Jack Vance — The Languages of Pao

San Francisco, Underwood/Miller, 1979 . First edition. Cloth. A signed copy of the Limited Edition first 'restored' edition of Jack Vance's science-fiction novel, set in the distant future and celebrated for exploring the relationship between language and culture. Flat signed by Vance to the title page.In the publisher's original price unclipped dust wrapper, designed by Joe Pierson, and illustrated with a frontispiece by Pierson.The first edition, first impression of this Limited Edition. Five-hundred copies of this first printing of the restored text were produced, with this being one of the three-hundred and eighty-nine unnumbered copies. First published by Avalon in 1958, Vance's novel was significantly edited by the publisher to fit their uniform style. This edition marks the first unedited printing of the restored text.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. Externally, fine. Dust wrapper back strip a touch age toned, but otherwise fine. Internally, firmly bound. Flat signed to title page. Pages clean and bright. Fine . Ill.: Joe Pierson. Fine/Fine.