LAST RITES

Published in 1971 during the Vietnam War and the Age of Aquarius, this satiric novel features Father John Doffenbaron, an alcoholic priest and computer genius. At a time when the universe is beginning to literally tremble and quake, Father Doffenbaron is taken at gunpoint into the bowels of a super-think tank organization hidden under a mountain in the middle of a desert. He is offererd the chance to sell his soul for sole use of the world's greatest computer. Can he and the computer, with a bit of help from St. Thomas Aquinas, discover the terrifying answer of what is happening to the universe? A book that heralded a major literary future for the young Episcopal priest who wrote it, appears to be his single work of fiction. This copy is inscribed and dated with wit and respect on the half-title page. Top edge of text block is slightly soiled, and text itself shows a touch of age-tanning along the top edges of pages, o/w boards and text are clean and unmarked, tight and square, not remaindered. The dustjacket shows a narrow band of age-tanning on the top edge of both flaps and on its obverse side. There is a quarter-inch tear on the lower edge of the back panel and some light surface and edgewear. There is a dime-sized area on the lower edge of the front flap where the dj's laminate is beginning to loosen. That all said, there are no major tears, creasing or chipping or other significant damage. It is not price-clipped. A very collectable copy.…