Death Is a Lonely Business [Proof, Presentation, First]

Bradbury's first detective novel, and his first novel in two decades, a tribute to the hard-boiled detective novels of Chandler and Hammett. The book is set in Venice, California, in 1949. The unnamed main character is a writer who enlists a private detective to help solve crimes. This is the first of three mysteries with the same protagonists. This is a group of three issues of the book assembled by the collector Tom Garner and housed in one of his distinctive clamshell boxes. Present here are the uncorrected proof in printed orange wrappers, one of 70 presentation copies in a full black-cloth binding with gilt edges; and a first edition. 280 pages. Proof: Near fine (staple holes from where photocopied information sheet was attached); info sheet laid in; inscribed, "Alan! Good wishes! Ray Bradbury 2/23/87. Presentation: Boards lightly scuffed, thus very good to near fine; inscribed, "Tom! Good wishes! From Ray Bradbury 6/26/96." Bradbury had special copies made of many of his books; in other copies of this title, he indicated there were 70 copies in this binding. First: Stated "First trade printing." A fine copy in a fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Bradbury with a drawing of a ghost with orange eyes, "Tom! Friendly wishes! Ray Bradbury 7/28/93." Scarce inscribed with a drawing. Review slip laid in. Custom clamshell box near fine. …