ACE SF Singles Image Library - D Letter-Number series - ACE books - cover art and artists

D-096 ANDRE NORTON The Last Planet (original title: Star Rangers; cover by Harry Barton; c.1953; 1955; Special Edition - no date given )

This "Special Edition" has the same Barton cover art as the ACE Double D-96 (1955). However, I think it was a 1961 printing - need to check on this.

Born February 17, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio, ALICE MARY NORTON started writing in her teens. First contacts with the publishing world led her, as many other contemporary female writers targeting a male-dominated market, to choose a literary pseudonym (i.e., Andrew North). In 1934 she legally changed her name to Andre Alice Norton.

D-110 ISAAC ASIMOV The 1,000 Year Plan (original title: Foundation; cover by Ed Valigursky; Special Edition; 1955; listed as "abridged")

The 1,000 Year Plan was originally published in ACE Double D-110 (1955) bound with Poul Anderson's No World of Their Own.

The listing "complete and unabridged" is a result of action by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the post-WWII publishing industry. To counter the wide-spread belief by the book-buying public that paperback books were always shortened version of the original hardcover texts, publishers were required by the FTC to prominently indicate on the front cover if there was an original title (often shown in parentheses) and to state that the book was either an "abridgement" or identical to the original text (listed as "complete and unabridged"). Source: Thomas L. Bonn Undercover: The Illustrated History of the American Mass Market Paperback (1982; Penguin Books; pp. 56-57).

D-121 ANDRE NORTON The Stars Are Ours! (Special Edition; c. 1954; 1955; nd; listed as "complete and unabridged")

The Stars Are Ours! was originally published as ACE Double D-121 (1955) bound with Sam Merwin Jr's 3 Faces of Time. This has the same cover art as the ACE Double D-121 and the copyright page does not mention the other half of the previous ACE Double.

D-125 ISAAC ASIMOV The Man Who Upset the Universe (original title: Foundation and Empire; cover by Robert Schulz; 1955; listed as "complete and unabridged"; 1st ACE printing)

ROBERT EMIL SCHULZ (1928-1978) was an illustrator (with a degree in architecture from Princeton University) who produced cover art for Pocket, Signet, Dell, and Bantam as well as illustrations for "men's" magazines such as Adventure and Men's Digest. In addition to his well-received cover art for I, Robot, he also did many western covers that included a series of reissues of Zane Grey stories by Pocket Books.

D-146 MURRAY LEINSTER (aka WILL F. JENKINS) The Forgotten Planet (Special Edition; 1956; listed as "complete and unabridged")

The Forgotten Planet was originally published in ACE Double D-146 (1956) bound with Lee Corry's (aka G. Harry Stine) Contraband Rocket.

Listed as "A New Modern Translation." "Newly translated into English by Willis T. Bradley" on the title page. Note the copyright on this volume is to A.A. Wyn.

D-169 JACK WILLIAMSON and JAMES E. GUNN Star Bridge (1956; listed as "complete and unabridged")

D-187 A. E. VAN VOGT The Pawns of Null-A (1956; listed as "complete and unabridged")

D-211 PHILIP K. DICK Eye in the Sky (cover by Ed Valigursky?; 1957; listed as "Complete Novel")

D-233 REX GORDON (aka STANLEY BENNETT HOUGH) First On Mars (1957; 1st ACE printing; listed as "complete and unabridged")

STANLEY BENNET HOUGH (aka Rex Gordon; b. 1917) was a British writer who wrote a number of post-catastrophe (Utopia 239; 1955) and space adventure tales (The Yellow Fraction; 1969 and Utopia Minus X; 1966).

D-245 JULES VERNE Off On A Comet (1957; listed as "newly abridged and modernized")

D-274 CHARLES ERIC MAINE (aka DAVID McILWAIN) World Without Men (cover by Emsh; 1958; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

DAVID McILWAIN (b. 1921) served in the Royal Air Force during WWII. After the war he took up TV engineering and began writing about radio and television. His first novel, Spaceways (c. 1953, UK) was adapted from his radio play and later as a motion picture.

D-283 CLIFFORD D. SIMAK City (cover by Ed Valigursky; c.1952; March 1958; 1st ACE printing; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

D-309 H. G. WELLS The Island of Dr. Moreau (1958; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

D-324 RAY CUMMINGS Brigands of the Moon (cover by Emsh; 1958; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

RAYMOND KING CUMMINGS (1887-1957) was an adventurer (gold prospecting, oil field, and orange plantations) and later an editor for Thomas Alva Edison. His writing career spanned thirty years and he is most remembered for one of his earliest stories, "The Girl in the Golden Atom" (c. 1919), as well as being one of the authors used by Gernsback in the early Amazing pulp magazine.

JEFF SUTTON byline is sometimes JEFFERSON SUTTON. Jefferson Howard Sutton (b. 1913) studied at San Diego State College (now University of California - San Diego), served in the United States Marine Corps, and was a photographer and newsman. Another part of his career was devoted to research into survival at high altitudes.

D-339 CLIFFORD D. SIMAK Ring Around the Sun (cover by Robert E. Shulz; 1959; listed as "Complete & Unabridged"; 2nd ACE printing)

D-340 PHILIP K. DICK Solar Lottery (cover by Ed Valigursky; c.1955; 1959; listed as "Complete Novel")

Solar Lottery was originally published in ACE Double D-103 (1955) bound with Leigh Brackett's The Big Jump.

Red Alert is the basis of the 1963 film "DR. STRANGELOVE, Or How I Stopped Worrying and Started to Love the Bomb," directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Other editions of this volume are located at D-551 (reprint of 1958 edition), F-210 (1963 edition with different cover as well as the tie-in to the 1963 movie) as well as ACE 00078. See comment about renumbering of ACE single editions at D-551.

PETER GEORGE (1924-1966) spent most of his career in the Royal Air Force. He wrote two novels. Two Hours to Doom (c. 1958, UK) was later titled Red Alert for the U.S. market and carries his pseudonym Peter Bryant. His Commander -1 (c. 1965, UK) is a further treatment of nuclear warfare. He committed suicide in 1966.

D-353 DONALD A. WOLLHEIM (ed.) The Macabre Reader (cover by Emsh; 1959; 1st ACE printing and PBO)

Collection of horror and macabre stories including H. P. LOVECRAFT The Thing on the Doorstep; ROBERT BLOCH The Opener of the Way; and ROBERT E. HOWARD The Cairn on the Headland.

D-354 DONALD A. WOLLHEIM (ed.) The Hidden Planet: Science-Fiction Adventures on Venus (cover by Emsh; 1959)

Contains: Field Expedient by Chad Oliver; Venus Mission by J. T. McIntosh; The Luck of Ignatz by Lester del Rey; The Lotus Eaters by Stanley G. Weinbaum; and Terror Out of Space by Leigh Brackett

D-366 ALAN E. NOURSE and J. A. MEYER The Invaders Are Coming (nd; listed as "First Book Publication")

ALAN EDWARD NOURSE (b. 1928) is one of science fiction's early medical practioners. Trained at Pennylvania Medical School, his expertise was incorporated into A Man Obsessed which addresses brain surgery and psychology while The Mercy Men (1968) investigates medical testing and the use of experimental subjects for pay. He wrote non-fiction (The Nine Planets - astronomy) as well as a number of tales in juvenile (now called young adult) literature.

On a personal note, The Bladerunner, Scavengers In Space, and The Universe Between were three influential books that I read as a child that helped focus my interest in science.

Preliminary cover art by Ed "Emsh" Emshwiller for When The Sleeper Wakes. Gouache on board. 6" X 7." On the verso is stamped with his name & address, as well as the title "When the Sleeper Wakes" & "D-388" written in pencil. Compare this preliminary art to the Emsh cover for D-388.

D-397 JULES VERNE Journey to the Center of the Earth (c.1956; nd; possibly 2nd ACE printing; listed as "A New Modern Translation")

Journey to the Center of the Earth was previously published in ACE Single D-156 (1956) using the same cover art.

D-405 REX GORDON (aka STANLEY BENNETT HOUGH) First to the Stars (1959; listed as "First Book Publication")

D-422 ANTHONY BOUCHER (aka WILLIAM A. P. WHITE) and J. FRANCIS McCOMAS (eds.) The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction, 3rd series (cover by Emsh; 1960; listed as "Complete and Unabridged")

Sixteen short stories including: Atitudes by Philip Jose Farmer, The Star Gypsies by William Lindsay Gresham, Experiment by Kay Rogers, Lot by Ward Moore, New Rituals by Idris Seabright, Vandy, Vandy by Manly Wade Wellman and Star Light, Star Bright by Alfred Bester.

D-434 JULES VERNE The Purchase of the North Pole (1960; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

Sequel to From The Earth To The Moon

D-455 ANTHONY BOUCHER (aka WILLIAM A. P. WHITE; ed.) The Best From Fantasy and Science Fiction, 4th series (1960; listed as "complete and uabridged")

D-461 ANDRE NORTON The Time Traders (cover by Emsh; 1960; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

D-473 JOHN TAINE (aka ERIC TEMPLE BELL) The Greatest Adventure (cover by Emsh; c.1929; 1960; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

Listed in ACE logo block as "Science Fiction Classic."

"John Taine" was the pseudonym of ERIC TEMPLE BELL (1883-1960), Professor of Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology, whose highly readable books on mathematics are still highly acclaimed. Taine wrote about a dozen SF books. Most of them were originally published in the 1920's and 1930's in hardcover form, since Taine does not appear to have been aware of the SF magazines until his writing career was well established. After World War II, there was a brief but intense Taine revival. Many of his best novels were reissued by the short-lived semi-professional book publishers of that era and a number of his books were reprinted by Famous Fantastic Mysteries. However, many modern readers have never heard of him.

D-482 A. E. VAN VOGT The Weapon Shops of Isher (c.1954; January 1961; listed as "Complete and Unabridged")

The Weapon Shops of Isher was originally published in ACE Double D-53 (1954) bound with Murray Leinster's Gateway to Elsewhere.

Adventures On Other Planets was originally published as ACE D-490 (1955). There are five stories by Roger Dee, Robert Moore Williams, Murray Leinster, Clifford D. Simak and A. E. van Vogt. This edition uses the same cover art and is probably the 2nd ACE printing.

D-498 ANDRE NORTON Galactic Derelict (cover by Emsh; 1961; listed as "Complete & Unabridged"; 1st ACE printing)

D-504 JULES VERNE Master of the World (including Robur the Conquerer; 1961; photo cover)

Movie tie-in novelization for American-International Pictures (AIP) screenplay starring Vincent Price, Charles Bronson, Henry Hull, and Mary Webster. Listed as an "ACE Science Fiction Classic."

Collection of horror and macabre stories including CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN The Yellow Wall Paper; RICHARD MATHESON Mother By Protest; and THEODORE ROSCOE The Curse Kiss.

D-516 OTIS ADELBERT KLINE The Swordsman of Mars (cover by Emsh; 1961; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

OTIS ADELBERT KLINE (1891-1964) wrote a number of adventure series dealing with Mars and Venus along the lines of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Although he published in Argosy and Weird Tales (where The Swordsman of Mars was serialized), he also wrote a number of "Dragoman' oriental tales (The Man Who Limped and Other Tales; 1946). He also wrote songs and published music, and worked as a screen writer.

D-525 MURRAY LEINSTER (aka WILL F. JENKINS) This World is Taboo (cover by Ed Valigursky; 1961; listed as "First Book Publication")

Star Guard was originally published in ACE Double D-199 (1956) bound with Poul Anderson's Planet of No Return. This edition uses the same Emsh cover art as ACE Double D-199.

D-528 MURRAY LEINSTER (aka WILL F. JENKINS) The Forgotten Planet (c.1956; nd; listed as Ccomplete and Unabridged")

The Forgotten Planet was originally published in ACE Double D-146 (1956) bound with Lee Corry's (aka G. Harry Stine) Contraband Rocket. It was also published as an ACE Special edition single volume (D-146) in 1956 and used the same cover art.

D-530 ROBERT MOORE WILLIAMS The Day They H-Bombed Los Angeles (1961; listed as "First Book Publication")

D-531 OTIS ADELBERT KLINE The Outlaws of Mars (1961; 1st ACE printing; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

D-534 ANDRE NORTON Daybreak - 2250 A. D. (original title: Star Man's Son; c.1952, 1954; 1961; listed as "Complete and Unabridged")

Daybreak - 2250 A.D was originally published in ACE Double D-69 (1954) bound with Lewis Padgett (aka Henry Kuttner) and C. L. Moore's Beyond Earth's Gate.

D-535 RAY CUMMINGS The Shadow Girl (cover by Emsh; 1962; listed as "Complete Novel")

D-537 H. G. WELLS The Island of Dr. Moreau (c.1958; 1961; 2nd ACE printing; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

The Island of Dr. Moreau was originally published as ACE D-309 (1958). Note that this edition uses the same cover art and is a re-numbered volume (see the white block under the D-537), as well as having an "ACE Science Fiction Classic" logo.

D-538 ISAAC ASIMOV The 1,000 Year Plan (original title: Foundation; cover by Ed Valigursky; listed as "Abridged"; c. 1955; 1961)

The 1,000 Year Plan was originally published in ACE Double D-110 (1955) bound with Poul Anderson's No World of Their Own. It was also published as an ACE Special Edition single (D-110) in 1955. These editions all use the same Emsh cover art.

D-541 ALAN E. NOURSE Scavengers in Space (c.1958; 1959; 1962; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

D-542 ANDRE NORTON The Last Planet (original title: Star Rangers; cover by Harry Barton; c.1955; 1958; 1959; 1962; 3rd edition; listed as "Complete and Unabridged")

The Last Planet was originally published in ACE Double D-096 (1955) bound with Alan E. Nourse's A Man Obsessed. This edition uses the same Harry Barton cover art.

D-544 FRANK BELKNAP LONG Space Station #1 (cover by Emsh; 1957; 1962; 2nd ACE printing; listed as "Complete Novel")

Space Station #1 was originally published in ACE Double D-242 (1957) bound with A. E. van Vogt's Empire of the Atom. This edition uses the same Emsh cover art as the ACE Double.

D-546 ANDRE NORTON The Crossroads of Time (c.1956; 1962; listed as "Complete and Unabridged"; 2nd ACE printing)

The Crossroads of Time was originally published in ACE Double D-164 (1956) bound with Gordon R. Dickson's Mankind on the Run. This edition uses the same cover art as the ACE Double.

D-547 JOHN BRUNNER The Super Barbarians (cover by Ed Valigursky; 1962; listed as "First Book Publication")

D-548 DEAN OWEN (aka DUDLEY DEAN McGAUGHTY) End Of The World (1962; 1st thus; photo cover)

Movie tie-in novelized from the screenplay by John Morton and Jay Simms. Filmed as "Panic In Year Zero." Starred Ray Milland (in cover photo), Jean Hagen and Frankie Avalon.

D-550 POUL ANDERSON No World of Their Own (c.1955; 1962; listed as "Complete Novel")

No World of Their Own was originally published in ACE Double D-110 (1955) bound with Isaac Asimov's 1,000 Year Plan. This ACE Letter-Number edition uses the same cover art.

POUL ANDERSON (1926-2001), a former President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, earned three Nebula and seven Hugo awards. He published over 100 novels and short story collections. He is remembered as one of the most imaginative and hugely prolific authors of science fiction's Golden Age. His works include Satan's World, Tau Zero, Midsummer Tempest, The Boat of a Million Years, Three Hearts and Three Lions, The Enemy Stars, and Brain Wave. In 1997, he received SFWA's Grandmaster Award and in 2000 he was inducted to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

One of the ACE Image Library users has brought to my attention that this may be a re-number of D-350. On the image of this cover there was the typical ACE white renumber block in the number space. Since there is so little real information on these renumbers, I only ever get decent data when a user sends me a query. As you can see from the image for D-350, the price is $0.35 (which is also the price on the D-551). It is interesting that there is no reprint notice on the copyright page (but ACE seldom did this even when they actually bought the rights for a story). For example (of this style of renumbering), F-210 (which is a definite reprint of D-350 with a new cover) has a price change to $0.40. I want to thank the IMAGE LIBRARY user (anonymously) for sending me this image that allows me to document this renumber issue.

D-553 WILLIAM HOPE HODGSON The House on the Borderland (cover by Emsh; c.1908; 1962)

Published as an ACE Science Fiction Classic edition.

WILLIAM HOPE HODGSON (1877-1918) was killed in WWI in France while serving as an officer for the British Army. His primary venue was the supernatural and the macabre and many consider his nightmarish visions to rival those of H. P. Lovecraft. The House on the Borderland and The Night Land (c. 1912) are the best examples of his science fiction writing.

D-555 JACK WILLIAMSON The Trial of Terra (cover by Emsh; listed as "First Book Publication"; 1962)

D-568 POUL ANDERSON Star Ways (cover by Emsh; c.1957; 1962; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

ACE SF D-Series Singles Image Library

This "Special Edition" has the same Barton cover art as the ACE Double D-96 (1955). However, I think it was a 1961 printing - need to check on this.

The 1,000 Year Plan was originally published in ACE Double D-110 (1955) bound with Poul Anderson's No World of Their Own.

The Forgotten Planet was originally published in ACE Double D-146 (1956) bound with Lee Corry's (aka G. Harry Stine) Contraband Rocket.

Listed as "A New Modern Translation." "Newly translated into English by Willis T. Bradley" on the title page. Note the copyright on this volume is to A.A. Wyn.

The Pawns of Null-A is the sequel to The World of Null-A.

STANLEY BENNET HOUGH (aka Rex Gordon; b. 1917) was a British writer who wrote a number of post-catastrophe (Utopia 239; 1955) and space adventure tales (The Yellow Fraction; 1969 and Utopia Minus X; 1966).

Later revised as Alph (Ballantine, 1971)

DAVID McILWAIN (b. 1921) served in the Royal Air Force during WWII. After the war he took up TV engineering and began writing about radio and television. His first novel, Spaceways (c. 1953, UK) was adapted from his radio play and later as a motion picture.

Solar Lottery was originally published in ACE Double D-103 (1955) bound with Leigh Brackett's The Big Jump.

Red Alert is the basis of the 1963 film "DR. STRANGELOVE, Or How I Stopped Worrying and Started to Love the Bomb," directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Other editions of this volume are located at D-551 (reprint of 1958 edition), F-210 (1963 edition with different cover as well as the tie-in to the 1963 movie) as well as ACE 00078. See comment about renumbering of ACE single editions at D-551.

Collection of horror and macabre stories including H. P. LOVECRAFT The Thing on the Doorstep; ROBERT BLOCH The Opener of the Way; and ROBERT E. HOWARD The Cairn on the Headland.

Contains: Field Expedient by Chad Oliver; Venus Mission by J. T. McIntosh; The Luck of Ignatz by Lester del Rey; The Lotus Eaters by Stanley G. Weinbaum; and Terror Out of Space by Leigh Brackett

On a personal note, The Bladerunner, Scavengers In Space, and The Universe Between were three influential books that I read as a child that helped focus my interest in science.

Preliminary cover art by Ed "Emsh" Emshwiller for When The Sleeper Wakes. Gouache on board. 6" X 7." On the verso is stamped with his name & address, as well as the title "When the Sleeper Wakes" & "D-388" written in pencil. Compare this preliminary art to the Emsh cover for D-388.

Journey to the Center of the Earth was previously published in ACE Single D-156 (1956) using the same cover art.

Sixteen short stories including: Atitudes by Philip Jose Farmer, The Star Gypsies by William Lindsay Gresham, Experiment by Kay Rogers, Lot by Ward Moore, New Rituals by Idris Seabright, Vandy, Vandy by Manly Wade Wellman and Star Light, Star Bright by Alfred Bester.

Sequel to From The Earth To The Moon

Listed in ACE logo block as "Science Fiction Classic."

The Weapon Shops of Isher was originally published in ACE Double D-53 (1954) bound with Murray Leinster's Gateway to Elsewhere.

Adventures On Other Planets was originally published as ACE D-490 (1955). There are five stories by Roger Dee, Robert Moore Williams, Murray Leinster, Clifford D. Simak and A. E. van Vogt. This edition uses the same cover art and is probably the 2nd ACE printing.

Movie tie-in novelization for American-International Pictures (AIP) screenplay starring Vincent Price, Charles Bronson, Henry Hull, and Mary Webster. Listed as an "ACE Science Fiction Classic."

Collection of horror and macabre stories including CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN The Yellow Wall Paper; RICHARD MATHESON Mother By Protest; and THEODORE ROSCOE The Curse Kiss.

Star Guard was originally published in ACE Double D-199 (1956) bound with Poul Anderson's Planet of No Return. This edition uses the same Emsh cover art as ACE Double D-199.

Daybreak - 2250 A.D was originally published in ACE Double D-69 (1954) bound with Lewis Padgett (aka Henry Kuttner) and C. L. Moore's Beyond Earth's Gate.

The Island of Dr. Moreau was originally published as ACE D-309 (1958). Note that this edition uses the same cover art and is a re-numbered volume (see the white block under the D-537), as well as having an "ACE Science Fiction Classic" logo.

The Last Planet was originally published in ACE Double D-096 (1955) bound with Alan E. Nourse's A Man Obsessed. This edition uses the same Harry Barton cover art.

Space Station #1 was originally published in ACE Double D-242 (1957) bound with A. E. van Vogt's Empire of the Atom. This edition uses the same Emsh cover art as the ACE Double.

Movie tie-in novelized from the screenplay by John Morton and Jay Simms. Filmed as "Panic In Year Zero." Starred Ray Milland (in cover photo), Jean Hagen and Frankie Avalon.

Later expanded into "The Long Way Home."

No World of Their Own was originally published in ACE Double D-110 (1955) bound with Isaac Asimov's 1,000 Year Plan. This ACE Letter-Number edition uses the same cover art.

Published as an ACE Science Fiction Classic edition.

Star Ways was originally published in ACE Double D-255 (1957) bound with Kenneth Bulmer's City Under the Sea. This volume uses the same Emsh cover art. Note, Tuck gives the publication date as 1963.

Last update: 28 October 2020

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