat" or dark is an increasingly difficult task. Furthermore, the inclusion of a clean Paul Bacon Studio jacket—renowned for defining the aesthetic of mid-century American publishing—makes this a high-shelf-appeal specimen. Because the boards show no signs of sun-fading and the pages remain free of the tanning common to 1970s trade editions, this represents a superior example of this controversial classic.
Want more information about collecting science fiction titles? Check out our resources page for articles about identifying first editions, and collecting books from Gnome and Fantasy Press.
The Story & Significance
Originally serialized in Galaxy magazine before its 1970 hardcover release, Robert Heinlein’s I Will Fear No Evil is a provocative landmark of the late Golden Age. Moving away from the "hard" science fiction of his earlier career, Heinlein here explores the frontiers of identity, gender, and consciousness. The narrative follows an aging billionaire who attempts to achieve immortality by transplanting his brain into a new body—only to find himself sharing a mind with the body’s previous inhabitant. This work is a quintessential example of Heinlein's "New Wave" era, marked by deep philosophical musings and a characteristically sharp wit.
Physical Description & Provenance
Edition: First Edition, First Printing (1970).
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York.
Binding: Original black cloth boards with sharp corners and no visible fading. The gilt lettering on the spine is especially bright, a rarity for this specific production run which often suffers from dulling or oxidation.
Dust Jacket: Original jacket in Good condition, featuring the iconic minimalist design by the Paul Bacon Studio. It remains vibrant with minimal shelf wear, noting only a small tear along the top edge of the spine.
Condition: The volume is in Very Good condition. The binding is firm and square, and the internal pages are notably crisp, clean, and bright.
Collector’s Note
The condition of the gilt on the spine is the standout feature of this copy. For the serious Heinlein collector, finding a 1970 Putnam first edition where the metallic stamping hasn't turned "flat" or dark is an increasingly difficult task. Furthermore, the inclusion of a clean Paul Bacon Studio jacket—renowned for defining the aesthetic of mid-century American publishing—makes this a high-shelf-appeal specimen. Because the boards show no signs of sun-fading and the pages remain free of the tanning common to 1970s trade editions, this represents a superior example of this controversial classic.
Want more information about collecting science fiction titles? Check out our resources page for articles about identifying first editions, and collecting books from Gnome and Fantasy Press.
Image 1 of 5
Image 2 of 5
Image 3 of 5
Image 4 of 5
Image 5 of 5
