Polyphemes by Hernaman Johnson (6 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. First edition. Pictorial cover with average soiling, a sound copy.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good-. First Edition. The Polyphemes by F. Hernaman-Johnson (First Edition) A firm copy with mild wear to spine edges; bumping to corners. Bright gilt. Rubbing to edges. Mild soiling to rear panel. Mild damp stain to rear free endpaper. Rear hinge starting. Title page dated 1906. Navy blue cloth with gilt stamped lettering and blind stamped designs. 318 pp. Early science fiction story involving an advanced race of insects. The beings, Polyphemus horridus, giant intelligent Moon-worshipping ants from a Pacific Island, just fail to conquer the Near Future world of 1912, despite their use of "X Magnetism" to power their advanced Airships, which bomb Europe. The influence of H G Wells is apparent in this tale of Imperialism in reverse. Harold Piffard(Frontispiece Illustrator) (illustrator). BOOK.…

Octavo, pp. [1-4] 5-318 [319-321: ads for "Works of E. Phillips Oppenheim"], inserted frontispiece with illustration by Harold Piffard, publisher's pictorial blue cloth, front and spine panels stamped in yellow, brown, black and gold, fore and bottom edges rough trimmed. First edition. A highly imaginative Wellsian science fiction novel most likely intended as a satire on British boys' adventure fiction and European imperialism. The Polyphemes, a race of ant-like creatures of high intelligence inhabiting unknown islands in the Pacific Ocean, discover, by use of an airship, the existence of the human race and attacks it. Mankind is no match for insects who possess sophisticated weaponry and the secret of atomic power, but ultimately is spared when the Polypheme masses attack their corrupt priesthood and all are annihilated by a cataclysmic explosion. George Locke (in A Spectrum of Fantasy) perceptively notes that this story is a lost race novel in reverse. Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-527. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 1906. Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 414. Clarke, Tale of the Future (1978), p. 32. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 123. Negley, Utopian Literature: A Bibliography 621. Teitler and Locke, By the World Forgot (2013) 608. Bleiler (1978), p. 98. Reginald 07136. Cloth lightly worn at lower spine end and corner tips, endpapers tanned, occasional foxing throughout, a sound, good copy. Among the more striking Edwardian illustrated bindings with front panel depicting an aerial battle between human and Polypheme lighter than air dreadnoughts (reproducing in color the frontispiece halftone illustration by Harold Piffard) and spine panel portraying captive human in grip of giant ant-like Polypheme. (#174211).…

Hardback. Condition: Very Good. First. A very good copy. An early science fiction piece. In the near future of 1912, humanity is attacked by a race of insect who live on a Pacific island. Owner's stamp to the front endpaper, a little foxing here and there. Bumping to the spine tips, and a couple of pencil notes.…

Octavo, pp. [1-4] 5-318 [note: "U8," a leaf of ads, excised]. inserted frontispiece with illustration by Harold Piffard, original pictorial blue cloth, front and spine panels stamped in yellow, brown, black and gold, fore and bottom edges rough trimmed. First edition. Variant issue with fore and bottom edges rough trimmed and "U8" (the leaf of ads) excised. A highly imaginative Wellsian science fiction novel most likely intended as a satire on British boys' adventure fiction and European imperialism. The Polyphemes, a race of ant-like creatures of high intelligence inhabiting unknown islands in the Pacific Ocean, discover, by use of an airship, the existence of the human race and attacks it. Mankind is no match for insects who possess sophisticated weaponry and the secret of atomic power, but ultimately is spared when the Polypheme masses attack their corrupt priesthood and all are annihilated by a cataclysmic explosion. George Locke (in A Spectrum of Fantasy) perceptively notes that this story is a lost race novel in reverse. Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-527. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years 1906. Clareson, Science Fiction in America, 1870s-1930s 414. Clarke, Tale of the Future (1978), p. 32. A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 123 and A Spectrum of Fantasy Volume III, p. 167 (noting this issue). Negley, Utopian Literature: A Bibliography 621. Bleiler (1978), p. 98. Reginald 07136. Cloth lightly worn at spine ends and corner tips, a bright, very good copy. Among the more striking Edwardian illustrated bindings with front panel depicting an aerial battle between human and Polypheme lighter than air dreadnoughts (reproducing in color the frontispiece halftone illustration by Harold Piffard) and spine panel portraying captive human in grip of giant ant-like Polypheme. A scarce book that is rarely found in superior condition. (#170568).…

First Edition. THE POLYPHEMES, Ward, Lock & Co., 1906, first edition, some rubbing to a small section of the rear hinge, else a bright very good to very good plus copy. Illustrated. A scarce novel about humanity almost destroyed by an insect lost race who discovers mankind via their own airships and decides to attack it.…