ACE SF 5 Digit Number-Series SF Singles

20547-X PHYLLIS GOTLIEB Emperor, Swords, Pentacles (April 1982; 1st ACE printing)

Sequel to A Judgement of Dragons.

This ACE Letter-Number series is a bit of a problem (Oh, ACE Books strikes again).  This particular ACE Letter-Number was printed twice (2nd printing was November 1982) with the same cover art and price.  Then it was reissued in May 1985 with a NEW Letter-Number (ACE 18067-1).

20557-7 H. BEAM PIPER Empire (cover by Michael Whelan; May 1981; 1st ACE printing)

20558-5 H. BEAM PIPER Empire (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1981; July 1986; 5th ACE printing)

Short story collection of post-Terran Federation (and post-Space Viking) story arc from one of my favourite authors.

20562-3 FRED SABERHAGEN Empire of the East (cover by Enric; October 1979; 1st ACE trade market printing)

20563-1 FRED SABERHAGEN Empire of the East (cover by Enric; July 1980; 2nd ACE printing)

20565 BARRINGTON J. BAYLEY Empire of Two Worlds (cover by John Schoenherr and interior illustration by Jack Gaughan; c.1972; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

20571 SAMUEL R. DELANY Empire Star (c.1966; nd) and The Ballad Of Beta-2 (c.1965; nd)

20571 (back cover)

Note this single cover volume is actually a DOUBLE Novel and in this form is a 1st thus.

The Ballad of Beta-2 was originally published in ACE Double M-121 (1965) bound with Emil Petaja's Alpha Yes, Terra No!

Empire Star was originally published in ACE Double M-139 (1966) bound with Tom Purdom's The Tree Lord of Imeten.

20656-5 KEITH LAUMER End As A Hero (cover by Les Edwards; August 1985; 1st ACE printing)

20660-3 MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY Endless Voyage (wrap-around cover by Lombardo; 1975; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

20660-3 (back cover)

This is one of the ACE Science Fiction Specials (2nd series) and listed as #3.

20661-1 MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY Endless Universe (cover by Attila Hejja; c.1975; April 1979; 2nd ACE printing)

Note the title has changed from Endless Voyage to Endless Universe.

This edition is listed as a "revised edition." This edition was also reprinted with the same ACE Letter-Number series in September 1979.

20662-X MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY Endless Universe (cover by Attila Hejja; c.1975; 1979; probably 1981)

20663-9 MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY Endless Universe (cover by Attila Hejja; c.1975; 1979; 1981; August 1982)

20664-6 JERRY POURNELLE (ed.) The Endless Frontier (cover by Vincent Di Fate; November 1979; 1st ACE printing)

Short story collection and essays - contents available at URL:  http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?39218

20666-2 JERRY POURNELLE with JOHN F. CARR (ed.) The Endless Frontier Vol. II (cover by Vincent Di Fate; January 1982)

Note this image is for a promotional cover, that lacks the ISBN barcode.

20667-0 JERRY POURNELLE (ed.) The Endless Frontier Vol. I (cover by Vincent Di Fate; c.1979; January 1982; 2nd ACE printing)

20669-7 JERRY POURNELLE (ed.) The Endless Frontier (cover by Vincent Di Fate; c.1979; 1982; June 1985; 3rd ACE printing)

Collection of science articles and short stories and can be found here.

20670 JUDITH MERRILL (ed.) England Swings SF: Stories of Speculative Fiction (cover by Ron Walotsky; nd; 1st ACE printing)

ENGLAND SWINGS stories include: Roger Jones The Island; Josephine Saxton Ne deja vu pas; John Calder Signals; John Clark Saint 505; George Collyn The Singular Quest of Martin Borg; Bill Butler The First Gorilla on the Moon; Kyril Bonfiglioli Blastoff; J.G. Ballard You and Me and the Continuum; Daphne Castell Who's in There With Me?; Thomas M. Disch The Squirrel Cage; Keith Roberts Manscare;, Charles Platt The Total Experience Kick; and George MacBeth The Silver Needle.

20671-9 JERRY POURNELLE with JOHN F. CARR (ed.) The Endless Frontier Vol. II (cover by Vincent Di Fate; c.1982; September 1985)

20672-7 BARRY B. LONGYEAR and DAVID GERROLD Enemy Mine (photo cover; 1985; movie tie-in)

Now attribution of this volume is a bit odd.  This volume has three attributions on the cover: novel by Longyear and Gerrold, from screenplay of the film, and from the original story by Longyear that first appeared in the September 1979 issue of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.

20724-3 POUL ANDERSON Ensign Flandry (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1966; February 1979; 1st ACE printing)

There appears to be (thank you Bill) several printing with the same ACE Letter-Number series, price, cover art and even the advertisements.  The 2nd printing was April 1979, followed by a 3rd printing in June 1980.  For the 4th printing, there was one that was exactly the same as the 3rd edition, with a second 4th edition printing that is ACE 20725-1.  Oh, the printing history of ACE Books - never a dull moment.

20725-1 POUL ANDERSON Ensign Flandry (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1966; 1979; 1980; 4th ACE printing)

20726-X POUL ANDERSON Ensign Flandry (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1966; 1979; 1980; November 1982; 6th ACE printing)

20729-4 POUL ANDERSON Ensign Flandry (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1966; 1979; 1980; 1982; January 1985; 8th printing)

20730 KEITH LAUMER Envoy To New Worlds (cover by Emsh; c.1963; March 1969)

20731 KEITH LAUMER Envoy To New Worlds (c.1963; 1969; November 1973)

Note that although the volume is listed as "2nd ACE printing," this ignores the printing history of ACE 20730.  Different cover art.  Thank you Bill for tracking this down.

Envoy to New Worlds was originally published in ACE Double F-223 (1963) bound with Robert Moore Williams' Flight From Yesterday. This uses the same cover art.

---

21430-4 MACK REYNOLDS Equality: In the Year 2000 (cover by Davis Meltzer; May 1977; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

21526-2 CHARLES SHEFFIELD Eramus Magister (1982; 1st ACE printing and PBO; ACE historical fantasy)

21561 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS Escape on Venus (cover and title page illustration by Roy Krenkel, Jr.; c.1946; 1964; nd; 3rd ACE printing; listed as "complete and unabridged")

This volume has the same cover art as ACE F-268 (1964), even down to the ACE Science Fiction classic logo block.  This is another example of re-use of old stock.

21562 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS Escape on Venus (cover by Frank Frazetta and title page illustration by Roy Krenkel Jr.; c.1946; 1964; January 1974)

Note: there is some argument on the publication date (by a month): either January or February 1974 [Jan from Locus #155, Feb from Stuart Wells]

21563 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS Escape On Venus (cover by Frank Frazetta; c.1946; 1964; 1974; 1975/1976?; 4th ACE printing)

Note: either late 1975 or early 1976.

21564 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS Escape On Venus (cover by Frank Frazetta; c.1946; 1964; 1974; 1975/1976; January 1977; 5th ACE printing)

21565-3 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS Escape On Venus (cover by Frank Frazetta; c.1946; 1964; 1974; 1975/1976; 1977; June 1979; 6th ACE printing)

21566-1 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS Escape On Venus (cover by Frank Frazetta; c.1946; 1964; 1974; 1975/1976; 1977; 1979; October 1981; 7th ACE printing)

This ACE Letter-Number series was printed twice (October 1981 and September 1982) with the same price and cover art.

21567-X EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS Escape On Venus (cover by Frank Frazetta; c.1946; 1964; 1974; 1975/1976; 1977; 1979; 1981; 1982; November 1984; 10th ACE printing)

Escape on Venus was originally published as ACE F-268 (1964). These use the same Frazetta cover art with slightly different cover design motif.

21590-4 JAMES WHITE The Escape Orbit (cover by Wayne Barlowe; April 1983; 2nd ACE printing)

21599-8 CHRISTOPHER STASHEFF Escape Velocity (cover by Stephen Hickman; October 1983; 1st ACE printing)

21600-5 CHRISTOPHER STASHEFF Escape Velocity (cover by Stephen Hickman; c.1983; June 1984; 3rd ACE printing)

21600-5 (back cover)

21601-3 CHRISTOPHER STASHEFF Escape Velocity (cover by Stephen Hickman; c.1983; 1984; October 1984; 4th ACE printing)

21601-3 (back cover)

21602-1 CHRISTOPHER STASHEFF Escape Velocity (cover by Stephen Hickman; c.1983; 1984; April 1986; 5th ACE printing)

21603-X CHRISTOPHER STASHEFF Escape Velocity (cover by Stephen Hickman; c.1983; 1984; 1986; nd; 6th ACE printing)

This ACE Letter-Number series was then used for the 7th through 9th printing. 

21803 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS The Eternal Savage (original title: The Eternal Lover; cover by Roy Krenkel Jr.; c.1914; 1963; 1972; nd)

21804 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS The Eternal Savage (original title: The Eternal Lover; cover by Roy Krenkel Jr.; c.1914; 1963; 1972; nd)

21805-9 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS The Eternal Savage (original title: The Eternal Lover; cover by Roy Krenkel Jr.; c.1914; 1963; 1972; 1978)

21806-7 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS The Eternal Savage (original title: The Eternal Lover; cover by Roy Krenkel Jr.; c.1914; 1963; 1972; 1978; nd)

The Eternal Savage was originally published as ACE F-234 (1963).

21883-0 ROBERT A. HEINLEIN Expanded Universe (c.1980; February 1981; 1st trade paperback ACE printing)

Illustrated edition.  I especially like that this edition has the cover blurb is "The New Worlds of Robert A. Heinlein."  It is not used on the other editions.

21885-7 JERRY POURNELLE Exiles to Glory (cover by David Plourde; c.1977; September 1980; 3rd ACE printing)

Interestingly, the cover art is signed (Plourde) but the copyright pages has "Cover art by Boris."  Hmmm. ACE strikes again.  Notice this printing is also outside the ACE Letter-Number sequence.

21888-1 ROBERT A. HEINLEIN Expanded Universe (c.1980; 1981; 2nd ACE printing)

21889-X ROBERT A. HEINLEIN Expanded Universe (c.1980; 1981; November 1983; 7th ACE printing)

21891-1 ROBERT A. HEINLEIN Expanded Universe (c.1980; 1981; 1983; March 1986; 8th ACE printing)

This ACE Letter-Number series was reprinted from the 7th to (at least) 12th edition with the same cover art but differing ACE logos and prices. For example, here is the 11th ACE printing (21891-1)

Collection of RAH essays (How To Be A Survivor) and short stories including Blowups Happen and Solution Unsatisfactory.

---

22215-3 JERRY POURNELLE Exiles to Glory (cover by Boris Vallejo; c. 1977; July 1978; 1st ACE printing)

22216-1 JERRY POURNELLE Exiles to Glory (cover by Boris Vallejo; c. 1977; 1978; 2nd ACE printing)

22217-X JERRY POURNELLE Exiles to Glory (cover by Boris Vallejo; c. 1977; 1978; December 1983; 4th ACE printing)

22218-8 JERRY POURNELLE Exiles to Glory (cover by Boris Vallejo; c. 1977; 1978; 1983; November 1986; 5th ACE printing)

22332-X TIM HOLT Expecting Someone Taller (September 1990, 1st ACE printing; ACE fantasy mystery)

22336-2 KARA DALKEY Euryale (cover by Mel Odom; November 1988; 1st ACE printing and PBO; ACE Fantasy)

22336-2 (back cover)

22365 ANDRE NORTON Exiles of the Stars (July 1972; 1st ACE printing; different cover art - possibly Dean Ellis?)

22366 ANDRE NORTON Exiles of the Stars (February 1975; 2nd ACE printing)

22367-2 ANDRE NORTON Exiles of the Stars (cover by John Rush; June 1979; 3rd ACE printing)

22368-0 ANDRE NORTON Exiles of the Stars (cover by John Rush; 1979; 1984)

Exiles of the Stars is the sequel to Moon of Three Rings (ACE H-033, 1966).

There are two printings of this ACE Letter-Number series. The second printing (April 1984; 5th ACE printing) adds a Canadian price to the slugline and the ACE logo is moved.

22374-5 FRANK HERBERT Eye (cover and interior illustrations by Jim Burns; November 1987; 1st ACE printing)

Collection of an essays and short stories. This includes three essays on the Author (Burns), Artist, and Illustrations (Burns) and one on the collection (by Herbert). The short stories include Rat Race; Dragon in the Sea (excerpt); Cease Fire; A Matter of Traces; Try to Remember; The Tactful Saboteur; The Road to Dune; By the Book; Seed Stock; Murder Will In; Passage for Piano; Death of a City; and Frogs and Scientists.

22375 ANDRE NORTON Eye of the Monster (c.1962; March 1975)

This ACE Letter-Number volume was printed twice (in March 1975 and then later in 1975) with the same cover art and price. The only difference is the advertisements in the back.  The cover art is not attributed, but may be Dean Ellis - more on this later as we check.

22376-1 ANDRE NORTON Eye of the Monster (c.1962; 1975; February 1980; 4th ACE printing)

22377-X ANDRE NORTON Eye of the Monster (cover by Ken Barr; c.1962; 1975; 1980; January 1984; 5th ACE printing)

Although the copyright page says "3rd printing" this is actually the 5th printing.

22378-8 ANDRE NORTON Eye of the Monster (cover by Ken Barr; c.1962; 1975; 1980; 1984; December 1986; 6th ACE printing)

Eye of the Monster was originally published in ACE Double F-147 (1962) bound with Sea Siege by Andre Norton. This edition has different cover art than ACE F-147.

22386 PHILIP K. DICK Eye In The Sky (cover by J. H. Breslow; c.1957; March 1975)

22387-7 PHILIP K. DICK Eye In The Sky (cover by J. H. Breslow; c.1957; 1975; June 1977)

This edition has an Introduction by Theodore Sturgeon.  Eye In The Sky was originally published as ACE D-211 and ACE H-39.

22388-5 MIKE CONNER Eye of the Sun (cover by Barclay Shaw; 1988; 1st ACE printing)

22500-4 JACK VANCE (aka JOHN HOLBROOK VANCE) The Faceless Man (original title: The Anome; cover by Davis Meltzer; June 1978; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

22530-6 JOHN BELLAIRS The Face in the Frost (1984; 6th ACE printing; ACE Fantasy)

22549-7 ROBERT LYNN ASPRIN and LYNN ABBEY (eds.) The Face of Chaos (cover by Walter Velez; October 1983; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

22551-9 ROBERT J. SAWYER Far-Seer (cover by Tom Kidd; June 1992; 1st ACE printing)

22555-1 JACK VANCE (aka JOHN HOLBROOK VANCE) The Faceless Man: Book One of the Durdane Trilogy (cover by Peter Dana; May 1987; 2nd ACE printing)

22569-1 EMMA BULL Falcon (cover by Kirk Reinert; October 1989; 1st ACE printing)

This ACE Letter-Number series was reprinted with the price and cover art, except the number line ends in ‘2’ [likely 1990].

22577-2 MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY Falcons of Narabedla (cover by Bob Adragna; c.1964; March 1979)

The Falcons of Narabedla was originally published in ACE Double F-273 (1964) bound with The Dark Intruder & Other Stories and ACE 22576.

22640 SAMUEL R. DELANY The Fall of the Towers (cover by Kelly Freas; c.1966; nd)

22641 SAMUEL R. DELANY The Fall of the Towers (cover by Kelly Freas - different art; c.1966; nd)

Original prelim cover art by Kelly Freas for The Fall of the Towers. Note that the preliminary artwork does not have the woman but a beast instead. Verso of artwork.

Original cover art by Kelly Freas for The Fall of the Towers. Note the difference between the finished art and the preliminary artwork. 15" x 20" and signed in image.

The Fall of the Towers is a compilation of all three of the "Towers" tales.

22640 SAMUEL R. DELANY The Fall of the Towers (cover by Kelly Freas; c.1966; nd)

22641 SAMUEL R. DELANY The Fall of the Towers (cover by Kelly Freas; c.1966; nd)

22641 (back cover)

Listed as "Three Volumes In One."  Contains "Out of the Dead City," "The Towers of Toron," and "City of a Thousand Suns."

22642 SAMUEL R. DELANY The Fall of the Towers (cover by Kelly Freas; c.1966; April 1975)

22642 (back cover)

22643-4 SAMUEL R. DELANY Out of the Dead City (original title: Captives of the Flame; c.1963; nd)

Captives of the Flame was originally published in ACE Double F-199 (1963) bound with Keith Woodcott's (aka John Brunner) The Psionic Menace.

22690 BARRY N. MALZBERG The Falling Astronauts (cover by Davis Metzler; December 1971)

22744-9 GRAHAM MASTERTON Famine (1981; 1st ACE printing; ACE Charter edition)

This story, of ecological terrorism, is just on the edge of science fiction and "thriller."

22799-6 GORDON R. DICKSON The Far Call (February 1983; 1st ACE printing)

22811 A. E. VAN VOGT The Far-Out Worlds of Van Vogt (c.1968; nd)

22812 A. E. VAN VOGT The Worlds of A. E. Van Vogt (cover by Bart Forbes; January 1974; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

Introduction by Forrest J. Ackerman and collects 15 short stories.

These two A. E. van Vogt short story collections are essentially the same, with The Worlds of A. E. Van Vogt having the addition of a couple of extra stories to The Far-Out Worlds of Van Vogt. In particular this edition includes the first paperback publication of "The Storm" and "The Expendables."

One of the AIL users suggests that there may not even be a copy of The Far-Out Worlds of Van Vogt with the number code 22811. Please look in your collections and let us see what we can find out about this. Thanks.

[21 May 2008] - I found a copy of ACE 22811. Note that it has a white-out block and suggests a renumber edition from older stock.

22813  A. E. VAN VOGT The Worlds of A. E. Van Vogt (cover by Bart Forbes; October or November 1974; 2nd ACE printing)

22819-4 EDMUND COOPER A Far Sunset (cover by David Bergen; December 1977; 1st ACE printing)

22830 D. G. COMPTON Farewell, Earth's Bliss (cover by Karel Thole; revised U. S. edition copyright 1971)

22876-3 MELINDA M. SNODGRASS Final Circuit (cover by Don Dixon; 1988)

Original cover art by Don Dixon for Final Circuit. Dated 1987, acrylic and gouache, 20" x 12."

Concluding volume of the Circuit trilogy.

22925 WALTER KENDRICK A Fire In The Sky (1978; 1st ACE printing and PBO; movie tie-in)

Novelization (by Walter Kendrick; based upon a story by Paul Gallico) of the NBC television movie starring RICHARD CRENNA and ELIZABETH ASHLEY about astronomers attempting to convince the authorities that a comet is going to collide with Earth. Features front and rear movie photo covers, with 16 pages of movie photos.

---

23188-8 H. BEAM PIPER Federation (cover by Michael Whelan; February 1981; listed as "first ACE trade edition")

23189-6 H. BEAM PIPER Federation (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1981; February 1982; listed as "first mass market edition")

The 2nd ACE printing was January 1983, but either a repeat of ACE Letter-Number 23189-6 or a first instance of 23190-X. Stay tuned for future details.

23190-X H. BEAM PIPER Federation (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1981; 1982; December 1983; 3rd ACE printing)

23191-8 H. BEAM PIPER Federation (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1981; 1983; 1983; nd; 4th ACE printing)

There may be another printing [from Locus 1] with same ACE Letter-Number but different price and date of May 1986.  Another story to hunt.

23500 GENE WOLFE The Fifth Head of Cerberus (July 1976; 1st ACE printing)

23501-8 GENE WOLFE The Fifth Head of Cerberus (cover by Martin Rigo; September 1981; 2nd ACE printing)

The Fifth Head of Cerberus contains two novellas and a short novel, along with a short Afterword by Pamela Sargent. The title story was originally published in Damon Knight's Orbit anthology.

23510-7 KEVIN RANDLE and ROBERT CORNETT The Aldebaran Campaign (cover by Miro; December 1988; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

Sequel to Seeds of War.

23516-6 RUDY RUCKER The 57th Franz Kafka (January 1983; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

Contains 19 short stories.  The 57th Franz Kafka (1982); Schrödinger's Cat (1981); A New Golden Age (1981); Jumpin' Jack Flash (1983); Sufferin' Succotash (1983); Faraway Eyes (1980); Hyperspherical Space and Beyond (1980, essay); The Indian Rope Trick Explained (1983); A New Experiment with Time (1982); The Man Who Ate Himself (1982); The Facts of Life (1983); Tales of Houdini (1981); Buzz (1981); The Last Einstein-Rosen Bridge (1983); Pac-Man (1982); Pi in the Sky (1983); Inertia (1983); Message Found in a Copy of Flatland (1983) and The Jack Kerouac Disembodied School of Poetics (1982).

23584-0 CHRIS CLAREMONT First Flight (cover by Luis Royo; December 1987; 1st ACE printing)

23776-2 GORDON R. DICKSON The Final Encyclopedia (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1984; October 1985; 1st ACE printing)

23777-0 GORDON R. DICKSON The Final Encyclopedia (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1984; 1985; nd; 2nd ACE printing)

23860-2 GEO. W. PROCTOR Timesearch (original title: Fire At The Center)

And here we have an unusual title.  This volume was NEVER PUBLISHED.  Booksellers received the promotional covers but the book never saw the light of day. The original title, noted on the cover, was of a Fawcett publication from 1981.
 
I want to thank Bill Taylor for this information and cover image - this is what this database is all about - defining the publication history of ACE Books.  What an interesting twist this volume provides.

23919-6 H. BEAM PIPER (edited & expanded by Michael Kurland) First Cycle (January 1982; 1st ACE printing)

Issued twice in 1982 with identical ACE Letter-Number series, as well as price and cover art. Second printing was August 1982.

23929-3 DENNIS SCHMIDT Twilight of the Gods: The First Name (cover by Romas Kukalis; February 1985; ACE fantasy)

Note that although the title on the cover is "Twilight of the Gods," the ACE Letter-Number series coding is based upon "The First Name" portion of the title.

23998-6 SHARIANN LEWITT First and Final Rites (cover by Barclay Shaw; September 1984)

Shariann Lewitt also writes under the name S. N. Lewitt.

---

24035 MACK REYNOLDS (aka DALLAS McCORD REYNOLDS) Five Way Secret Agent and Mercenary From Tomorrow (November 1975)

Note: this is a double novel with a single cover - much like the five digit number series ACE SF doubles

24071-2 POUL ANDERSON Flandry of Terra (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1965; July 1979; 1st ACE printing)

This ACE Letter-Number volume was reprinted twice in 1979, and once in 1980 (gee, how ACE Books could get 3 editions with the same Letter-Number - makes cataloguing a nightmare at time.  Thank you Bill for all of the information on this series).

24072-0 POUL ANDERSON Flandry of Terra (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1965; 1979; nd (probably 1981); 4th ACE printing)

24073-9 POUL ANDERSON Flandry of Terra (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1965; 1979; 1982; April 1983; 5th and 6th ACE printing)

Printed in August 1982 and April 1983 using the same ACE Letter-Number series.

24074-7 POUL ANDERSON Flandry of Terra (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1965; 1979; 1982; 1983; February 1985; 7th ACE printing)

Flandry of Terra contains A Message in Secret (c. 1959), The Plague of Masters (c. 1960) and The Game of Glory (c. 1958).

A Message in Secret was reprinted in 1961 by ACE Books under the title Mayday Orbit as ACE Double F-104 (bound with Kenneth Bulmer's No Man's World).

The Plague of Masters was reprinted by ACE books in 1961 under the title Earthman, Go Home! as ACE Double D-479 (bound with Wilson Tucker's To the Tombaugh Station).

24086-0 DAVID DRAKE and BILL FAWCETT (eds.) The Fleet (May 1988; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

Short story collection in The Fleet "sandbox"with tales by Anne McCaffrey, Poul Anderson, Gary Gygax, and Margaret Weis.

However, this cover art is for the 2nd ACE printing (nd; probably ~ 1992; determined by the number line - thank you Bill).  It appears that this ACE Letter-Number appears to have been printed at least five (5) times with the same catalog number and cover art, and only separable by the change in price.  Thus, finding a PBO (true first) will be difficult for the collector.

24087-9 DAVID DRAKE and BILL FAWCETT (eds.) The Fleet: Counterattack (December 1988; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

Short story collection in The Fleet "sandbox" with tales by Piers Anthony, Janet Morris, and Christopher Stasheff. 

Note that although the title (on the image) is "Counter Attack," the title page gives it as one word "Counterattack." I have it from one of the AIL user (thanks Bill) that this ACE Letter-Number appears to have been printed at least five (5) times with the same catalog number and cover art (oh, the wonders of tracking down the concept of "PBO).

24090-9 DAVID DRAKE and BILL FAWCETT (eds.) The Fleet: Sworn Allies (cover by Jim Gurney; March 1990; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

Short story collection in The Fleet "sandbox" with tales by Anne McCaffrey, Larry Niven, and Christopher Stasheff.

24092-5 SHERI S. TEPPER The Flight of Mavin Manyshaped (June 1985; 1st ACE printing; ACE fantasy)

24093-3 DAVID DRAKE and BILL FAWCETT (eds.) The Fleet: Total War (cover by Jim Gurney; September 1990; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

Short story collection in The Fleet "sandbox" with tales by Katherine Kurtz, Anne McCaffrey, Janet Morris and Christopher Stasheff.

24103-4 DAVID DRAKE and BILL FAWCETT (eds.) The Fleet: Breakthrough (cover by Jim Gurney; 1989; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

24105-0 DAVID DRAKE and BILL FAWCETT (eds.) The Fleet: Breakthrough (cover by Jim Gurney; c.1989; May 1989; 2nd ACE printing)

Short story collection in The Fleet "sandbox" with tales by Larry Niven, Steve Perry and Gary Gygax.  Note that although the title (on the image) is "Break Through," the title page gives it as one word "Breakthough."

24590 R. A. LAFFERTY Fourth Mansions (cover by Leo and Diane Dillon; 1969; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

This is an Ace Science Fiction Special (1st series). Short story collection.

24620 ANDRE NORTON Forerunner Foray (wrap-around cover art by Charles Mikolaycak; c.1973; February 1975; 1st ACE printing; listed as "first paperback publication")

24622-2 ANDRE NORTON Forerunner Foray (cover by Wojtek Siudmak; c.1973; 1975; December 1980; 2nd ACE printing)

24623-0 ANDRE NORTON Forerunner Foray (cover by Wojtek Siudmak; c.1973; 1975; 1980; July 1982; 3rd ACE printing)

The cover art by Wojtek Siudmak was originally on a French paperback edition of Van Vogt’s “La Bete” [The Beast] and later on a German edition of “Exotic Worlds” [Exotische Welten].  Thanks to Bill for finding this unusual art and history - all what the AIL is about.

24650 THOMAS BURNETT SWANN The Forest of Forever (1971; 1st ACE printing; ACE fantasy)

24712-1 GORDON R. DICKSON The Forever Man (wrap around cover by James Gurney; September 1986; 1st ACE printing)

24713-X GORDON R. DICKSON The Forever Man (cover by James Gurney; c.1986; nd; 3rd ACE printing)

24800 JULES VERNE For the Flag (c.1961)

24806-3 DAVID C. SMITH and RICHARD TIERNEY For the Witch of the Mists (cover by Ezra Tucker; March 1981; 1st ACE printing)

For The Witch of the Mists is a BRAN MAK MORN story based on the character created by ROBERT E. HOWARD.

24884-5 ROBERT J. SAWYER Fossil Hunter (cover by Bob Eggleton; May 1993; 1st ACE printing)

24886-7 MICHAEL MOORCOCK The Fortress of the Pearl (nd; ACE fantasy)

24890-X H. BEAM PIPER Four-Day Planet and Lone Star Planet (cover by Michael Whelan; April 1979; 1st ACE printing)

24892-6 H. BEAM PIPER Four-Day Planet and Lone Star Planet (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1979; September 1984; 2nd ACE printing)

Note: this is a double novel with a single cover - much like the five digit number series ACE SF doubles

24901 ROGER ZELAZNY Four For Tomorrow (c.1967; February 1973; 2nd ACE printing)

24903 ROGER ZELAZNY Four For Tomorrow (cover by Garland; c.1967; 1973; nd)

24904-3 ROGER ZELAZNY Four For Tomorrow (cover by Garland; c.1967; 1973;1981)

24905-1 ROGER ZELAZNY Four For Tomorrow (cover by Garland; c.1967; 1973; 1981; February 1982)

24905-1 (back cover)

Four For Tomorrow was originally published as ACE M-155 (1967) and contains four short novellettes by Zelazny with an Introduction by Theodore Sturgeon.

---

25460 MARY STATON From the Legend of Biel (1975; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

25461 MARY STATON From the Legend of Biel (c.1975; nd; 2nd ACE printing)

This is one of the ACE Science Fiction Specials (2nd series) and listed as #1. It is also the authors first book.

25504-3 A. BERTRAM CHANDLER Frontier of the Dark (cover by Attila Hejja; January 1984; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

25950 SUZETTE HADEN ELGIN Furthest (cover by Leo and Diane Dillon; 1971; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

This is an ACE Science Fiction Special (1st series).

25970-7 REGINALD BRETNOR (ed.) The Future At War, Vol. 1: Thor's Hammer (cover by Vincent di Fate; August 1979; 1st ACE printing)

Contents are at URL: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?51148

Original cover art by Vincent di Fate for The Future At War. Oil on masonite, 17" x 10" and signed lower left. Note the orientation of this painting is reversed with respect to the cover art on the ACE volume.

25971-5 REGINALD BRETNOR (ed.) The Future At War, Vol. 2: The Spear of Mars (cover by Vincent di Fate; March 1980; 1st ACE printing)

Short story collection based upon the premise of the invasion of the Earth by extraterrestrials including Racoona Sheldon's (aka James Tiptree Jr., aka Alice Sheldon) The Screwfly Solution (another of my personal favourites).

25972-3 REGINALD BRETNOR (ed.) The Future At War, Vol. 3: Orion's Sword (cover by Vincent di Fate; 1980; 1st ACE printing )

25980 A. E. VAN VOGT Future Glitter (cover by Bart Forbes; October 1973; 1st ACE printing)

---

26176-0 H. BEAM PIPER Fuzzies and Other People (cover by Michael Whelan; August 1984; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

This ACE Letter-Number series was reprinted as the 2nd edition (nd) and the 3rd edition (June 1985) with same price and cover art.

26177-9 H. BEAM PIPER Fuzzies and Other People (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1984; 1985; November 1986; 4th ACE printing)

26181-7 WILLIAM TUNING Fuzzy Bones (cover by Michael Whelan; 1981; 1st ACE printing)

26188-4 H. BEAM PIPER Fuzzy Sapiens (original title: The Other Human Race; c.1976; 1978; 1982; June 1983)

26190 BEAM PIPER Fuzzy Sapiens (original title: The Other Human Race; cover by Michael Whelan; June 1976; 1st ACE printing)

26191 H. BEAM PIPER Fuzzy Sapiens (original title: The Other Human Race; cover by Michael Whelan; August 1976; 2nd ACE printing)

Printed twice with the same ACE Letter-Number series, as well as same price and cover at by Michael Whelan.  The second printing has no date, but probably 1977.

26192-X H. BEAM PIPER Fuzzy Sapiens (original title: The Other Human Race; cover by Michael Whelan; c.1976; May 1978; 4th ACE printing)

26193-0 H. BEAM PIPER The Fuzzy Papers (cover by Michael Whelan; September 1980; 1st ACE printing)

26194-9 H. BEAM PIPER The Fuzzy Papers (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1980; August 1982; 2nd ACE printing)

These two printings are the first collection of the two "Fuzzy" stories - Little Fuzzy and Fuzzy Sapiens.  Thus, these actually could be considered an "ACE Double."

26196-5 H. BEAM PIPER Fuzzy Sapiens (cover by Michael Whelan; c.1976; 1978; 1982; September 1985)

---

27226 ANDRE NORTON Galactic Derelict (cover by Davis Meltzer; c.1964; April 1972; 3rd ACE printing)

27227 ANDRE NORTON Galactic Derelict (cover by Davis Meltzer; c.1964; 1972; nd - probably 1974)

27228 ANDRE NORTON Galactic Derelict (cover by Davis Meltzer; c.1964; 1972; nd - probably 1975)

27229-0 ANDRE NORTON Galactic Derelict (cover by Davis Meltzer; c.1964; 1972; July 1978; 8th ACE printing)

There seems to have been multiple printings with no change in ACE Letter-Number series for this volume.  In addition, this cover art is different than the previous Davis Meltzer covers for ACE 27226 to 27228.

27231-2 ANDRE NORTON Galactic Derelict (cover by Walter Velez; c.1964; 1972; August 1982)

27232-0 JACK VANCE (aka JOHN HOLBROOK VANCE) Galactic Effectuator (cover by David B. Mattingly; 1981; listed as "First Paperback Publication")

Galactic Effectuator is composed of two novellas: "The Dogtown Tourist Agency" (1975) and "Freitzke's Turn" (1977).

27233-9 ANDRE NORTON Galactic Derelict (cover by Walter Velez; c.1964; 1972; 1982; October 1984)

27234-7 ANDRE NORTON Galactic Derelict (cover by Walter Velez; c.1964; 1972; 1982; 1984; May 1987)

There were two printing of this edition with the same ACE Letter-Number series. The second was in January 1992.

Galactic Derelict was originally published as ACE F-310 (1964).

27236-3 WALT & LEIGH RICHMOND Gallagher's Glacier (cover by John Rush, July 1979; 2nd ACE printing)

27238-X KEVIN RANDLE Galactic MI (cover by Kevin Murphy; 1993; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

27240 MACK REYNOLDS (aka DALLAS McCORD REYNOLDS) Galactic Medal of Honor (cover by Vincent Di Fate; August 1976; 1st ACE printing)

27241-X MACK REYNOLDS (aka DALLAS McCORD REYNOLDS) Galactic Medal of Honor (cover by Vincent Di Fate; c.1976; 1977/1978?; 2nd ACE printing)

27242-8 KEVIN RANDLE The Galactic Silver Star (1990)

27280-0 KEITH LAUMER The Galaxy Builder (cover by John Ennis; February 1984; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

27284-3 RICHARD A. LUPOFF Galaxy's End (cover by Ron Miller; August 1988; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

Sequel to Sun's End.

27291 EDWARD E. "DOC" SMITH The Galaxy Primes (c.1965; nd)

This is one of the "Science Fiction from the Great Years" editions. The Galaxy Primes was originally published as ACE F-328 (1965).

27296 JAMES BAEN (ed.) Galaxy: The Best of My Years (1980; 1st ACE printing)

Collection of short stories from Galaxy including Poul Anderson, Isaac Asimov, Ursula K. Le Guin, Larry Niven, Frederik Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth, Jerry Pournelle, Fred Saberhagen, Charles Sheffield, John Varley, and Roger Zelazny.

27310 PHILIP K. DICK The Game-Players of Titan (cover by J. H. Breslow; c.1963; April 1972)

27346 PHILIP K. DICK and RAY NELSON The Ganymede Takeover (cover by Vincent DiFate; 1976; 2nd ACE printing)

Original cover art by Vincent DiFate for The Ganymede Takeover. Acrylic on board, 11.75" x 10.25" and signed lower right.

27387-4 PHILIP JOSE FARMER The Gates of Creation (cover by Boris Vallejo; c.1966; August 1977)

---

The following is an odd printing. The first volume is dual pricing edition for Canadian and American markets. The second is a Canadian only pricing edition. Both have a full 10—1 number line and both state "Ace edition / July 1988." The ACE logo is shifted up the cover as well, so it's not just an over-print. Thanks to Bill for submitting this information.

27380-7 ANDRE NORTON The Gate of the Cat (cover by Rick Lovell; July 1988; 1st ACE printing)

27380-7 ANDRE NORTON The Gate of the Cat (cover by Rick Lovell; July 1988; 1st ACE printing)

---

27387-4 PHILIP JOSE FARMER The Gates of Creation (cover by Boris Vallejo; c.1966; August 1977; 2nd ACE printing)

27388-2 PHILIP JOSE FARMER The Gates of Creation (cover by Boris Vallejo; c.1966; 1977; nd - but see note below; 3rd ACE printing)

No date on the copyright page, but it has to be 1978 and before October as that’s when the ACE logo changed from the ‘tombstone’ to the ‘spear.’

27389-0 PHILIP JOSE FARMER The Gates of Creation (cover by Boris Vallejo; c.1966; 1977; 1978; February 1981; 4th ACE prinitng)

27390-4 PHILIP JOSE FARMER The Gates of Creation (c.1966; 1977; 1978; 1982; January 1983; 5th ACE prinitng)

The Gates of Creation was originally published as ACE F-412 (1966).

27905 EDMUND COOPER Gender Genocide (original title: Who Needs Men?; 1973; 1st thus)

27910 HOWARD FAST The General Zapped An Angel (cover by Karel Thole; 1970; 1st ACE printing)

27911-2 HOWARD FAST The General Zapped An Angel (cover by Boris Vallejo; c.1970; 1978; 2nd ACE printing)

---

28602-X FRITZ LEIBER The Ghost Light (1991; 1st ACE printing and maybe PBO)

Collection of nine (9) stories and an autobiography.  Illustrated (profusely) by Robert Gould, David Wiesner, John Jude Palencar, Thomas Cantry and JoEllen Trilling.

28702-6 JAMES P. BLAYLOCK The Stone Giant (cover by Darrell Sweet; 1989)

28837-5 REGINALD BRETNOR Gilpin's Space (cover by Alan Gutierrez; June 1986)

28860 RON GOULART The Fire-Eater (cover by Robert LoGrippo; 1970; 1st ACE printing)

Notice that the ACE 28000 Letter-Number series seems to be the dumping ground for poorly organized ACE (by Letter-Number coding) volumes (argh).

28988-6 HARLAN ELLISON The Glass Teat (cover by Barclay Shaw; May 1983)

On the copyright page, it states “Ace edition / May 1973.”  However, that is a typo error and the year should have been 1983 as it has an ACE 'tombstone' logo.

---

29400-6 L. SPRAGUE de CAMP The Glory That Was (cover by Stephen Hickman; c.1952, July 1979; 1st ACE printing)

Introduction by ROBERT A. HEINLEIN.

29401-4 ROBERT A. HEINLEIN Glory Road (c.1987; November 1988; probably 3rd ACE printing)

29430-8 CARL MILLER The Goblin Plain War (1991; 1st ACE printing; ACE fantasy)

29467-7 FRANK HERBERT God Emperor of Dune (June 1987; 1st ACE printing - by number line)

Note that this ACE Letter-Number series has been reprinted numerous times, always with the same number but varying prices.  Thus, finding a 1st edtion, 1st printing copy may be difficult for collectors.

29470-7 PIERS ANTHONY God of Tarot (1987; 2nd ACE printing; ACE fantasy)

29497-9 TREVOR HOYLE The Gods Look Down (cover by Don Brautigam?; c.1978; April 1982)

29525 ROBERT E. HOWARD The Gods of Bal-Sagoth (cover by Sanjulian; 1979; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

29525 (back cover)

Contains The Gods of Bal-Sagoth, Casonetto's Last Song, King of the Forgotten People, Usurp the Night, The Curse of the Golden Skull, The Shadow of the Beast, Nekht Semerkeht, Restless Waters and The Isle of the Eons.

29532-0 BARRY SADLER Casca: God of Death (1982)

This series is scattered across the ACE Letter-Number series, primarily depending upon whether the editor/accountant used the 'Casca' prefix for the series numbering.  In this case, they did not.

29729-3 ARDATH MAYHAR Golden Dream: A Fuzzy Odyssey (cover by Michael Whelan; October 1982; 1st ACE printing)

A continuation of the Fuzzy stories of H. Beam Piper.  Since I am an H. Beam Piper fan, I will probably read this, but I also am a bit hesitant.

29752-8 JESSICA AMANDA SALMONSON The Golden Naginata (cover by Kinuko Craft; c. 1982; March 1984; ACE fantasy)

This volume was released twice with the same ACE Letter-Number series (in February 1982 and March 1984). Only difference is the ACE slugline (where the catalog number and price is placed) was moved from the top left to the bottom left.

29752-8 (back cover)