Geek Love - Signed - Katherine Dunn 1989 - Alfred A. Knopf, New York - First Edition Signed and fine first edition of this classic cult novel. The story of an enterprising American family who, according to sound free market principles, decide to raise their own freakshow by breeding their own mutants – thereby cutting costs. In a splendid nod to the book's contents, designer Chip Kidd has given Knopf's logo of the "coursing Borzoi" 3 forelegs on the jacket spine above publisher's imprint.

When Katherine Dunn’s novel “Geek Love” became Sonny Mehta’s first purchase as editor-in-chief at Knopf, she became famous in the literary world, at the age of forty-three, after years of obscurity. The book is about what happens after the circus impresario Aloysius Binewski feeds “cocaine, amphetamines, and arsenic” to his repeatedly pregnant wife, a retired geek named Crystal Lil, to genetically engineer a family of circus freaks.

“Geek Love” is historically beloved by dark and eccentric artists, many of whom are famous. Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, Flea, and the Monty Pythonite Terry Gilliam were all outspoken fans. According to Gilliam, Johnny Depp wanted to play the book’s most interesting character, Arturo the Aqua Boy, so badly that he tried to get Gilliam to make “Geek Love” into a movie—Tim Burton ended up buying the rights. The book was so resonant for Gilliam that as recently as 2010 he was still trying to adapt the novel, this time as a West End stage play.’ - Eric Rosenblum, New Yorker, 1st December 2022.
  Signed by Katherine Dunn and dated 3/28/89 to the title-page.

Large octavo (book size 24.3x16.7cm), pp. [14] 348 [6]. In publisher’s navy blue cloth over matching paper covered boards, spine lettered in rose gold, top edge trimmed others untrimmed. Dust jacket designed by Chip Kidd and priced ‘$18.95’ to upper corner of front flap.
  Condition: Fine in fine dust jacket.   Ref: 111737   Price: HK$ 6,000