H. Beam Piper | The Ace Books Reprints

The Ace Books Piper Reprints

"Now, Piper's Terro-human Future History stories have been published in Federation and Empire, while the Paratime Police yarns can be found in Paratime! The Worlds of H. Beam Piper includes all the remaining stories that did not fit into either series or somehow slipped between the cracks."
— John F. Carr, Introduction, The Worlds of H. Beam Piper

Beginning with Little Fuzzy (1976), Ace Books (now an imprint of Penguin Random House) reprinted most of H. Beam Piper's novels, capping the effort with a third, previously-unpublished Fuzzy novel, Fuzzies and Other People (1984). (Two omnibus editions of Piper's Fuzzy novels — the first a collection of Little Fuzzy and Fuzzy Sapiens and, after its discovery, a second collection adding Fuzzies and Other People — were also published.) Ace also published authorized sequels to Piper's work by William Tuning, Ardath Mayhar and Roland Green and John F. Carr in this era.

For many Piper fans these Ace reprints — often with iconic cover illustrations by Michael Whelan — represented their first exposure to the wide range of Piper's work and they remain the most comprehensive published set of his long fiction.

Two of Piper's novels, the stand-alone Null-ABC, co-authored with John J. McGuire (originally serialized in Astounding Science Fiction in 1953), and the mystery novel Murder in the Gunroom, originally published by Knopf in 1953, were not reprinted by Ace.

Little Fuzzy

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

Little Fuzzy, H. Beam Piper, New York: Ace, 1976, with cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

• First printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), January 1976, presumed (based upon February 1976 review, others suggest 1975; title page lists publisher as Charter Communications so presumably no later than 1976; "Copyright © 1962 by H. Beam Piper" on copyright page, presumably referring to original Avon "F-118" edition; "64A" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 175 and "45A" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 176), ISBN 0-441-48490-5, presumed ("48490" on cover, "441•48490•125" on spine), paperback, 174 pages, $1.25, stated. Note series title page lists "Other Ace books by H. Beam Piper," in the following order, as The Other Human Race (Fuzzy Sapiens) — presumably the 1964 Avon "G1220" edition, Space Viking — presumably the 1963 Ace "F-225" edition, Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen — presumably the 1965 Ace "F-342" edition, A Planet for Texans (by H. Beam Piper and J.J. McGuire) — presumably the 1958 Ace "D-299" edition, Crisis in 2140 (by H. Beam Piper and J.J. McGuire) —presumably the 1957 Ace "D-227" edition and The Cosmic Computer — presumably the 1964 Ace "F-274" edition.

• Second printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), unknown date (title page now lists publisher as Grosset & Dunlap, so presumably 1976 or later; "copyright © 1962 by H. Beam Piper" on copyright page, presumably referring to original Avon "F-118" publication; "64B" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 175 and "45B" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 176), paperback, 174 pages, ISBN 0-441-48491-3, presumed ("48491" on cover, "441•48491•175" on spine, check digit calculated), $1.75, stated.

• Third printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), unknown date ("Copyright © 1962 by H. Beam Piper" on copyright page, presumably referring to original Avon "F-118" publication; no alphanumeric codes on advertisements on page 175 and page 176), paperback, 174 pages, ISBN 0-441-48492-1, presumed ("48492" on cover, "441•48492•195" on spine), $1.95, stated.

This edition was one of four books in an Ace Books boxed set (Ace 5-digit number 96456) with Fuzzy Sapiens, Space Viking and Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen.

• Fourth printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), unknown date ("Copyright © 1962 by H. Beam Piper" on copyright page, presumably referring to original Avon "F-118" publication; "A-03" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 175 and "A-04" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 176), paperback, 174 pages, ISBN 0-441-48493-X, stated, $2.25, stated.

• Fifth printing, presumed, unknown date, unknown ISBN (0-441-48495-6?), unknown price.

• Sixth printing, presumed, unknown date, unknown ISBN (0-441-48495-6?), unknown price.

• Seventh printing, June 1983, stated (printer's key number line?), paperback, 174 pages, ISBN 0-441-48494-8, $2.50 (image courtesy Michael Smith's Ace Image Library).

• Eighth printing, September 1983 (copyright page now lists publisher as Berkley), stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 174 pages, ISBN 0-441-48496-4, stated, $2.75, stated.

• Ninth printing, August 1984, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 174 pages, ISBN 0-441-48497-2, stated, $2.75, stated.

• Tenth printing, September 1984, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 174 pages, ISBN 0-441-48497-2, stated (same as ninth printing), $2.75, stated.

• Eleventh printing, stated, April 1985, presumed (printer's key number line?), paperback, ISBN 0-441-48497-2 (same as ninth and tenth printings), $2.75.

• Twelfth printing, December 1986, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 174 pages, ISBN 0-441-48498-0, stated, $2.95, stated.

A Terro-human Future History yarn; the first Fuzzy novel. Originally published by Avon in 1962.

Fuzzy Sapiens

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

Fuzzy Sapiens, H. Beam Piper, New York: Ace, 1976, with cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

• First printing, June 1976, stated (no printer's key number line; title page lists publisher as Charter Communications), paperback, 235 pages, ISBN 0-441-26190-6, presumed ("26190" on cover, "441 26190 150" on spine), $1.50, stated.

• Second printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), August 1976, presumed (title page now lists publisher as Grosset & Dunlap), paperback, 235 pages, ISBN 0-441-26191-4, presumed ("26191" on cover, "441 26191 175" on spine), $1.75, stated.

• Third printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), May 1978, presumed, paperback, 235 pages, ISBN 0-441-26192-2, presumed (0-441-26192-X, stated, but check digit indicates invalid ISBN; this ISBN immediately precedes in sequence that for the first printing of The Fuzzy Papers below), $1.95, stated.

This edition was one of four books in an Ace Books boxed set (Ace 5-digit number 96456) with Little Fuzzy, Space Viking and Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen).

• Fourth printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; printer's key number line?), unknown date, paperback, 235 pages, ISBN 0-441-26189-2, stated, $2.25, stated (see image).

• Fifth printing, June 1983, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 235 pages, ISBN 0-441-26188-4, stated, $2.50, stated.

• Sixth printing, September 1983, stated (no printer's key number line; copyright page now lists publisher as Berkley), paperback, 235 pages, ISBN 0-441-26187-6, stated, $2.75, stated.

• Seventh printing, presumed, unkown date, unknown ISBN (0-441-26186-8?), unknown price.

• Eighth printing, August 1984, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 235 pages, ISBN 0-441-26195-7, stated (this ISBN immediately follows in sequence that for the second printing of The Fuzzy Papers below), $2.75, stated.

• Ninth printing, September 1984, stated (printer's key number line?), paperback, 235 pages, ISBN 0-441-26195-7, stated (same as eighth printing), $2.75, stated.

• Tenth printing, August 1985, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 235 pages, ISBN 0-441-26196-5, stated, $2.95, stated.

A Terro-human Future History novel. Sequel to Little Fuzzy. Originally published as The Other Human Race by Avon in 1964.

Space Viking

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

Space Viking, H. Beam Piper, New York: Ace, 1977, with cover illustration by Michael Whelan. (Note: following Ace reprint editions begin with "second printing" given original, 1963 Ace F-225 edition.)

• Second printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), January 1977, presumed ("Copyright © 1963 by Ace Books" on copyright page, presumably referring to original "F-225" publication; "6H" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 245, "7I" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 246, "33I" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 247, "34C" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 248 and "35K" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 249), paperback, 243 pages, ISBN 0-441-77780-5, presumed ("77780" on cover, "441 77780 150" on spine), $1.50, stated.

• Third printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), unknown date (presumed 1977; "Copyright © 1963 by Ace Books" on copyright page, presumably referring to original "F-225" publication; "6H" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 245, "7I" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 246, "33I" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 247, "34C" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 248 and "35K" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 249), paperback, 243 pages, ISBN 0-441-77781-3, stated (the ISBN which immediately follows this ISBN in sequence is for a non-Piper Ace book), $1.95, stated.

This edition was one of four books in an Ace Books boxed set (Ace 5-digit number 96456) with Little Fuzzy, Fuzzy Sapiens and Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen (box in Zarthani.net hoard).

• Fourth printing, stated (according to printer's key number line), December 1980, stated, paperback, 243 pages, ISBN 0-441-77779-1, stated, $2.25, stated.

• Fifth printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), September 1983, stated, paperback, 243 pages, ISBN 0-441-77784-8, stated (the ISBN which immediately precedes this ISBN in sequence is for a non-Piper Ace book), $2.75.

A Terro-human Future History novel. Originally serialized in Analog, November 1962 (part 1), December 1962 (part 2), January 1963 (part 3), and February 1963> (part 4).

Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen, H. Beam Piper, New York: Ace, 1977, with cover illustration by Michael Whelan and interior illustration by Jack Gaughan. (Note: following Ace reprint editions begin with "second printing" given original, 1965 Ace F-342 edition.)

• Second printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), May 1977, presumed (title page lists publisher as Grosset & Dunlap, so presumably 1976 or later), paperback, 249 pages, ISBN 0-441-49051-4, stated, $1.50, stated.

• Third printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), unknown date, paperback, 249 pages, ISBN 0-441-49052-2, $1.95, stated.

This edition was one of four books in an Ace Books boxed set (Ace 5-digit number 96456) with Little Fuzzy, Fuzzy Sapiens and Space Viking.

Fourth printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), June 1981, stated, paperback, 249 pages, ISBN 0-441-49053-0, stated, $2.25, stated (this and subsequent printings do not have the Gaughan interior illustration).

• Fifth printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; printers's key number line?), July 1982, presumed, paperback, 249 pages, ISBN 0-441-49054-9, stated, $2.50, stated.

• Sixth printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), January 1984, stated (copyright page now lists publisher as Berkley), paperback, 249 pages, ISBN 0-441-49055-7, stated, $2.75, stated (this printing has a different cover design).

A Paratime novel; reprint of original paperback edition.

The Cosmic Computer

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

The Cosmic Computer, H. Beam Piper, New York: Ace, 1977, with cover illustration by Michael Whelan. (Note: following Ace reprint editions begin with "first printing" despite 1964 Ace F-274 edition.)

• First printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), unknown date (OCLC suggests 1977; "Copyright © 1963 by H. Beam Piper" on copyright page, presumably referring to Ace "F-274" publication; "6H" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 250 and "7I" in lower right corner of advertisement on page 251), paperback, 249 pages, ISBN 0-441-11756-2, stated, $1.50, stated.

• Second printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), unknown date ("Copyright © 1963 by H. Beam Piper" on copyright page, presumably referring to Ace "F-274" publication), paperback, ISBN 0-441-11757-0, presumed (0-441-11757-6, stated, but check digit indicates invalid ISBN; the ISBN which immediately follows this ISBN in sequence may not have been used), $1.95, stated.

• Third printing, November 1983, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 249 pages, ISBN 0-441-11759-7, stated (the ISBN which immediately precedes this ISBN in sequence may not have been used), $2.75, stated.

A Terro-human Future History novel. Originally published as Junkyard Planet by Putnam in 1963. Original paperback edition issued as The Cosmic Computer by Ace in 1964 (different paperback edition). Expanded version of the novelette "Graveyard of Dreams" originally published in Galaxy, February 1958.

Four-Day Planet

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

Four-Day Planet, H. Beam Piper, and Lone Star Planet, H. Beam Piper and John J. McGuire (uncredited), New York: Ace, 1979, with cover illustration (from Four-Day Planet) by Michael Whelan.

• First printing, April 1979, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 340 pages, ISBN 0-441-24890-X, stated, $2.25, stated.

• Second printing, presumed (according to printer's key number line, first stated), September 1984 (stated in third printing, see below), paperback, 340 pages, ISBN 0-441-24891-8, stated, $2.75, stated.

• Third printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), unknown date ("First Ace edition / April 1979" and "Second printing / September 1984" stated, presumably referring to previous printings) paperback, 340 pages, ISBN 0-441-24892-6, stated, $2.95, stated.

Omnibus edition of the Terro-human Future History novel Four-Day Planet, originally published by Putnam in 1961, and the stand-alone novella Lone Star Planet, co-authored with John J. McGuire, originally published in Fantastic Universe, March 1957, and reissued by Ace in 1958 as A Planet for Texans.

Uller Uprising

Cover illustration by Gino D'Achille.

Uller Uprising, H. Beam Piper, New York: Ace, 1983, with cover illustration by Gino D'Achille, and including introductory essay by John D. Clark (from 1952 Twayne edition of The Petrified Planet anthology) and introduction by John F. Carr.

• Second printing, June 1983, stated (no printer's key number line; acknowledges original 1952 Twayne publication, "First Paperback Publication" on cover), paperback, 201 pages, ISBN 0-441-84292-5, stated (same as third printing), $2.75, stated.

• Third printing, February 1984, stated (no printer's key number line; "First Paperback Publication" remians on cover), paperback, 201 pages, ISBN 0-441-84292-5, stated (same as second printing), $2.75, stated.

A Terro-human Future History novel. Originally anthologized in The Petrified Planet, Twayne, 1952. Also condensed and serialized in Space Science Fiction, February 1953 (part 1), and March 1953 (part 2).

Fuzzies and Other People

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

Fuzzies and Other People, H. Beam Piper, New York: Ace, 1984, with cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

• First printing, August 1984, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 216 pages, ISBN 0-441-26176-0, stated, $2.95, stated.

• Third printing, June 1985, presumed (apparently acknowledges Book Club Edition; printer's key number line?), paperback, 216 pages, ISBN 0-441-26176-0, stated (same as first printing), $2.95, stated.

• Fourth printing, November 1986, presumed (printer's key number line?), paperback, 216 pages, ISBN 0-441-26177-9, stated, $2.95, stated.

Not a reprint, but a posthumously-published original sequel to Fuzzy Sapiens. Reissued in 1984 as Book Club Edition (apparently considered to be a "second printing").

Ace "Fuzzy" omnibus editions

Ace issued two omnibus editions of Piper's Fuzzy novels.

The Fuzzy Papers

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

The Fuzzy Papers, H. Beam Piper, New York: Ace, 1980, with cover illustration (detail from Fuzzy Sapiens) by Michael Whelan and interior illustrations by Victoria Poyser.

• First printing, stated (and according to printer's key number line), September 1980, stated, paperback, 406 pages, ISBN 0-441-26193-0, stated (this ISBN immediately follows in sequence that for the third printing of Fuzzy Sapiens above), $2.75.

• Second printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), August 1982, stated, paperback, 406 pages, ISBN 0-441-26194-9, stated (this ISBN immediately precedes in sequence that for the eighth printing of Fuzzy Sapiens above), $2.95.

Omnibus edition of the Terro-human Future History novels Little Fuzzy and Fuzzy Sapiens. Previously issued as Science Fiction Book Club (SFBC) hardcover: The Fuzzy Papers (with second novel listed by the original Avon publication title: The Other Human Race) by Nelson Doubleday (SFBC #1188) in 1977 (gutter code "H03" — January 1977 — on page 308), with dust jacket illustration (detail from Fuzzy Bones) by Michael Whelan. (A second printing — gutter code "P09" on page 308 — was run in February 1985.)

The Complete Fuzzy

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

The Complete Fuzzy, H. Beam Piper, New York: Ace, 1998, with cover illustration (detail from Fuzzies and Other People) by Michael Whelan.

• First printing, December 1998, stated (and according to printer's key number line), trade paperback, 454 pages, ISBN 0-441-00581-0, stated, $15.00, stated.

Omnibus of Little Fuzzy, Fuzzy Sapiens and Fuzzies and Other People, issued after the posthumous discovery of Fuzzies and Other People.

Ace's authorized sequels

Besides reprinting most of Piper's work, in this same period Ace published three original, authorized sequels to Piper works by other authors.

Fuzzy Bones

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

Fuzzy Bones, William Tuning, New York: Ace, 1981, with cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

• First printing, December 1981, stated (and according to printer's key number line), paperback, 375 pages, ISBN 0-441-26181-7, stated, $2.50, stated.

• Second printing, presumed (according to printer's key number line; first stated), unknown date, paperback, 375 pages, ISBN 0-441-26181-7 (same as first printing), stated.

• Third printing, January 1983, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 375 pages, ISBN 0-441-26182-5, stated, $2.95, stated.

An authorized sequel to Piper's novels Little Fuzzy and Fuzzy Sapiens, issued prior to the discovery of Piper's own sequel, Fuzzies and Other People.

Golden Dream

Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

Golden Dream: A Fuzzy Odyssey, Ardath Mayhar, New York: Ace, 1982, with cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

• First printing, October 1982, stated (no printer's key number line), trade paperback, 303 pages, ISBN 0-441-29729-3, stated, $6.95, stated (Zarthani.net hoard; signed by Mayhar).

• Second printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; no printer's key number line), September 1983, stated, paperback, 269 pages, ISBN 0-441-29726-9, stated, $2.95, stated.

• Third printing, presumed (based upon ISBN and cover price; printer's key number line?), August 1984, presumed, paperback, 269 pages, ISBN 0-441-29727-7, $2.95, presumed.

Another authorized sequel to Piper's novels Little Fuzzy and Fuzzy Sapiens, written from the perspective of the Fuzzies, also issued prior to the discovery of Piper's own sequel, Fuzzies and Other People.

First Cycle

Cover illustration by Wayne Barlowe.

First Cycle, H. Beam Piper with Michael Kurland, New York: Ace, 1982, with uncredited cover illustration likely by Wayne Barlowe.

• First printing, stated (and according to printer's key number line), paperback, January 1982, ISBN 0-441-23919-6, $2.25.

• Second printing (according to printer's key number line), paperback, uncredited date, ISBN 0-441-23919-6 (same as first printing), $2.25.

• Third printing (presumed, given second printing above, no printer's key number line), paperback, August 1982, ISBN 0-441-23919-6 (same as first and second printing), $2.25.

This novel, completed by Kurland from an unfinished manuscript by Piper, ostensibly takes place in Piper's Terro-human Future History setting but several inconsistencies — and the absence of any references to events depicted here in other Future History yarns — suggests it's more appropriately considered as a stand-alone work.

Great Kings' War

Cover illustration by Alex Gutierrez.

Great Kings' War, Roland Green and John F. Carr, New York: Ace, 1985, with cover illustration by Alex Gutierrez and interior maps of the Zarthani continent and Hos-Hostigos and battle maps for Chothros Heights and Phyrax by uncredited artist.

• First printing, March 1985, stated (no printer's key number line), paperback, 357 pages, ISBN 0-441-30200-9, stated, $2.95, stated.

A sequel to Piper's novel Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen. Expanded and reissued by Pequod Press (2006).

Michael Sauers' guide "Editions and Printings, How to Tell the Difference" has been very helpful in compiling this information on the Ace Books Piper reprints.

Please support Piper content at Zarthani.net

©1999 - 2024 by Zarthani.net. The contents of this Web site are for personal, non-commercial use only. Any use of copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this site and its files is not intended to be — and should not be viewed as — a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, any material displayed on or served by this site should not be republished or distributed without explicit consent from Zarthani.net.