Less Than Zero
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1985. 1st Edition. Octavo, publisher's black cloth over black paper, spine gilt, original illustrated dust jacket.
First edition of the novel that turned Brat Pack-er Ellis into an overnight sensation, his debut, published when he was 21 years old and still a student at Bennington College. Set in tony Los Angeles, it follows the narrator, Clay, and friends–who have names like Rip, Blair, Kim, Cliff, Trent and Alana–while home on holiday break from college. Young and beautiful, they buy their drugs with trust fund money and live miserable, nihilistic lives. In a New York Times review Michiko Kakutani wrote, "This is one of the most disturbing novels I've read in a long time. It's disturbing because the 20-year-old author draws a knowing portrait of adolescence that is almost entirely defined by hard drugs, kinky sex and expensive clothes." First printing, with complete number row to copyright page and $15.95 price to dust jacket. Unclipped dust jacket with light edgewear and wear to spine ends, lower panel has a small abrasion with surrounding mild discoloration. Near fine. Item #6267
$250.00