Smith, Edward E. "Doc" (1890–1965). The Vortex Blaster. Reading: Fantasy Press, 1960. Fine in a very good dustwrapper with a nick to the top gutter.

Inscribed by the author: "To my friends of old / (fifty percent at least), / Lou and George Price / ----- / at the Pittcon -- 1960 -- /Ain't we got fun? / With very best regards, / Edward E. Smith, Ph.D."

This is a superior edition of one of the last books published by E. E. "Doc" Smith, one of the most influential science fiction authors of all time, widely credited as one of the inventors of the Space Opera -- the subgenre that spawned Buck Rogers and Star Wars. Published several months after the Gnome Press edition and using the same plates, this Fantasy Press was issue on high quality paper and with a much more evocative dustwrapper. designed by legendary pulp artist Edd Cartier.

E. E. "Doc" Smith at Pittcon, 1960. Photograph by Jay Kay Klein, University of California Riverside Special Collections.

The book was issued just before Pittcon, the eighteenth World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), held from 3 to 5 September 1960, and this is one of a handful of copies Smith signed there. The recipient, George W. Price (b. 1929), was a mainstay of Chicago-area fandom and, beginning in 1960, one of the principals of Advent:Publishers, a specialty press devoted to science fiction studies.

George W. Price selling publications of Advent:Publishers at Nycon 3 (1967). The press's monograph on Doc Smith is at the bottom left. Photograph by Jay Kay Klein, University of California Riverside Special Collections.

George Price would later publish the first monograph on Smith's work, The universes of E. E. Smith by Ron Ellik and Bill Evans (Chicago: Advent, 1966), as well as a collection of Smith's fugitive fiction, Have trenchcoat –  will travel and others (Chicago: Advent, 2001). Unlike Smith's earlier works, which were issued in limited editions, signed copies of The Vortex Blaster are very rare, and this is an especially wonderful association.

George W. Price at the Masquerade Ball of Chicon III (1962). Photograph by Jay Kay Klein, University of California Riverside Special Collections.