DAUGHTERS OF AN EMERALD DUSK

Los Angeles: Alyson Books, 2005. First Edition. . Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. The third and final volume of lesbian writing legend Forrest's science fiction-fantasy trilogy that began in 1984 with the highly-praised "Daughters of a Coral Dawn," an exodus story of 4,000 22nd century women who escaped a male-dominated, tyrannical Earth to colonize the planet Maternas. Forrest followed with a second novel, "Daughters of an Amber Noon" in 2002 which described the fate of the women who remained on Earth. The work was described as "a tour de force," by one reviewer. This third book is set on Maternas some 55 years later and describes the conflict between the original settlers and the first generation of Maternas-born women, the first in the history of humanity with a legacy of ultimate freedom, with a standard of conduct that has created a schism between older and younger generations. It is also a novel with considerable sexual content. First Printing, First Edition. About 5 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches, 197 pages including a brief author's biographical note. Black paper-covered boards with gold lettering on spine. The dustjacket shows a photographic design of sky, clouds and distant hills in varying shades of green with a closer, rocky landscape in shadow. Lettering is in green and white on front cover and spine with a single blurb for "Daughters of an Amber Noon" on the back panel. The dj's front flap describes the trilogy; the back flap is blank. There is no price or printing indicator on the jacket or the book. The copyright page notes the copyright in 2005 by Forrest, followed by "Published by Alyson Books," with no date of issue. There is a single, tiny dogearred page (117-118), o/w boards and text are clean, complete and unmarked; binding tight and square, not remaindered. The dustjacket shows very minimal surface and edgewear, no tears, no creasing or chipping, no clipped corners. This copy appears to be an advance review or proof copy, printed and bound before final details such as price were determined. In any case, a hardcover copy is a rarity. An internet search at the time of this writing revealed only paperback copies of this 2005 edition or a later 2014 issue. Its scarcity alone should find it a place in a collection of Forrest's work along with the classic "Curious Wine," and the Kate Delafield mysteries.