Synopsis
Nineteenth-century Ontario is the background for Robert Fraser's single, all-consuming task--to build a perpetual motion machine--and the locality of a richly imaginative universe composed of elements of humor, horror, and magic
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From the Inside Flap
Set in southern Ontario in the late nineteenth century, at a time when the machine age was coming into its own, Perpetual Motion chronicles the fortunes of settler Robert Fraser, a man obsessed with power and control. Driven by the idea of inventing a perpetual motion machine which will utilize natural energy, he neglects and destroys not only the nature around him but his own family too, as his overbearing rationality becomes a kind of tragic lunacy.
First published in 1982, Perpetual Motion is Graeme Gibson?s superb evocation of a time when faith in material progress is still challenged by superstition and a lingering belief in magic. It is an ironic yet compassionate examination of the painful consequences of human folly.
From the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
Graeme Gibson was born in London, Ontario, in 1934.
An important spokesman for Canadian cultural identity, Gibson was the initial organizer and a founding member of the Writers’ Union of Canada, and was its chairman in 1976. He was also an organizer and founding member of the Writers’ Trust, a non-profit organization, and was subsequently its chairman. From 1987 to 1989 he was president of the Canadian Centre of International PEN.
In 1990, he won a Toronto Arts Award for writing and publishing, and, in 1992 he received the Order of Canada. He is the author of four novels, Five Legs (1969), Communion (1971), Perpetual Motion (1982), and Gentleman Death (1993).
Graeme Gibson lives in Toronto, Ontario.
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Perpetual Motion
Published by
St.Martin's Press [1983], New York:, 1983
ISBN 10: 0312601328
ISBN 13: 9780312601324
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Flips Fine Books, Greensboro, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 3 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: fine copy in fine dust jacket. First U.S. Edition. black boards w/ silver lettering on spine; 283 pgs; illus dust jacket w/ $12.95 on front flap, author photo at back; the first of Canadian author's books pub in U.S. quotes by Annie Dillard, Timothy Findley & Alice Munro on back cover. Seller Inventory # 291
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Perpetual Motion
Published by
St. Martin's Press, NY, 1982
ISBN 10: 0312601328
ISBN 13: 9780312601324
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Inga's Original Choices, Piggott, AR, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hard Cover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Complete number line at copyright page [1-10]. NON price-clipped DJ [$12.95]. Pages clean, unmarked, binding tight. Black boards, silver lettering on spine. This is the story of a place and its sometimes grotesque inhabitants and of an age when faith in material progress is undermined by the lingering belief in the magical, the portentous and the superstitions that underlie Ontario's Methodist facade. It draws its energy from such vernacular traditions as the tall tale, the rural kitchen-table anecdote, the bawdy joke, and the ghost story. Media Mail, Priority & most international shipping include free tracking information. Every book listed is located in my smoke free and climate controlled shop. All are inspected by me and will have qualities and/or flaws described. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall Stated First U.S. Edition First Printing. Seller Inventory # 000205
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Perpetual Motion
Published by
St. Martin's Press, New York, 1982
ISBN 10: 0312601328
ISBN 13: 9780312601324
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Willis Monie-Books, ABAA, Cooperstown, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good-. Dust Jacket Condition: Good+. 1st US Printing. Small stain on side edge of last couple pages. Dust jacket has a bit of edge wear. Spine is slightly browned. Some residue from two stickers on front of dust jacket. Seller Inventory # 11004
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Perpetual Motion
Published by
St Martins Pr 1983-09-01, US, 1983
ISBN 10: 0312601328
ISBN 13: 9780312601324
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Monroe Street Books, Middlebury, VT, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 283 pages. Clean, unmarked copy with only minor wear to dust jacket. Record # 461485. Seller Inventory # 461485
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Perpetual Motion
Published by
St. Martin's Press, New York, 1982
ISBN 10: 0312601328
ISBN 13: 9780312601324
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Persephone's Books, Gastonia, NC, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Very Good. First American Edition. 238 pp. The page edges are lightly shelf-soiled. The jacket is slightly scuffed at the head and foot of the spine, and is shelf-soiled. The Canadian author's first novel published in the U.S.; set in southern Ontario in the late 19th century. Seller Inventory # 006935
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Perpetual Motion
Published by
ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, N.Y., 1983
ISBN 10: 0312601328
ISBN 13: 9780312601324
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: MARK POST, BOOKSELLER, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hard Cover. First U.S. Edition, First printing. FINE IN NEAR FINE DJ WITH SOILING, ESPECIALLY ON FRONT COVER. Seller Inventory # 1366
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Perpetual Motion
Seller: -OnTimeBooks-, Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. A copy that has been read, remains in good condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine and cover show signs of wear. Pages can include notes and highlighting and show signs of wear, and the copy can include "From the library of" labels or previous owner inscriptions. 100% GUARANTEE! Shipped with delivery confirmation, if you're not satisfied with purchase please return item! Ships via media mail. Seller Inventory # OTV.0312601328.G
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Perpetual Motion
Published by
St Martins Pr, Gordonsville, Virginia, U.S.A., 1983
ISBN 10: 0312601328
ISBN 13: 9780312601324
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Old Scrolls Book Shop, Stanley, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good+. Stated First American Edition. Gordonsville, Virginia, U.S.A.: St Martins Pr, 1983. Stated First American Edition. Near FIne/Very Good+. Clean black cloth boards with silver lettering on spine. No bumping or wear. Binding is tight & crisp, pages and edges are clean. No names, writing or marks. 283 pgs. Clean dustjacket has one 3/4" closed tear at base of rear flap fold. Enclosed in new archival quality mylar cover. Set in southern Ontario in the late 19th century, this novel chronicles the fortunes of a man driven by the idea of inventing a perpetual motion machine. 8 Vo. Fiction. Seller Inventory # 012232
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Perpetual Motion
Seller: SatelliteBooks, Burlington, VT, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Hardcover. Very Good / Very Good dust jacket. Free of any markings and no writings inside. For any additional information or pictures, please inquire. Seller Inventory # 200919007
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PERPETUAL MOTION
Published by
St. Martin's, U.S.A., 1982
ISBN 10: 0312601328
ISBN 13: 9780312601324
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Studio Books, Corvallis, OR, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Stated First edition. Black cloth with spine titles in silver. Fiine copy in fine dust jacket in a mylar protector. Seller Inventory # 116