Ace Doubles Collection
Science Fiction
# D-001 ~ D-099
D-013 ~ $0.35 ~ (1953) ~ Theodore S. Drachman - Cry Plague (often considered the first ACE Double Sci-Fi even with a Mystery for the other side) (cover-art by Lou Marchetti; cover states "An ACE Original") 153pg ~ {&} ~ Leslie Edgley - The Judas Goat (cover states "Complete and Unabridged") (Originally published for the Crime Club by Doubleday, 1952)
Theodore S. Drachman attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned his M.D. in 1938, and then earned an M.S.P.H. at Columbia University in 1941. He was a specialist in preventive medicine and epidemiology. He was deputy health commissioner for Westchester County in New York, and health commissioner for Columbia and Ulster counties in New York between 1946 and 1979. He also worked as a consultant to various health organizations around the world. Cry Plague! is well-known to science fiction bibliographers as the first Ace Double with a recognizably science-fictional plot. He also wrote one work of non-fiction: The Grande Lapu-Lapu (memoirs) (1972). Drachman died on July 13, 1988, at the age of 83, at his home in Philmont, New York, of cardiac arrest.
Leslie John Edgley (October 14, 1912 – 2002) was a mystery fiction writer and scriptwriter. He was born in London in 1912, but emigrated with his parents to Canada in 1918 and to East Chicago, Indiana in the United States in 1922, where he grew up in the Marktown neighborhood. He married Mary Gustaitis in 1935, and they moved to California in 1944. Among the works for which Edgley became known are the scripts for many episodes of Perry Mason.
D-031 ~ $0.35 ~ (1953) ~ A. E. van Vogt - The World of Null-A (cover-art by Stanley Meltzoff c.1948; cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 182pg ~ {&} ~ Universe Maker (cover states "An ACE Original") 138pg (Most Compilers consider this to be the first ACE Double Sci-Fi)
A.E. van Vogt (1912 - 2000) was born in Canada and moved to the U.S. in 1944, by which time he was well-established as one of John W. Campbell's stable of 'Golden Age' writers for Astounding Science-Fiction. The World of Null-A (1948) developed complicated themes of non-Aristotlian logic.
Stanley Meltzoff (1917-2006) started his career as art editor for "Stars and Stripes" during WWII. He taught at CCNY and Pratt Institute, and influenced a number of young artists such as Paul Lehr and John Schoenherr. Although he only produced a small number of science fiction covers, he is considered important for how he influenced the genre.
D-036 ~ $0.35 ~ (1953) ~ Robert E. Howard - Conan the Conqueror (cover-art by Norman Saunders; cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 131pg ~ {&} ~ Leigh Brackett - The Sword of Rhiannon (cover-art by Schultz; cover states "An ACE Original") 187pg
Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906 – June 11, 1936) was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He is well known for his character "Conan the Barbarian" and is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre.
Leigh Douglas Brackett (1915-1978) was one of the earliest of the women science fiction (and fantasy) writers. Her first published science fiction story, Martian Quest, appeared in Astounding in 1940. She was a prolific writer in the genres of science fiction (her most recognized story is probably The Long Tomorrow, c. 1955), mystery, and western as well as television and movie scripts ("The Big Sleep" - 1946 and "Rio Bravo" - 1958).
Robert Emil Schultz (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.
The Sword of Rhiannon may be the first Robert Schultz cover for ACE Books.
D-044 ~ $0.35 ~ (1954) ~ Donald A. Wollheim (ed.) - The Ultimate Invader and Other Science-Fiction (includes: short stories by Eric Frank Russell, Murray Leinster, Frank B. long and Malcolm Jameson) (cover-art by Stanley Meltzoff) 139pg ~ {&} ~ Eric Frank Russell - Sentinels of Space (cover-art by Schultz) 179pg
Donald Allen Wollheim (October 1, 1914 – November 2, 1990) was an American science fiction editor, publisher, writer, and fan. As an author, he published under his own name as well as under pseudonyms, including David Grinnell, Arthur Cooke, Millard Verne Gordon, Martin Pearson, Braxton Wells, Graham Conway and Lawrence Woods. He was the leader of the Futurians (active from 1938-1945; members include Isaac Asimov, James Blish, C. M. Kornbluth, and Frederik Pohl), instrumental in ACE Books science fiction (and horror) publication history, and founder of DAW publishing company.
Eric Frank Russell (January 6, 1905 – February 28, 1978) was a British author best known for his science fiction novels and short stories. Much of his work was first published in the United States, in John W. Campbell's Astounding Science Fiction and other pulp magazines. Russell also wrote horror fiction for Weird Tales and non-fiction articles on Fortean topics. Up to 1955 several of his stories were published under pseudonyms, at least Duncan H. Munro and Niall(e) Wilde.
D-053 ~ $0.35 ~ (1954) ~ Murray Leinster (aka: Will F. Jenkins) - Gateway to Elsewhere (cover-art by Harry Barton; cover states "An ACE Original") 139pg ~ {&} ~ A. E. van Vogt - The Weapon Shops of Isher (cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 179 pg
Murray Leinster (June 16, 1896 – June 8, 1975) was a nom de plume of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an American writer of science fiction. He wrote and published more than 1,500 short stories and articles, 14 movie scripts, and hundreds of radio scripts and television plays.
Original cover-art (Shown below) by Harry Barton for Gateway to Elsewhere
D-061 ~ $0.35 ~ (1954) ~ L. Sprague de Camp - Cosmic Manhunt (cover states "An ACE Original") 128pg ~ {&} ~ Clifford D. Simak - Ring Around the Sun (cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 190pg
Lyon Sprague de Camp (27 November 1907 – 6 November 2000), better known as L. Sprague de Camp, was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction. In a career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and works of non-fiction, including biographies of other fantasy authors. He was a major figure in science fiction in the 1930s and 1940s.
Clifford Donald Simak (August 3, 1904 – April 25, 1988) was an American science fiction writer. He won three Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award. The Science Fiction Writers of America made him its third SFWA Grand Master, and the Horror Writers Association made him one of three inaugural winners of the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.
D-069 ~ $0.35 ~ (1954) ~ Lewis Padgett (aka: Henry Kuttner) and C. L. Moore - Beyond Earth's Gates 138pg ~ {&} ~ Andre Norton - Daybreak—2250 A. D. (original title: Star Man's Son) (cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 182pg
Lewis Padgett was the joint pseudonym of the science fiction authors and spouses Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore, taken from their mothers' maiden names. They also used the pseudonyms Lawrence O'Donnell and C. H. Liddell, as well as collaborating under their own names.
Alice Mary Norton was born February 17, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio 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 (aka Andrew North and Andre Norton). In 1934 she legally changed her name to Andre Alice Norton.
D-073 ~ $0.35 ~ (1954) ~ Donald A. Wollheim (ed.) - Adventures in the Far Future (includes: The Wind Between the Worlds by Lester Del Rey; Stardust by Chad Oliver; Overdrive by Murray Leinster; The Millionth Year by Martin Pearson; and The Chapter Ends by Poul Anderson) (cover-art by Ed Valigursky) 177pg ~ {&} ~ Tales of Outer Space (includes: Doorway In the Sky by Ralph Williams; Here We Lie by Fox B. Holden; Operation Mercury by Clifford D. Simak; Lord of A Thousand Suns by Poul Anderson; and Behind the Black Nebula by L. Ron Hubbard) (cover-art by Lawrence) 140pg
Edward L. Valigursky (b. 1926) graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburg after a stint in the U.S. Navy in WWII. An illustrator for Amazing, Fantastic Adventures, and Worlds of IF (later IF) magazines, he also illustrated for numerous paperback publishers (ACE, Pyramid, Lancer, etc.) as well as popular mainstream and men's magazine including Saga, Argosy, Collier's, and Popular Mechanics. In addition, he also produced advertisement illustration as well as in the aviation field. His work is rarely signed and he used a pseudonym (William Rembach) on a few illustration.
Adventures in the Far Furture is Ed Valigursky's first cover for ACE doubles;
D-079 ~ $0.35 ~ (1954) ~ Francis Rufus Bellamy - Atta (cover states "A Complete Science-Fiction Novel") 179pg ~ {&} ~ Murray Leinster (aka: Will F. Jenkins) - The Brain-Stealers (cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 139pg
D-084 ~ $0.35 ~ (1954) ~ Isaac Asimov - The Rebellious Stars (original title: The Stars, Like Dust; cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 176pg ~ {&} ~ Roger Dee (aka: Roger D. Aycock) - An Earth Gone Mad (cover-art by Ed Valigursky; cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 144pg
Isaac Asimov (January 2, 1920 – April 6, 1992) was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. He was known for his works of science fiction and popular science. Asimov was a prolific writer who wrote or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards.
D-094 ~ $0.35 ~ (1955) ~ Murray Leinster (aka: Will F. Jenkins) - The Other Side of Here (cover-art by Stanley Meltzoff; cover states "Complete and Unabridged") ~ {&} ~ A. E. van Vogt - One Against Eternity (original title: The Weapon Makers) (cover-art by Ed Valigursky; cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 186pg
D-096 ~ $0.35 ~ (1955) ~ Andre Norton (as Andrew North) - The Last Planet (original title: Star Ranger; cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 192pg ~ {&} ~ Alan E. Nourse - A Man Obsessed (cover-art by Peyton; cover states "Complete Novel") 127pg
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 human 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.
The Last Planet also published as Specail Edition (Shown below) with same number and same cover only the top banner states Special Edition in place of Two Complete Novels and the rear cover is blue with the words "AN ACE BOOK" in the center.
D-099 ~ $0.35 ~ (1955) ~ Robert Moore Williams - Conquest of the Space Sea (cover-art by Ed Valigursky; cover states "Complete and Unabridged") 151pg ~ {&} ~ Leigh Brackett - The Galactic Breed (original title: The Starmen) (cover states "Revised Edition") 168pg
Robert Moore Williams (June 19, 1907 – May 12, 1977) was an American writer, primarily of science fiction. Pseudonyms included John S Browning, H. H. Harmon, Russell Storm and E. K. Jarvis (a house name).
The Galactic Breed is an abridged (ACE Books used "revised edition") version of The Starmen, published in hardcover by Gnome Press in 1952. The Starmen was an expanded version of the 1951 Startling Stories serial titled The Starmen of Llyrdis.
