ACE SF A-Series Singles Image Library

The A letter-number series of ACE paperbacks were published from 1967 to 1968 and priced at 75¢. There are 30 numbers in this series. However, there is one oddball volume - ACE number A-130 is actually part of the K letter-number series and bears the A prefix because it was priced at 75¢. The other A letter-number series are located in the ACE Potpourri section, except for A-009 which is located in the ACE Western singles section.

A-003 BERNARD WOLFE Limbo (cover by Jack Gaughan; c. 1952; 1966; 1st ACE printing)

BERNARD WOLFE (b. 1915; Yale graduate) was a psychologist and newsman (interesting combination). Although he has written a number of short stories, this is his only novel. Renamed "Limbo 90" (1953) when released in the UK.

A-004 J. R. R. TOLKIEN The Fellowship of the Ring (cover by Jack Gaughan; 1966; listed as "complete and unabridged")

Historical note: This printing is the reason why the Ballantine editions carried the statement that they were the only authorized editions. These three books made up the infamous pirated edition of the Lord of the Rings (LOTR). There is still considerable controversy surrounding the publication of this edition. At the time they were published, there was no paperback edition of LOTR. ACE apparently requested a license for publication of a paperback but never received a response from the publishers in the United States (U.S.), Houghton-Mifflin, or Great Britain, Allen & Unwin. ACE published an edition without permission and sold thousands of copies in the U.S. Ace apparently made some settlement with all involved, including Tolkien, but the details of this have never been clear. An authorized edition was published by Ballantine. The Ballantine editions carry an authorization statement by Tolkien on the cover. As a result of the controversy, the ACE paperbacks are collectible. Unfortunately, they were made from poor quality paper and will consequently turn to dust in the near future.

A-005 J. R. R. TOLKIEN The Two Towers (cover by Jack Gaughan; 1966; listed as "complete and unabridged")

A-006 J. R. R. TOLKIEN The Return of the King (cover by Jack Gaughan; 1966; listed as "complete and unabridged")

Note: A-005 according to Peters (1966) is The Return of the King, however you will see that my cover is listed as A-006. According to Peters (1966) A-006 is The Two Towers. Holroyd (2003) has the same information as my listing.

See discussion concerning A-004 for A-005 and A-006.

A-008 JOHN MYERS MYERS Silverlock (cover by Jack Gaughan; c. 1949; 1966; 1st thus)

A-010 DONALD A. WOLLHEIM and TERRY CARR (eds.) The World's Best SF: 1967 (cover by Jack Gaughan; 1967; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

Short story collection including contributions by Brian W. Aldiss, Frederik Pohl, Philip K. Dick, Avram Davidson, and Roger Zelazny.

A-012 TERRY CARR (ed.) New Worlds of Fantasy (cover and interior illustrations by Kelly Freas; 1967; 1st ACE printing)

Short story collection including Terry Carr Introduction and Stanley Toothbrush, Roger Zelazny Divine Madness, John Brunner Break the Door of Hell, Jorge Luis Borges The Immortal, R. A. Lafferty Narrow Valley, Ray Russell Comet Wine, Katherine McLean The Other, Mildred Clingerman A Red Heart and Blue Roses, Thomas M. Disch The Squirrel Cage, Peter S. Beagle Come Lady Death, Curt Clark Nackles, J. G. Ballard The Lost Leonardo, Keith Roberts Timothy, Avram Davidson Basilisk, and Alfred Gillespie The Evil Eye.

This volume was also released under the title Step Outside Your Mind.

A-013 JAMES A. SCHMITZ The Witches of Karres (cover by Leo and Diane Dillon; c. 1966, 1968; 1st ACE printing)

This is one of the ACE Science Fiction Specials (1st series).

A-015 DONALD A. WOLLHEIM and TERRY CARR (eds.) World's Best SF: 1968 (1968; 1st ACE printing and PBO; photo cover)

This collection of short stories by Harlan Ellison, Isaac Asimov, Brian W. Aldiss, Samuel R. Delany, and Roger Zelazny was later reprinted under the titles World's Best Science Fiction. No. 1 and World's Best Science Fiction, Fourth Series (ACE 91356).

A-016 ALEXEI PANSHIN Rite of Passage (cover by Leo and Diane Dillon; 1968; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

1968 Nebula Award winner and one of the ACE Science Fiction Specials (1st series).

A-017 AVRAM DAVIDSON (ed.) The Best From Fantasy & Science Fiction, 14th Series (cover and interior illustration by Jack Gaughan; 1968; 1st ACE printing)

Short story collection including Avram Davidson Introduction, Jack Sharkey Trade-In, J. G. Ballard The Illuminated Man, Wilma Shore A Bulletin From the Trustees, Kit Reed Automatic Tiger, T. P. Caravan The Court of Tartary, Terry Carr Touchstone, Allen Kim Lang Thaw and Serve, Thomas M. Disch Nada, Ron Goulart Into the Shop, Roger Zelazny A Rose for Ecclesiastes (one of my personal favourites), Eric St. Clair Olsen and the Gull, Louis J. A. Adams Dark Conception, Alan E. Nourse The Compleat Consummators, S. S. Johnson The House By the Crab Apple Tree, Ron Webb The Girl With the Hundred Proof Eyes, and James Ransom Fred One.

A-019 PIERS ANTHONY (aka PIERS ANTHONY DILLINGHAM JACOB) and ROBERT E. MARGROFF The Ring (cover by Leo and Diane Dillon; 1968; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

This is one of the ACE Science Fiction Specials (1st series).

A-025 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS The Outlaw of Torn (cover by Roy Krenkel Jr.; 1968; 1st ACE printing)

This is more a "sword and chivalry" novel than anything else - my rationale for also placing it in the ACE POTPOURRI section.

A-029 JAMES BLISH and NORMAN L. KNIGHT A Torrent of Faces (cover by Leo and Diane Dillon; 1968; 1st ACE printing)