All the Traps of Earth and other stories by Clifford D. Simak (1963 Paperback)


  • Author: Clifford Donald Simak (1904–1988)
  • Publisher: MacFadden Books, New York, NY U.S.A. 1963


Six short stories by Clifford D. Simak 1st published in magazines. The stories are:

All the Traps of Earth;

Good Night, Mr. James;

Drop Dead;

The Sitters;

Installment Plan; and

Condition of Employment.


Clifford Donald Simak (1904–1988) was an American science fiction writer. He was honored by fans with three Hugo Awards and by colleagues with one Nebula Award. The Science Fiction Writers of America made him its third SFWA Grand Master, and the Horror Writers Association made him one of three inaugural winners of the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.


Interior clean, tight and unmarked, although paper shows some yellowing. A paperback, cover is intact and spine has no creases. Page-edges tinted red. Covers show shelf/storage wear with creases front and back and are tattered missing chips.


  • Size: 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall, 158 pp.
  • Condition: Fair Mass Market Paperback


Copyright 1962. Individual copyrights 1960, 1959, 1958, 1956, 1955 & 1951. An arrangement to publish this book was needed from Doubleday & Company, but I did not find this combination of stories published by Doubleday although other collections of his stories were. Assume 1st Thus. MacFadden catalog 50-165. MSR = $0.50. No ISBN nor LCCN.


Notes on Condition/Edition ratings:


Fine – means like new, but any book produced over 10 years ago isn't “brand new”.  Booksellers needed some word to describe this...


Very Good – How you or I might take care of a book, closer to “as new” than standard. Might show ownership.


Good – How someone else might take care of a book. Also referred to as “standard.” The most likely condition

for books of this age & title, shows the book has been read or previously owned.


Acceptable – How a child, student or a librarian might take care of a book. (Either trying to make sure

someone doesn't steal it by plastering ownership everywhere, filled it with copious notes or

a book that has been damaged.)


Poor – Combination of “acceptable” factors above. Most likely with water damage as well. Might have

missing pages (you should ask).


Near – Means “almost” in an optimistic sense. e.g., “Near Fine” means very good, but on the high end.


1st Thus – Unique somehow, maybe 1st paperback, new illustrator, misprint or even the 1st edition. A collector

might desire this copy.


Thanks for looking!