Ballantine 21 Paperback Original (1953)
“The Space Merchants” has been very popular and has sold heavily since its original publication in 1953. It takes a satirical look at consumerism in a world where governments exist only to ensure the survival of huge trans-national corporations. Through aggressive advertising, the public is deluded into thinking that the quality of life is improved by all the products on the market even though the most basic elements, like water and fuel, are incredibly scarce.
During the early 1950s, Ballantine Books was one of the leading publishers of paperback science fiction and fantasy. Beginning with “The Space Merchants” (#21) by Frederik Pohl and C.M Kornbluth, Ballantine published paperback originals by major science fiction authors including Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Theodore Sturgeon, John Wyndham and many others. Ian Ballantine who with his wife Betty Ballantine founded Ballantine Books in 1952, announced that he would offer trade publishers original titles in two simultaneous editions, a hardcover “regular” edition for bookstore sale, and a paper-cover, low-priced “news stand” edition for mass market sale. So, these Ballantine paperbacks were true first editions.
Ballantine 21 Paperback Original (1953)
“The Space Merchants” has been very popular and has sold heavily since its original publication in 1953. It takes a satirical look at consumerism in a world where governments exist only to ensure the survival of huge trans-national corporations. Through aggressive advertising, the public is deluded into thinking that the quality of life is improved by all the products on the market even though the most basic elements, like water and fuel, are incredibly scarce.
During the early 1950s, Ballantine Books was one of the leading publishers of paperback science fiction and fantasy. Beginning with “The Space Merchants” (#21) by Frederik Pohl and C.M Kornbluth, Ballantine published paperback originals by major science fiction authors including Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Theodore Sturgeon, John Wyndham and many others. Ian Ballantine who with his wife Betty Ballantine founded Ballantine Books in 1952, announced that he would offer trade publishers original titles in two simultaneous editions, a hardcover “regular” edition for bookstore sale, and a paper-cover, low-priced “news stand” edition for mass market sale. So, these Ballantine paperbacks were true first editions.