THE MIDDLE KINGDOM: Chung Kuo; Book 1 by David Wingrove. (New York): A Dell Book, (1991). First American paperback edition, first printing; mass-market paperback. "February 1991" statement and first printing number code sequence 1 through 10 to the copyright page, fold-out color frontispiece, $5.95 to the front cover. Copper and gold-toned raised front cover art and striking fold-out color plate illustration depicting an emperor in his court on an elaborate dragon adorned throne by Jim Burns. The first installment in the Chung Kuo Universe series is a smart dystopian novel set in 2190 in a high-tech China with meta-engineering, imperialism, sword fighting, and magic. Nicely preserved mass-market paperback collectible. A touch of intermittent rubbing to the edges, a tiny mild crease to the lower rear corner tip, else very nearly fine, very tight, square, and bright in glossy stiff-card wraps with raised front cover art by Jim Burns; printed code 207614 and $5.95 price still intact to the front cover. *(No fading nor creases to the spine.) 654 pages; author's notes; glossary of Mandarin terms; explanation of the future history; plus preview of the next book; plus 1 page of ads. to the rear. PLEASE VIEW OUR STORE FOR MORE GREAT SF VINTAGE PAPERBACK BOOKS THANKS!