PERRY RHODAN ACE SF SERIES

ACE printed a lot of the popular (well, to some people - I never could quite get interested) PERRY RHODAN novels. Amazingly, I have a lot of these (courtesy of my uncle's collection).

Originally published in Germany on 8 September 1961 as a weekly, which it remains to this day, Perry Rhodan, Peacelord of the Universe, has been one of the most popular space heroes for science fiction fans in Europe. Series and characters were created by Karl-Herbert Scheer and Walter Ernsting. Arthur Moewig Verlag was the name of the German publishing company for Perry Rhodan.

The first ACE edition PERRY RHODAN volumes were published in the ACE five digit numerical series DOUBLES FORMAT in the 1970's, usually in the format of a single cover with both titles listed. They were published (however not exclusively) as ACE SINGLES, also in the 1970's. This often produces confusion (certainly to me), as not only was the five-digit numbering system used but the cover art changed from edition to edition.

If you have any images for volumes not shown in this collection, the ACE IMAGE LIBRARY would appreciate any submissions. Cover artist information is limited for the ACE editions, although GEORGE WILSON and GRAY MORROW have done many covers (original cover art and interior illustration information is included in these entries). Pseudonym ("aka") information for some of the "PR stable of writers" is supplied. If you have additional information concerning these, a particular volume, or if I am wrong in my attribution, please let me know. Thanks!

So, for those of you who have fond memories of this genre (and for those of you have got here by some obscure cross-reference) .

Have Fun!

Abbreviations used below (PR-109 = Perry Rhodan #109)

From the 5 digit ACE DOUBLES series

66093 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Stolen Spacefleet (PR-109) and KURT MAHR Sgt. Robot (PR-110; cover by George Wilson)

PR-109 & PR-110 (back cover)

Note: This is the first ACE double issued by Grosset & Dunlap Publishers

66094-0 WILLIAM VOLTZ Seeds of Ruin (PR-111) and K. H. SCHEER Planet Mechanica (PR-112; cover by George Wilson)

66095-9 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Heritage of the Lizard People (PR-113) and KURT MAHR Death's Demand (PR-114; cover by George Wilson)

PR-113 & PR-114 (back cover)

66096-7 KURT BRAND Saboteurs in A-1 (PR-115) and WILLIAM VOLTZ The Psycho Duel (PR-116; cover by George Wilson)

PR-115 & PR-116 (back cover)

66097-5 K. H. SCHEER Savior of the Empire (PR-117) and CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Shadows Attack (PR-118; cover by George Wilson)

PR-117 & PR-118 (back cover)

66098-3 W. W. SHOLS The Wasp Men Attack (PR-none given) and ERNEST VLCEK Atlan #1: Spider Desert (listed as a Special Release volume; cover by George Wilson)

66099-1 KURT MAHR Menace of Atomigeddon (PR-none given) and CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Atland #2: Flight from Tarkihl (listed as a Special Release volume; cover by George Wilson)

66121-1 W. W. SHOLS Robot Threat: New York (PR-none given) and HANS KNEIFEL Atlan #3: Pale Country Pursuit (listed as a Special Release volume; cover by George Wilson)

66128-9 K. H. SCHEER Atlan #4: The Crystal Prince (PR-none given) and CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Atlan #5: War of the Ghosts (cover by George Wilson)

66128-9 (back cover)

These ACE doubles, single cover format, were published from March 1977 to December 1977.

From the ACE SINGLES series

Abbreviations used below (PR-109 = Perry Rhodan #109); five-digit series number in parentheses after PR notation (i.e., PR-032 (66015)). Note that this series is arranged in order of the Perry Rhodan story number and not the ACE five-digit printing schedule (far too bloody complicated and confusing).

In addition, the issue of "Paperback Original" (PBO) and "first printing" (United States or ACE) raises its head with these volumes. Originally printed in digest form in Germany, I am being very conservative with my notation on publication history. For the Perry Rhodan published by ACE, I will indicate printing history where I can find it. Thus, when I notate the volume as PBO - I am indicating that this appears to be an ACE first publication of this story in paperback form. If any users of the ACE IMAGE LIBRARY find a more precise way of defining this, please let me know.

Update Note: An ACE IMAGE LIBRARY USER (Thank you David) has supplied further information concerning some of the early ACE single PERRY RHODAN volumes. The ACE edition of the series for the first five volumes actually were TWO stories under a single cover and title.

Thus, PR-001 Enterprise: Stardust contains "Enterprise: Stardust" by K. H. Scheer and "The Third Power" by Walter Ernsting.

PR-002 The Radiant Dome contains "The Radiant Dome" by K. H. Scheer and "Twilight of the Gods" by Walter Ernsting.

PR-003 Galactic Alarm contains "Galactic Alarm" by Kurt Mahr and "The Mutant Corps" by W. W. Shols.

PR-004 Invasion From Space contains "Invasion From Space" by Walter Ernsting and "Base on Venus" by Kurt Mahr.

PR-005 The Vega Sector contains "Space Battle in the Vega Sector" by K. H. Scheer and "Mutants in Action" by Kurt Mahr.

ACE, for whatever reason did not credit the authors of the individual stories in these early doubles. This resulted initially in a difference between the American numbering scheme (PR-series) and the German digest number of four (4). This difference increased to five (5) when ACE told FORREST J. ACKERMAN that they did not believe that the "The Wasp Men Attack" would be a story that would sell books. [Indeed, there is a lack of action scenes in the story itself, but it does close out the story in a peaceful manner, something that was quite noticeably different from the standards of SF at the time.] The numbering difference increased to six (6) with the publication of the 5th double.

In addition, ACE skipped the German digest stories between ACE PR-014 and PR-015 and ACE PR-023 and PR-024. The numbering difference between the ACE editions and the German digests would be eight (8) for the remainder of the ACE publication history.

The "lost stories" (skipped initally by ACE) would then be known as the "Special Release volume" put out near the end of the ACE publication run (these were mostly done in the ACE DOUBLES format). The following are those "lost stories" and the approximate numbering location (based upon ACE PR-series numbers).

66098-3 "The Wasp Men Attack" by W. W. Shols would then become 4a.

66099-1 "Menace of Atomigeddon" by Kurt Mahr would become 14a.

66121-1 "Robot Threat: New York" by W. W. Shols would become 23a.

---- And you thought the five digit numerical series numbering scheme was complicated!

PR - 001 (65970) K. H. SCHEER & WALTER ERNSTING Enterprise Stardust (1969; PBO)

PR-001 (back cover)

PR - 002 (65971) K. H. SCHEER & WALTER ERNSTING The Radiant Dome (1969; PBO; cover by Gray Morrow)

PR-002 (back cover)

Original cover art by Gray Morrow (image size 15" x 22" on board; mixed media).

PR - 003 (65995) KURT MAHR & W. W. SHOLS Galactic Alarm (1974; 3rd Printing; cover by Gray Morrow)

PR - 004 WALTER ERNSTING & KURT MAHR Invasion From Space

PR - 005 (65974) K. H. SCHEER & KURT MAHR The Vega Sector (1970: PBO)

Update Note: One of the ACE IMAGE LIBRARY users (who is more familiar with this genre than I am) has supplied information concerning the cover art of the early part of this series. It appears that the first printing of ACE PR volumes 6 to 13 used the original German covers for the series instead of Gray Morrow covers. Gray Morrow cover art was used on the later volumes and second printings. By the third printing all of ACE Perry Rhodan volumes 6 to 13 had been replaced by Gray Morrow covers. The artist on the German covers was Johnny Bruck, who actually produced most of the covers for the first 1800 issues of the series. Sandy Huffaker (artist) did not produce cover art for this series and is only attributed to interior illustrations for the Ace printings. [Thank you David for your contribution]

PR - 006 (65975) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Secret of the Time Vault (1971; PBO)

German Digest cover for ACE first edition. Corresponds to the German #12 Perry Rhodan edition. Notice how the artwork has been clipped for the ACE edition.

PR-006 (65998) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Secret of the Time Vault (cover by Gray Morrow; later printing - probably 3rd printing)

PR - 007 (65976) K. H. SCHEER Fortress of the Six Moons (1971; PBO)

PR-007 (back cover)

German Digest cover for ACE first edition. Corresponds to the German #13 Perry Rhodan edition. Notice how the artwork has been clipped for the ACE edition.

PR - 008 (65977) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Galactic Riddle (1971; PBO)

German Digest cover for ACE first edition. Corresponds to the German #14 Perry Rhodan edition. Notice how the artwork has been clipped for the ACE edition.

PR - 009 (66109) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Quest Through Space and Time (1974; 2nd printing; cover by Johnny Bruck and interior illustration by Sandy Huffaker)

PR-009 (back cover)

German Digest cover for ACE first edition. Corresponds to the German #15 Perry Rhodan edition. Notice how the artwork has been clipped for the ACE edition.

PR - 010 KURT MAHR The Ghosts of Gol (1971; PBO)

Now, just for fun - let us look at how many people go into making this series. For PR-010 we have Donald A. Wollheim, (editor); Forrest J. Ackerman (managing editor); Wendayne Ackerman (translator); Charles Volpe (art director); and Sandy Huffaker (illustrations for this novel).

German Digest cover for ACE first edition. Corresponds to the German #16 Perry Rhodan edition. Notice how the artwork has been clipped for the ACE edition.

PR - 011 (65980) KURT MAHR The Planets of the Dying Sun (1972; PBO)

German Digest cover for ACE first edition. Corresponds to the German #17 Perry Rhodan edition. Notice how the artwork has been clipped (and slightly modified - see horizon and peaks) for the ACE edition.

PR - 012 (65981) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Rebels of Tuglan (1972; PBO)

German Digest cover for ACE first edition. Note that for this edition, the wrong cover was used. Here the cover used was for the German #19 edition, but the story is for the German #18 Perry Rhodan edition. Notice how the artwork has been clipped for the ACE edition.

PR - 013 (65982) K. H. SCHEER The Immortal Unknown (1972; PBO)

German Digest cover for ACE first edition. Note that for this edition, the wrong cover was used. Here the cover used was for the German #18 edition, but the story is for the German #19 Perry Rhodan edition. Notice how the artwork has been clipped for the ACE edition.

PR - 014 (65983) KURT MAHR Venus In Danger (1974: 2nd Printing)

PR - 015 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Escape To Venus (1972; 2nd Printing)

This edition includes FORREST J. ACKERMAN'S Scientifilm World

PR - 016 W. W. SHOLS Secret Barrier X (1974: PBO)

PR-016 (back cover)

PR - 017 KURT MAHR The Venus Trap (1974; Second Printing)

This edition includes FORREST J. ACKERMAN'S Scientifilm World and GARRETT P. SERVISS Pursuit to Mars

PR - 018 (66118) KURT MAHR Menace of the Mutant Master (1972; second printing)

This edition includes FORREST J. ACKERMAN'S Scientifilm World, a continuation of the serial by GARRETT P. SERVISS Pursuit to Mars, and two shock (?) shorts (whatever this means)

PR - 019 (65990) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Mutants vs. Mutants (1972; PBO)

This edition includes a serial sequel to H. G. WELLS War of the Worlds

PR - 020 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Thrall of Hypno (1972; PBO)

This edition includes H. G. WELL'S Things to Come Revisited

Original cover art by Gray Morrow (image size 15" x 20" on board; mixed media)

PR - 021 (66004) K. H. SCHEER The Cosmic Decoy (1973; PBO)

This edition includes RAY BRADBURY'S Fahrenheit Chronicles, a continuation of a Martian serial, and two shock (?) shorts (whatever this means)

PR - 022 (66005) KURT MAHR The Fleet of the Springers (1973; PBO)

PR - 023 (66006) KURT MAHR Peril on Ice Planet (1973; PBO)

PR - 024 (66007) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Infinity Flight (1973; PBO)

PR - 025 (66008) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Snowman in Flames (1973; PBO)

PR - 026 (66009) KURT BRAND Cosmic Traitor (1973; PBO)

PR - 027 (66010) KURT MAHR Planet of the Gods (1973; PBO)

PR - 028 (66011) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Plague of Oblivion (1973; PBO)

PR - 029 (66012) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) A World Gone Mad (1973; PBO)

PR - 030 (66013) KURT MAHR To Arkon! (1973: PBO)

PR-031 (66014) K. H. SCHEER Realm of the Tri-Planets (1973; PBO)

PR-032 (66015) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Challenge of the Unknown (1973; cover by Gray Morrow; PBO)

Original cover art by Gray Morrow (image size 25" x 20" on board)

PR-033 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Giant's Partner (1973; PBO)

PR-034 (66017) KURT BRAND SOS: Spaceship Titan! (1973)

Original cover art by Gray Morrow (image size 25" x 20" on board)

PR-035 (66018) KURT MAHR Beware the Microbots (1973; PBO)

This volume includes FORREST J. ACKERMAN'S Scientifilm World, and a continuation of the serial Cosmos

PR-036 (66019) K. H. SCHEER Man and Monster (1973: PBO)

PR-037 (66020) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Epidemic Center: Aralon (1974; PBO)

PR-038 (66021) KURT BRAND Project: Earthsave (1974; PBO)

This edition includes JOHN W. CAMPBELL, JR.'S Cosmos!

PR-039 (66022) KURT MAHR The Silence of Gom (1974; PBO)

Original cover art by Gray Morrow (image size 17.75" x 24"; gouache on masonite)

PR-040 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Red Eye of Betelgeuse (February 1974; PBO)

Conclusion of JOHN CAMPBELL'S short story Interference on Luna

PR-041 (66024) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Earth Dies (1974; PBO)

PR-042 (66025) K. H. SCHEER Time's Lonely One (1974; PBO)

This volume includes contination of the Cosmos serial and two SF short stories

PR-043 (66026) KURT BRAND Life Hunt (1974; PBO)

PR-044 (66027) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Pseudo One (1974; PBO)

PR-045 (66028) KURT MAHR Unknown Sector: Milky Way (May 1974; PBO; cover by Gray Morrow)

Original cover art by Gray Morrow. This volume includes FORREST J. ACKERMAN'S Scientifilm World, and a short story by RAY PALMER Cosmos

PR-046 (66029) K. H. SCHEER Again: Atlan! (1974; PBO)

PR-047 (66030) KURT BRAND Shadow of the Mutant Master (1974; PBO)

PR-048 (66031) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Dead Live (1974; PBO)

This edition includes A. MERRITT'S The Wrongness of Space

PR-049 (66032) KURT MAHR Solar Assassins (July 1974; PBO)

PR-050 (66033) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Attack From the Unseen (1974; PBO)

Golden Anniversary Issue

PR-051 (66034) KURT MAHR Return From the Void (1974; PBO)

Original cover art by Gray Morrow (image size 25" x 20" mixed media on heavy illustration board). This volume includes the conclusion of "Doc" SMITH'S chapter of Cosmos

PR-052 (66035) K. H. SCHEER Fortress Atlantis (1974; PBO)

This edition includes P. SCHUYLER MILLER'S Fate of the Neptunians

PR-053 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Spybot! (1974: PBO)

This edition concludes P. SCHUYLER MILLER'S Fate of the Neptunians

PR-054 KURT MAHR The Blue Dwarfs (1974: PBO)

PR-055 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Micro-Techs (1974; PBO)

PR-056 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Prisoner of Time (1974: PBO)

This edition includes EANDO BINDER'S Lost in Alien Dimensions

PR-057

PR-058 

PR-059 (66042) KURT BRAND Interlude on Siliko 5 (1974; PBO)

This volume includes the EDMOND HAMILTON conclusion of the serial Cosmos

PR-060 (66043) KURT MAHR Dimension Search

PR-061 (66044) KURT MAHR Death Waits in Semispace (1975; PBO)

This edition includes WILLIAM ELLERN'S New Lensman

PR-061 (back cover)

PR-062 (66045) K. H. SCHEER The Last Days of Atlantis (1975; PBO)

PR-062 (back cover)

PR-063 (66046) KURT BRAND The Tigris Leaps (1975; PBO)

PR-063 (back cover)

PR-064 (66047) KURT MAHR The Ambassadors From Aurigel (1975; PBO)

PR-064 (back cover)

PR-065 (66048) KURT MAHR Renegades of the Future (1975; PBO; cover by Gray Morrow)

This volume includes a new "Doc" SMITH New Lensman serial

Original cover art by Gray Morrow (image size 19" x 24.5" on board; mixed media)

PR-066 WILLIAM VOLTZ The Horror (1975; PBO)

PR-067 (66051) K. H. SCHEER Crimson Universe (1975; PBO)

This volume includes a short story from the FORREST J. ACKERMAN'S archives entitled Out Around Rigel

PR-068 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Under the Stars of Druufon (1975; PBO)

PR-069 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Bonds of Eternity (1975; PBO)

PR-070 (66054) KURT BRAND Thora's Sacrifice (1975; PBO)

PR-071 (66055) KURT MAHR The Atom Hell of Grautier (1975; PBO)

Original cover art by Gray Morrow ( image size 24" x 17" on board). This volume includes RAY GALLUN'S On The Moon

PR-072 (66056) KURT MAHR Caves of the Druufs (1975; PBO)

This volume includes FRANK B. LONG'S Lost Planet

PR-073 (66057) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Spaceship of Ancestors (1975; PBO)

This volume includes RAY CUMMINGS The Man from 2890

PR-074 (66058) KURT MAHR Checkmate: Universe (1975; PBO)

This volume includes FORREST J. ACKERMAN'S Scientifilm World and a New Lensman serial

PR-075 (66059) KURT BRAND Planet Topide, Please Reply! (1975; PBO)

This volume includes FORREST J. ACKERMAN'S commentary on Metropolis

PR-076 (66060) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Recruits For Arkon (1975; PBO)

PR-077 (66061) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Conflict Center: Naator (1975; PBO)

This edition begins RAY CUMMING'S Man on the Meteor

PR-078 (66062) K. H. SCHEER Power Key (1975; PBO)

PR-079 (66063) WILLIAM VOLTZ The Sleepers (1975; PBO)

PR-080 (66064) K. H. SCHEER The Columbus Affair (1975; PBO)

PR-081 (66065) KURT BRAND Pucky's Greatest Hour (1975; PBO)

This edition concludes RAY CUMMING'S Man on the Meteor

PR-082 (66066) KURT BRAND Atlan In Danger (1975; PBO)

This edition includes NAT SCHACHNER'S The Shining One

PR-083 (66067) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Ernst Ellert Returns! (1975; PBO)

Original cover art by Gray Morrow

PR-084 (66068) WILLIAM VOLTZ Secret Mission: Moluk (1975; PBO)

This volume includes OLAF STAPLEDON'S commentary on H. G. WELLS Star-Begotten

PR-085 (66069) KURT MAHR Enemy in the Dark (1975; PBO)

PR-086 (66070) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Blazing Sun (1976; PBO)

PR-087 (66071) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) The Starless Realm (1976; PBO)

Original cover art by Gray Morrow ( image size 20" x 15" acrylic on board). This edition includes DICK WILSON'S Love

PR-088 (66072) K. H. SCHEER The Mystery of the Anti (1976; PBO)

PR-089 (66073) KURT BRAND Power's Price (1976; PBO)

This volume includes a short story from the FORREST J. ACKERMAN'S archives entitled 100 Generations

PR-090 (66074) KURT BRAND Unleashed Powers (1976; PBO)

This edition includes P. SCHUYLER MILLER'S Spawn

Original cover art by Gray Morrow (image size 20" x 30" on board; mixed media)

PR-091 (66075) WILLIAM VOLTZ Friend To Mankind (1976; PBO)

PR-092 (66076) K. H. SCHEER The Target Star (1976; PBO)

PR-093 (66077) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Vagabond of Space (1976; PBO)

This edition includes L. RON HUBBARD'S Beyond All Weapons

PR-094 (66078) KURT MAHR Action: Division 3 (1976; PBO)

PR-095 (66079) KURT MAHR The Plasma Monster (1976; PBO)

This edition includes the second part of LIL and KRIS NEVILLE'S Arleen serial

PR-096 (66080) WILLIAM VOLTZ Horn: Green (1976; PBO)

This editon includes the NEVILLE'S The Bicentennial Woman

PR-097 (66081) CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) Phantom Fleet (1976; PBO)

PR-098 (66082) KURT MAHR The Idol From Passa (1976; PBO; cover by Gray Morrow)

This edition includes RAY CUMMING'S The Secret of the Sun

PR-099 (66083) K. H. SCHEER The Blue System (1976; PBO; cover by Gray Morrow)

This edition includes OLIVER SAARI'S The Door and A. MERRITT'S Man & Universe

PR-100 (66084) KURT MAHR Desert of Death's Domain (1976; PBO)

Centennial Issue

PR-100 (back cover)

PR-101 KURT BRAND Blockade: Lepso (1976; PBO)

PR-102 WILLIAM VOLTZ Spoor of the Antis (1976; PBO)

PR-103 CLARK DARLTON (aka Walter Ernsting) False Front (1976; PBO)

 

PR-105 KURT MAHR Wonderflower of Utik (cover by George Wilson; 1976; PBO)

PR-106 (66090) KURT BRAND Caller From Eternity (cover by George Wilson; 1976; PBO)

PR-107 (66091) WILLIAM VOLTZ The Emperor and the Monster (cover by George Wilson; 1977; PBO)

PR-108 K. H. SCHEER Duel Under the Double Sun (cover by George Wilson; 1977; PBO)

THE FINAL PERRY RHODAN VOLUME

66129-7 CLARK DALTON In the Cener of the Galaxy (cover by George Wilson; 1st ACE printing January 1978)

The dedication (on the frontspiece) indicates that this is "The Final Issue in This Cycle of Perry Rhodan dedicated to Its Original Co-Creators Walter Ernsting & K. -H. Scheer and Donald A. Wollheim for Launching RHODAN in America and to the Evergreen Memories of the Departed Luminous Trio - Thora .... Khrest..... Auris Gova dorani, karani!"

Includes the PERRYSCOPE and a STARDUST EDITORIAL "And So We End An Age"

Update Note: An ACE IMAGE LIBRARY USER (thank you David) points out that "In the Center of the Galaxy" represents a change in the publication history of the Perry Rhodan universe. When it became clear to the German publishers that they had a hit upon their hands, they decide to branch out the series. There was the series Atlan which followed the adventures of an alien who first appeared in ACE PR-042. They also decided to go after those who liked to sit down and read a good novel. This led to the creation of a paperback-format series that - while its stories took place in the "Perryverse" - did not have to tied into any particular storyline and thus freed them to explore other stories. "In The Center of The Galaxy" was the 11th novel of this side story series. 

Last update 13 May 2008

 

RETURN TO ACE IMAGE LIBRARY