Memorable Book Dedications

[Arien]

I am unabashedly stealing this topic from another forum. I’m even going to copy and paste parts of my old post into this one.

I like Neil Gaiman’s dedication in Worlds’ End (volume 8 of the Sandman):

This book’s for Maddy, pink and tiny, born one hour and ten minutes ago, who has spent most of the intervening time sucking vigorously on my fingers in the mistaken belief that they provide a viable source of nutrition. I give you all your tomorrows, and these small stories. With all my love, Neil Gaiman.

Awww.

I am also fond of the one in front of Terry Pratchett’s Guards!Guards!

They may be called the Palace Guard, the City Guard, or the Patrol. Whatever the name, their purpose in any work of heroic fantasy is identical: it is, round Chapter Three (or ten minutes into the film) to rush into the room, attack the hero one at a time, and be slaughtered. No one ever asks them if they wanted to. This book is dedicated to those fine men.

And then he goes on to thank some people, including Neil Gaiman, incidentally.
Then there’s C.S. Lewis’s dedication to his goddaughter, Lucy:

To Lucy Barfield

My dear Lucy,

I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be

your affectionate Godfather,

C. S. Lewis

So what are your favorite book dedications?

[Mighty_Girl]

From one of my favorite books. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

TO LEON WERTH

I ask the indulgence of the children who may read this book for dedicating it to a grown-up. I have a serious reason: he is the best friend I have in the world. I have another reason: this grown-up understands everything, even books about children. I have a third reason: he lives in France where he is hungry and cold. He needs cheering up. If all these reasons are not enough, I will dedicate the book to the child from whom this grown-up grew. All grown-ups were once children–although few of them remember it. And so I correct my dedication:

TO LEON WERTH
WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY

[Sir_Rhosis]

Logan’s Run by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson has a dedication to the author’s idols, influences, etc. No wy am I gonna type it out.

Harlan Ellison did one once where he thanks two editors for their arrogance and stupidity, lest he sell the book to them and it tank.

Sir Rhosis

[pesch]

Can’t remember who did this one, as I’m not in my library. It might have been Bill Bryson. Anyway, he thanked his children, without whom the book would have been done in half the time.

Any writers with children will know what he’s talking about.

[Lisa-go-Blind]

Lemony Snicket’s books in A Series of Unfortunate Events always have memorable dedications. They’re all dedicated to Beatrice, the only woman the author loved who married another and died (very Dante-esque, I know). Like the books, they’re all written in Victorian-style prose with plenty of black humor. The only ASoUE book I have on hand is Book 9, The Carniverous Carnival:

For Beatrice –

Our love broke my heart,

and stopped yours.

[The_King_of_Soup]

Calvin Trillin dedicated Tepper Isn’t Going Out to his recently deceased wife:

“I wrote this for Alice. Actually, I wrote everything for Alice.”

[Ethilrist]

Pete Townsend’s album, Empty Glass, had the dedication: To Remy Martin Cognac, for saving my life by being so bloody expensive.

[CalMeacham]

My favorite is Al Jaffee’s , from Snappy answers to Stupid Questions:

“TO
Myself
without whose inspired efforts this book would not have been possible.”

When I finally got my own book published, I completely forgot the dedication. It isn’t dedicated to anyone (although I thanked a lot of people).

[LibrarySpy]

I can’t remember the exact quote since I’m at work and the book is at home, but Rita Mae Brown’s In Her Day dedication makes me laugh every time. It’s something like:

TO THE FEMINIST READER

I hope this book is comforting, affirming, uplifting, and an aid to your struggle.

TO THE NON-FEMINIST READER

What’s wrong with you?

[Annie-Xmas]

Mary & Carol Higgins Clark’s “He Sees You When You’re Sleeping” published in December, 2001:

We dedicate this book to
the victims of the September 11, 2001 tragedies

The friends and family who loved them

And the rescue workers who risked their
lives to save them.

[Shade]

OK, it’s from the acknowledgement section not a dedication, but I think it’s funny. About half way through the intro. to Quicksilver, thanking sources, Neal Stephenson writes:

Of particular note is Sir Winston Spencer Churchill’s six-volume biography of Marlborough which poeple who are really interested in this period of history should read and people who think I am too long-winded should weigh.