THE CREEPING SHROUD. by Wright, Lan - 1966

London: Compact / Roberts & Vinter, 1966. 190 pp, 6 7/8" H. "Earth was in chaos. Civilization was being strangled by a simple flower which had grown and spread almost unnoticed except by a few biologists. 'Eichhornia Crassipes' - the Weed! Spawned in the tropical swamps, it spread across the lakes and rivers, invading the rolling wastes of the oceans and blanketing the world in an evil mist. Ships became snared in its tentacles and radio waves were urgent with despairing calls from vessels caught in the giant web. Commerce ground to a suicidal halt. The Age of Barbarism was returning. In fifty years, it was said, Earth would be a dead planet. Was there hope of survival on another planet? Peter Benbow was forced to leave his wife, Drusilla and their unborn child, and journey to the base on Mars. There he realized that the Red Planet was untenable for any great length of time. The base relied on supplies from Earth and could never be self-supporting. The scientists on Mars knew this, too. They were preparing two great vessels - equipped like small towns - to probe deeper into space. But there was a breakdown of communication between the Martian base and Earth - a calculated breakdown on either side. Those on Mars feared cessation of the supplies from Earth if the worst were known. On Earth strange things were happening. Natural phenomena - volcanoes, earthquakes - were checking the Weed. And one man on Earth dreamt of power - on Earth and on Mars. Benbow was to make a journey back to Earth that was destined to shatter his personal dreams - and the hopes of the Martian colony." Interior - very light browning in gutter of pages and in margins. Exterior - light browning to edges of text block, light edge wear, book is slightly cocked with faint crease on spine, two creases at bottom corner of rear cover - migrates slightly into adjacent pages, very light rubbing on covers.. First Edition. Mass Market Paperback. Very Good.