There are a lot of great sci-fi books in the world. But, among the masses, there are a few which are particularly well-known or beloved.
In addition, rare books are seeing an all-time high in terms of price and popularity. Rare book auctions are drawing in record bids as rare and unique editions of manuscripts are entering the market.
So what happens when these worlds collide? What is the most expensive sci-fi book in existence? Well, the answer is less straightforward than you might think…
Let’s look at the most valuable sci-fi book out there, what makes it so expensive, why it’s such a powerful story, and what other rare sci-fi books are out there.
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What Is The Most Rare And Expensive Science Fiction Book?
The most expensive sci-fi book is a first edition copy of Mary Shelley’s classic Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus. Published in 1818, this edition is one of only three copies known to exist today.
The edition, which was auctioned off in Texas last summer, was sold for a mind-boggling sum of $843,750. (For reference, a first-edition copy of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass sold for a paltry $132,000 in comparison.) That this copy of Frankenstein sold for almost seven times the price as one of Americana’s most influential poetry collections is truly remarkable.
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This particular edition fetched such a high sum because of its rarity. As one of only three known surviving editions of Mary Shelley’s magnum opus, this copy of the book represents the premiere of one of society’s most influential science fiction stories.
According to Kovels Antique Trader, this edition was also particularly rare because it was bound in the original pink boards, a beautiful three-edition set that was not replicated in subsequent publications, which were created in different colors and styles.
Finally, this copy of Frankenstein is so expensive because it is the only known copy of this publication that belongs to a private collection. The other two editions are owned by public institutions like the New York Public Library.
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Why Is Frankenstein So Important In The World Of Science Fiction?
Frankenstein is the book that started off science fiction as a genre. Often described as horror fiction, fable, and gothic tale, Frankenstein is widely credited as one of the first novels to work in what would later become known as “science fiction.” In order to figure out why that is, first we have to dive into the narrative and exactly what happens in the novel.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the plot, here’s a brief overview (spoilers ahead!)
Victor Frankenstein is a young scientist driven by a deep and unwavering faith in modern science. This belief in science leads him to conduct an unorthodox experiment that seeks to pinpoint the secret to life itself. How is life created? Using discarded and more often stolen body parts from cemeteries and morgues, Victor manages to assemble a warped and mismatched body that vaguely resembles that of a human.
When his experiment is successful, and the monster comes to life, Victor is terrified and flees, leaving the now-animated monster unsupervised.
Misunderstood and deeply isolated, the monster seeks out companionship in the world around it to no avail. Eventually, the monster is pilloried and pursued by an angry mob. He turns to vengeance and, along with Victor, makes harrowing discoveries about the nature of connection, revenge, and inner peace.
Kickstarting The Science Fiction Genre
The reason why this plot is seen as kickstarting the genre of science fiction is precisely its grappling with themes of modern science. Young Victor is obsessed with science as potential, as progress, and as a force for good. By incorporating realistic elements into the story, such as a detailed explanation of how Victor creates the monster, Shelley used science to speculate on a potential future, thus creating a blueprint for decades of science-fiction novels to come.
(One other fun fact about the book: it was written as part of a friendly, casual competition to see who could write the best horror story. I think it’s safe to say that Shelley won, making her one of the most influential writers of classic literature in history.)
Other Examples Of Rare And Expensive Sci-Fi Editions
There are some fascinating rare and expensive sci-fi books out there in the world. One of the most striking, perhaps, is an edition known as the Dune Bible.
This edition was compiled in the 1970s as experimental director Alejandro Jodorowsky attempted to drum up studio interest for a film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic. (The current film adaptation starring Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet might even be up for another installment! Rejoice.)
The Dune Bible has an estimated value of $435,000, making it about half as valuable as Shelley’s first-edition masterpiece.
So there you have it. We’ve covered what the most expensive sci-fi book is, why it’s so rare, what makes it such an influential story to the world of sci-fi, and what other valuable sci-fi books are.
What do you think? Would you buy this copy if you had a million dollars? Let us know what you make of this in the comments.
As always, happy reading!
