Hawk Among the Sparrows (1976)
The Story & Significance
This Charles Scribner’s Sons edition is a premier collection titled Hawk Among the Sparrows: Three Science Fiction Novellas. While it is anchored by the celebrated title story—a masterclass in "Hard SF" logic involving a modern fighter jet's timeslip into World War I—it also collects two other significant works of the 1960s: "The Permanent Implosion" and "The Brotherhood of Keepers." Together, these stories exemplify the dense, straightforward Libertarian SF that Dean McLaughlin became known for during his tenure with Analog. The collection as a whole bridged the gap between traditional science fiction and the emerging techno-thriller, making it a cornerstone for collectors of mid-century genre evolution.
Physical Description & Provenance
Edition: First Edition, First Printing. Confirmed by a complete number line (1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 H/C 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2) on the copyright page.
Binding: Bound in original red cloth; black lettering on the spine remains sharp and distinct.
Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket, unclipped with the $6.95 price intact.
Condition: Near Fine / Good. The book itself is in excellent structural condition with sharp corners. The spine shows the slightest of leans. Faint foxing is present on the top and fore-edge of the text block. Internally, the pages are clean and white, showing only light ghosting on the endpapers from the dust jacket flaps. The only writing present is the author's inscription. The jacket is vibrant but shows several visible creases and light shelf wear.
Provenance: This is a significant Association Copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper by Dean McLaughlin to the Hugo Award-winning critic and legendary SF fan Robert "Buck" Coulson. The front paste-down also includes a stamp reading: “From the library of R. and J. Coulson and is proper for the time period, further adding proof of the book’s provenance, as Juanita Coulson, Buck’s wife, a prolific author (writing both SF and Gothic romance) and a talented artist. She and Buck also co-edited and published the fanzine Yandro for over 30 years (1953–1986). It was a staple of the Hugo Awards, winning Best Fanzine in 1965.
The Coulson Association & Title Significance
The connection between Dean McLaughlin and Buck Coulson is particularly resonant for this specific title. As a mainstay of Analog (where this story was born), McLaughlin’s work was frequently under the analytical lens of Coulson, who co-authored the legendary fanzine Yandro for over thirty years.
For a "Hard SF" procedural like Hawk Among the Sparrows, an inscription to a critic of Coulson’s stature is a mark of professional respect. Coulson was known for his rigorous, often acerbic standard for logic and consistency—the very qualities this novel is celebrated for. This volume represents a direct link between the creator of a technical masterpiece and one of the most influential "fan-critics" who shaped the genre's Golden and Silver Age reception. To hold a copy inscribed to the man who helped define the standards of the field is to hold a piece of the genre's internal dialogue.
Collector’s Note
The value of this particular volume is heavily centered on the Coulson provenance. Buck Coulson was a pillar of the SF community, and books from his personal library—especially those inscribed by contemporary authors—are highly sought after by collectors of genre history. While the jacket shows the "Good" character of a handled book, the presence of the complete number line, the original $6.95 price, and the well-preserved red boards with black spine lettering make this a premier copy for a serious science fiction library.
Hawk Among the Sparrows (1976)
The Story & Significance
This Charles Scribner’s Sons edition is a premier collection titled Hawk Among the Sparrows: Three Science Fiction Novellas. While it is anchored by the celebrated title story—a masterclass in "Hard SF" logic involving a modern fighter jet's timeslip into World War I—it also collects two other significant works of the 1960s: "The Permanent Implosion" and "The Brotherhood of Keepers." Together, these stories exemplify the dense, straightforward Libertarian SF that Dean McLaughlin became known for during his tenure with Analog. The collection as a whole bridged the gap between traditional science fiction and the emerging techno-thriller, making it a cornerstone for collectors of mid-century genre evolution.
Physical Description & Provenance
Edition: First Edition, First Printing. Confirmed by a complete number line (1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 H/C 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2) on the copyright page.
Binding: Bound in original red cloth; black lettering on the spine remains sharp and distinct.
Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket, unclipped with the $6.95 price intact.
Condition: Near Fine / Good. The book itself is in excellent structural condition with sharp corners. The spine shows the slightest of leans. Faint foxing is present on the top and fore-edge of the text block. Internally, the pages are clean and white, showing only light ghosting on the endpapers from the dust jacket flaps. The only writing present is the author's inscription. The jacket is vibrant but shows several visible creases and light shelf wear.
Provenance: This is a significant Association Copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper by Dean McLaughlin to the Hugo Award-winning critic and legendary SF fan Robert "Buck" Coulson. The front paste-down also includes a stamp reading: “From the library of R. and J. Coulson and is proper for the time period, further adding proof of the book’s provenance, as Juanita Coulson, Buck’s wife, a prolific author (writing both SF and Gothic romance) and a talented artist. She and Buck also co-edited and published the fanzine Yandro for over 30 years (1953–1986). It was a staple of the Hugo Awards, winning Best Fanzine in 1965.
The Coulson Association & Title Significance
The connection between Dean McLaughlin and Buck Coulson is particularly resonant for this specific title. As a mainstay of Analog (where this story was born), McLaughlin’s work was frequently under the analytical lens of Coulson, who co-authored the legendary fanzine Yandro for over thirty years.
For a "Hard SF" procedural like Hawk Among the Sparrows, an inscription to a critic of Coulson’s stature is a mark of professional respect. Coulson was known for his rigorous, often acerbic standard for logic and consistency—the very qualities this novel is celebrated for. This volume represents a direct link between the creator of a technical masterpiece and one of the most influential "fan-critics" who shaped the genre's Golden and Silver Age reception. To hold a copy inscribed to the man who helped define the standards of the field is to hold a piece of the genre's internal dialogue.
Collector’s Note
The value of this particular volume is heavily centered on the Coulson provenance. Buck Coulson was a pillar of the SF community, and books from his personal library—especially those inscribed by contemporary authors—are highly sought after by collectors of genre history. While the jacket shows the "Good" character of a handled book, the presence of the complete number line, the original $6.95 price, and the well-preserved red boards with black spine lettering make this a premier copy for a serious science fiction library.
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