Burroughs, William S.

Blade Runner (A Movie)

ISBN: 0912652462
Berkeley, CA: Blue Wind Press, 1979. First Softcover Edition. Softcover. "In this trenchant science-fiction screenplay treatment, William S. Burroughs explores the coming apocalyptic medical-care crisis, and the birth of a tenacious and inventive underground holistic medicine. The author of Naked Lunch, Junky, The Third Mind, and Cities of the Red Night treats this topical story in ultimate terms, with the dry, sophisticated humor he has mastered like no other modern writer." (back cover) We hate to say he told you so...with its invocation of "Virus B-23," this later-mid-career, heretofore often misunderstood or overlooked short work by William S. Burroughs is now chillingly relevant as the world continues its struggle to beat back & contain the Covid-19 pandemic. WSB, Founders' Founder of the Beat Generation & among the most prescient, influential literary & cultural figures of all time, was always prophetically hip to viral phenomenon & control systems, devoting his creative life to outsmarting them, & their ultimate usurpation. Offered here is the original smaller-format softcover edition, "First Edition" of "Spring 1979" as stated on copyright page, published simultaneously with hardcover trade & limited signed editions as noted thereon. With front cover illustration by the great graphic designer Michael Patrick Cronan (1951-2013), & back cover image of WSB taken by the noted photographer Tim Hildebrand. Shoaf, Section I, No. 49(b), pg. 48; Schottlaender, A41(A), pg. 15. This work is not to be confused with the acclaimed 1982 film of the same name which was based on Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, & as WSB notes on copyright page, it was in turn inspired by Alan E. Nourse's 1974 novel The Blade Runner. Confusing, we know, but this short "screenplay treatment" is original, exemplary science fiction the Burroughs way- all the way. The alert reader may wonder why Cities of the Red Night is mentioned on the back cover as quoted above- although the complete novel, the first of WSB's final trilogy, was originally published in 1981, excerpts from & anticipatory buzzing about it circulated for several years before (as with many of the overlapping parts of WSB's "one long work"). And speaking of Brian Schottlaender, this copy is from the WSB bibliographer's own library. As above, we always consult "Anything But routine," now in its fourth ever-expanding online edition, for our WSB rarities. Our good friend Brian's WSB bibliography is the most complete & up-to-date of them all. A more-than-ever critical collectible in the WSB canon, in one of its original forms & with distinguished provenance. In very fine condition with only very light rubbing, browning & faint scratching to front, back covers & spine; a bit of wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at thin edges & corners of same; very slight rubbing to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only miniscule bumps at lower corners of a few page leaves; otherwise substantially mint. Very Fine. [Item #4575]

Price: $75.00