The War Hound and the World's Pain. A Fable
New York: Timescape Books, [1981]. From the Bart Auerbach Collection. Small, narrow folio (10 3/4 x 6 inches), original printed yellow wrappers. Minor production fault affecting blank portion of verso of last leaf; in very good condition. Item #409198
Advance uncorrected galley proofs for the first edition, printed on both sides, perfect bound, entirely different in format from the published version. A dedication copy, signed and dated ("NY, October, 1981") by Moorcock on the title-page and inscribed by him on the dedication page: "To Charles [Platt], Who probably understands all the implications of this dedication more than anyone. Cheerio, you bastard. Mike." The printed dedication reads: "For Doctor A. C. Papadakis, Valerie, Amanda, Charles Platt and all those others who, with Jill [Moorcock's wife], helped create the circumstances that led to the writing of this book." This fantasy novel , set during the Thirty Years War, grew out of the breakdown of Moorcock's marriage - fact ironically reflected in the dedication and the presentation inscription. (BA)
This was the first of Moorcock's "Van Beck" series of novels, with its hero – a mercenary and freethinker – a damned soul in a castle owned by Lucifer. Surprisingly, he is tasked with finding the Holy Grail, the "cure to the world's pain", that will also cure Lucifer's pain by reconciling him with God.
Price: $1,500.00