About this title: It is the rainy season. Drunk and delirious, an old man lies dying in the Queensland bush. In his opium-hazed last hours, a priest finds his deserted shack and listens to his last words. Half-awake and half-dreaming the old man tells the story of an adventure set decades in the future, in a very different world...
read more
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: William Morrow
Date Published: 1953
Description: Poor in Poor jacket. Size: . Ex-library with typical marks, heavily worn boards; hinges broken and tape repaired. Some soiling and creasing to pages; reading copy only. The dj is heavily creased, some tears, trimmed flaps; taped to covers. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilogram. Category: Fiction Inventory No: 077705. read more
Edition: 3rd Pinting
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Ballantine, New York
Date Published: 1967
Description: Good Minus. To view other titles by this author enter the keywords; XDCX, XJGX, Shute or War. The book is in good-condition with minor wear and the top right corner of the cover 1/2 inch missing o/w tight and clean. A good reading copy. read more
Edition: First edition. Unabridged. 1st printing. William Morrow HB 1953.
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Permabooks
Date Published: 1957
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Sticker and stain spot residue on cover. 280 p. A 1950s futuristic novel about 1980 and how life would be different, by the author of On the Beach which fictionalized the end of the world after an atomic war. read more
Edition: First Paperback Edition
Binding: Vintage Paperback
Publisher: Perma Books, New York
Date Published: 1957
Description: Good. No Jacket. 16mo-over 5¾"-6¾" tall. A lovely copy, with the interiors tightly bound and clean. Very light soiling and wear to the soft cover wraps. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Heinemann
Date Published: 1959
Description: Good in fair dust jacket. Hardcover book in good condition, cover wear, piece of cover has been removed, pages yellow. 355p., 19 cm. Originally published (B53-5449) 1953. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Pan Books
Date Published: 1969
ISBN-13:9780330022910ISBN:0330022911
Description: Fair. Paperback, a good reading copy. Cover image is a stock image and may vary. Your book will be securely packed and promptly dispatched from our UK warehouse. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Pan Books
Date Published: 1969
ISBN-13:9780330022910ISBN:0330022911
Description: Fair. Paperback, a good reading copy. Cover image is a stock image and may vary. Your book will be securely packed and promptly dispatched from our UK warehouse. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Pan Books
Date Published: 1969
ISBN-13:9780330022910ISBN:0330022911
Description: Fair. Paperback, a good reading copy. Cover image is a stock image and may vary. Your book will be securely packed and promptly dispatched from our UK warehouse. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Pan Books
Date Published: 1969
ISBN-13:9780330022910ISBN:0330022911
Description: Fair. Paperback, a good reading copy. Cover image is a stock image and may vary. Your book will be securely packed and promptly dispatched from our UK warehouse. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Pan Books
Date Published: 1969
ISBN-13:9780330022910ISBN:0330022911
Description: Fair. Paperback, a good reading copy. Cover image is a stock image and may vary. Your book will be securely packed and promptly dispatched from our UK warehouse. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Pan Books
Date Published: 1969
ISBN-13:9780330022910ISBN:0330022911
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Pan Books, London
Date Published: 1969
Description: Good. Good Duodecimo(12mo), approx.6? A solid paperback, in good general condition, with some age tan. A small crack on lower hinge. Former owner's name on ffep. On request, we will promptly supply more detailed description, scanned images, synopsis, and other available information. read more
Description: Very Good. B000EVKGAO Mass Market Paperback, Condition: Very Good; this book is in very good condition with light discoloration due to aging and other light wear. read more
Edition: First Paperback Edition
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Perma Books, New York.
Date Published: 1957
Description: Very Good. Very good. No dust jacket as issued. This book is in good shape with minimal edgewear and slight lean. 280 p., 16 cm. this book has white cover with big black title. M-4095 Science fiction; Alibris.0017313. read more
"This book was a great hit, when Nevil Shute was at the height of popularity as an author. It's a wonderful adventure story set in Australia and in England. There's a supernatural element, as well - it's curious to see how Nevil Shute, writing in 1953, thought the world would have changed by 1980."
"This alternative version of the British Commonwealth circa 1980 was published in 1953. The primary discussion topic is electoral reform, but I swear it is not so dull as it sounds. The argument Shute makes, by virtue of these alternatives long and successfully in place in this alternate Australia is especially interesting in the election climate of the US -my home- at this time."
"I always enjoy this author. This book confused me because it was referring to things that happened in the 70's. I knew the author died in 1960 and that the original version of this was published in 1958, so I kept wondering if subsequent editions has been edited. As soon as I finished, there was a note from the author about "projecting 30 years into the future" with this novel he and explains why he did that. It would have clarified much for me if I had found that note at the beginning of the read instead of at the end. Still, I found it an interesting and worthwhile read."
"I'm really disappointed by this one. I'm a huge Shute fan, but this book was akward and not set-up well (I didn't realize that I was in the future until 1/2 way through the book, which probably was obvious to anyone who knows both Australian and English government, but I clearly do not). The beginning and the end were the most interesting parts. Characters (which he usually excells at) suck (with the exception of the "present day" characters). A big ol' disappointment."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
