Blamires, Harry. The Devil's Hunting Ground: A Fantasy. London, New York, Toronto: Longmans, Green and Co, [1954]. First edition, proof issue. Octavo, 162 pp. Original unprinted tan wraps. A very good copy in fairly good pictorial dust jacket with small chips at spine ends and minor edge wear and scuffing. A scarce proof. #1083. $25. An afterlife fantasy in which an angel shows a recently deceased Englishman around his new world, which is neither heavenly nor hellish in any obvious sense. It is, in many way, what people make of it, just like this world. Angels still have their hands full trying to educate and guide mortals. The author's attempts at satire lack the freshness and vigor of his more directly discursive Christian apologetics, which bear comparison with those of C. S. Lewis. "A visualization of the subtle torments of hell." -- Tuck, Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy, p. 49. Day, Supplemental Checklist, p. 9. The author wrote two other similar fantasies in this period. Not in Sargent, though all afterlife fantasies describe imaginary societies that are imbued with some of the fervor of the utopian (or the fever of the dystopian). Seller Inventory # 1083A

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Bibliographic Details

Title: The Devil's Hunting Ground

Publisher: Longmans, Green, London, New York, Toronto

Publication Date: 1954

Binding: Paperback

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Good

Edition: First Edition.

Store Description

When I began my bookselling business in 1996 I called it "Eldritch Books" because that adjective at least partly covered the type of material I offered (and because its similarity to my own surname seemed so -- eldritch). "Ghost stories" would be another handy, if somewhat reductive, term. Most of it is fiction from the 19th and early 20th century with a strong emphasis on the fantastic. Since the most familiar and relevant genre terms in use today -- "science fiction," "fantasy," "supernatural," "horror" -- were not so much in use when these books were first published, pegging them that way can be anachronistic. But that should give you the general idea. I don't have much in the way of American pulp (either in magazine or specialty press book form) but otherwise my interests range widely from high-brow to middle-brow to low-brow to amateur/eccentric. You're more likely to find rare and obscure works here than high spots. (Or at least they're obscure now, whatever their status was when first published.) In 2001 I went to work for L. W. Currey as cataloguer and general assistant. Since 2014 I've been back working on my own. I have exhibited at convention fairs (such as WFC and Readercon) in the past. I began collecting and studying antiquarian fantasy around 1980. Some of my essays have appeared in genre publications such as NYRSF, Wormwood and F&SF. I tend to carefully research my inventory and write extensive notes. (If another dealer wishes to make use of any of these notes, I'd appreciate the courtesy of putting such excerpts in quotes and giving proper attribution to me. That's what I do when I quote from any of my reference works.) I will be gradually listing my inventory on ABE over the coming years. I hope you find something of interest.

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Robert Eldridge, Bookseller
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I ship only by U.S. Postal Service. All shipments are packed carefully and mailed with insurance and (for domestic shipments) tracking information. Except where specified for extra large items, rates are: Domestic Media Mail: $5. Domestic Priority: $10. International First Class (must be under 4 lbs.): $25. International Global Priority (required by USPS regulations for anything over 4 lbs.) -- ask for quo...

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