Jack Vance — The Languages of Pao

New York, Avalon Books, 1958 . First edition. Cloth. An exceptionally lovely signed first edition copy of Jack Vance's 1958 science-fiction novel, set in the distant future and celebrated for exploring the relationship between language and culture. The first edition, first impression of this novel, in the publisher's original price unclipped dust wrapper, designed by Ric Binkley.Flat signed by Vance to the title page.Vance's novel follows a young prince who embarks on a mission to transform the society of Pao by introducing three languages to different regions of the planet, each designed to shape the behaviour of the speakers.Vance based the work on the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which asserted that language's structure and grammar determines the perception and consciousness of its speakers. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with price unclipped dust wrapper. Light shelf wear to back strip tail, otherwise externally fine, with exceptionally bright boards. Minor sunning to dust wrapper back strip, otherwise excellent. Internally, firmly bound. Internally, firmly bound. Flat signed by the author to the title page. Pages clean and bright. Fine . Ill.: Ric Binkley. Fine/Near Fine.