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There wasn't a single major science fiction author during the 1950s and 1960s who didn't receive a paycheck from Ace Books at one time or another. Everyone from Isaac Asimov to Andre Norton saw their works grace the pages of various Ace paperback editions. Ace was best known for its science fiction double novels, which were issued in the tête-bêche format. The format was simple enough: slap two novels back to back in the same paperback volume, one being upside down from the other. It was a brilliant concept and science fiction fans went crazy over them.

Science Fiction Grand Master Robert Silverberg was a regular contributor to Ace's Double Novel series. Starting in 1957 through the mid-1960s, Bob saw a dozen of his novels (plus a short story collection) published in the Ace Double format. In this, the first of two Armchair Fiction "Masters of Science Fiction" volumes covering these works, you get three of Bob's best early Ace novels: "The Chalice of Death," "Starhaven," and "Shadow on the Stars." All three are thought-provoking tales that have a pronounced spirit of adventure that keeps the reader moving along at a brisk pace.

As if all this isn't enough, we have thrown in two additional Silverberg bonus stories not seen in print in over half a century: "The Impossible Intelligence" and "Overlord of Colony Eight."

Table of Contents:

• 5 - Introduction (Robert Silverberg: The Ace Years, Part One) - essay
• 19 - The Chalice of Death - [Lest We Forget Thee, Earth] - (2012) - novel (variant of Lest We Forget Thee Earth 1958)
• 125 - Starhaven - (1958) - novel
• 231 - Shadow on the Stars - (2002) - novel (variant of Stepsons of Terra 1958)
• 342 - The Impossible Intelligence - (1959) - short story
• 359 - Overlord of Colony Eight - (1957) - short story

Three more science fiction classics from Robert Silverberg. One of the most notable contributers to Ace Books' science fiction double novel series of the 1950s and 1960s was Science Fiction Grand Master Robert Silverberg, who graced Ace's pages with a dozen novels over a seven-year period, 1957-1964.

In this, the second of two Armchair Fiction "Masters of Science Fiction" volumes covering these works, you'll be treated to three more of Bob's rousing, thought-provoking Ace novels: "The Planet Killers," "The Plot Against Earth," and "One of Our Asteroids is Missing." All three are wonderful tales that kept sci-fi enthusiasts of the day on the edge of their seats. Not surprisingly, these stories still stand up today.

Also included in this volume is a Silverberg Ace Cover Gallery, showing the wonderful artwork that accompanied many of Bob's Ace novels. Featured are two of the best science fiction artists of the day, Ed Emshwiller and Ed Valigursky.

And finally, as we did in our first volume, we've thrown in two more Silverberg bonus tales, "Death's Planet" and "The Assassin," both not seen in print in decades. Both tales come with their original illustrations.

Table of Contents:

• One of Our Asteroids Is Missing - (1964) - novel
• The Plot Against Earth - (1959) - novel
• The Planet Killers - (1959) - novel

In this, our third volume of Robert Silverberg Ace Double novels you get some of his best stuff. "Invaders from Earth" is a great tale about an outer space scam gone horribly wrong, with the fate of an entire world hanging in the balance. In "Collision Course," the discovery of another, more-advanced race shakes the very foundations of humanity, with a clash of intergalactic powers seemingly inevitable. "The Silent Invaders" throws one man into the middle of a three-pronged conflict that has Earth seemingly threatened by one race, while secretly being imperiled by another.

All three tales are perfect examples of why Ace Books was the one-stop shopping place for thrilling science fiction. Also included in this volume is an updated Silverberg Ace Cover Gallery, showing the wonderful artwork that accompanied all twelve of Bob's Ace novels. Featured are two of the best science fiction artists of the day, Ed Emshwiller and Ed Valigursky.

Lastly, as we did in our first two volumes, we've thrown in a Robert Silverberg bonus tale, "The Songs of Summer," not seen in print in decades, complete with its original Kelly Freas illustration.

Table of Contents:

• 5 - Foreword (Robert Silverberg: The Ace Years, Part Three) - essay by Gregory Luce [as by Greg Luce]
• 6 - Invaders from Earth - (1958) - novel
• 142 - Collision Course - (1961) - novel
• 270 - The Silent Invaders - (1963) - novel
• 376 - The Songs of Summer - (1956) - short story