THE CRYSTAL SINGER

First UK edition, first printing. Original burgundy paper-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine, in the Rob Burt illustrated dustwrapper. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm the very slight bumping to the head of the spine and the bottom corner of the upper board. The contents are clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the original dustwrapper that is very slightly creased at the head of the spine and flap folds, remaining without fading, loss or tears. Not price-clipped (£6.95 on the front flap).

The first book in the Crystal Singer Trilogy. In an interstellar future a rigourously trained opera singer is spurned by the musical elite and subsequently travels to planet Ballybran to become a crystal singer, one of the select few who are able to mine the powerful crystals found on Milekey Mountain. The premise of the novel has an autobiographical element, drawing on Anne McCaffrey's experience of being told she had a limiting flaw to her voice after years of vocal training. Some of the places and names, such as that of the heroine 'Killashandra', are inspired by the language and landscape of Ireland, where McCaffrey was living while she was writing 'The Crystal Singer'. McCaffrey was the first woman to win Hugo and Nebula awards. She was named Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2005 and in 2006 was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.