Alfred Elton van Vogt (1912 – 2000) was a Canadian-born science fiction author. His fragmented, bizarre narrative style influenced later science fiction writers, notably Philip K. Dick. He was one of the most popular and influential practitioners of science fiction in the mid-twentieth century, the genre’s so-called Golden Age, and one of the most complex. The Science Fiction Writers of America named him their 14th Grand Master in 1995 (presented 1996).
By 1938, van Vogt decided to switch to writing science fiction, a genre he enjoyed reading. He was inspired by the August 1938 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, which he picked up at a newsstand. John W. Campbell‘s novelette “Who Goes There?” (later adapted into The Thing from Another World and The Thing) inspired van Vogt to write “Vault of the Beast”, which he submitted to that same magazine. Campbell, who edited Astounding (and had written the story under a pseudonym), sent van Vogt a rejection letter, but one which encouraged van Vogt to try again. Van Vogt sent another story, entitled “Black Destroyer”, which was accepted. It featured a fierce, carnivorous alien stalking the crew of a spaceship, and served as the inspiration for multiple science fiction movies, including Alien (1979). A revised version of “Vault of the Beast” would be published in 1940.
Van Vogt’s first completed novel, and one of his most famous, is Slan (Arkham House, 1946), which Campbell serialized in Astounding September to December 1940. Using what became one of van Vogt’s recurring themes, it told the story of a nine-year-old superman living in a world in which his kind are slain by Homo sapiens.
Prolific throughout this period, van Vogt wrote many of his more famous short stories and novels in the years from 1941 through 1944. The novels The Book of Ptath and The Weapon Makers both appeared in magazines in serial form during this era; they were later published in book form after World War II. As well, several (though not all) of the stories that were compiled to make up the novels The Weapon Shops of Isher, The Mixed Men and The War Against the Rull were also published during this time.
The Science Fiction Writers of America named him its 14th Grand Master in 1995. Also in 1996, A. E. van Vogt received a Special Award from the World Science Fiction Convention “for six decades of golden age science fiction”. That same year, he was inducted as an inaugural member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame
A. E. van Vogt – First Edition Identification Guide
Note: This list only includes works published prior to 1977.
| Year | Title | Publisher | First edition/printing identification points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | THE ANARCHISTIC COLOSSUS | New York: Ace Books, [1977] | Wrappers. First Ace printing: April, 1977 on © page. Ace 02255-3 ($1.75). |
| 1952 | AWAY AND BEYOND | New York: Pellegrini & Cudahy, [1952] | No statement of printing on © page. ALSO: [New York]: Published by Berkley Publishing Corp., [1959], Wrappers. February, 1959 on © page. Berkley Books G-215 (35¢). Abridged reprint. Drops "Vault of the Beast and "Heir Unapparent." |
| 1971 | THE BATTLE OF FOREVER | New York: Ace Books, [1971] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book 04860 (95¢). ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1972]. Boards. First published in Great Britain 1972 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1963 | THE BEAST | Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1963 | First edition so stated on © page. Reissued as MOONBEAST. Later collected in A VAN VOGT OMNIBUS. |
| 1974 | THE BEST OF A. E. VAN VOGT | London: Sphere Books Limited, [1974] | Wrappers. First published in Great Britain ... 1974 on © page. Sphere 0 7221 8774 2 (60p). ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1974]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1974 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1976 | THE BEST OF A. E. VAN VOGT | New York: Published by Pocket Books, [1976] | Wrappers. Published July, 1976 on © page. Pocket 80546 ($1.95). Note: Contents differ from Sphere and Sidgwick & Jackson editions. |
| 1976 | THE BLAL | [New York]: Kensington Publishing Corp., [1976] | Wrappers. First Printing: August, 1976 on © page. Zebra Books 200 ($1.25). Reissue of MONSTERS. |
| 1947 | THE BOOK OF PTATH | Reading, Pennsylvania: Fantasy Press ,1947 | Two issues, no priority:
|
| 1972 | THE BOOK OF VAN VOGT | New York: DAW Books, Inc., [1972] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 4 U QI 004 (95¢). |
| 1967 | THE CHANGELING | [New York]: A Macfadden-Bartell Book, [1967] | Wrappers. A Macfadden Book .... 1967 on © page. Macfadden Books 50-335 (50¢). First separate edition. Originally collected in MASTERS OF TIME. |
| 1970 | CHILDREN OF TOMORROW | New York: Ace Books, [1970] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book 10410 (95¢). ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1972]. Boards. First published in Great Britain 1972 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1972 | THE DARKNESS ON DIAMONDIA | New York: AceBooks. [1972] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book 13798 (95¢). ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1974]. Boards. Published in Great Britain in 1974 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1952 | DESTINATION: UNIVERSE | New York: Pellegrini & Cudahy, [1952] | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1976 | EARTH FACTOR X | New York: DAW Books, Inc., [1976] | Wrappers. First DAW printing, August 1976/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 206 UY1249 ($1.25). Reissue of THE SECRET GALACTICS. |
| 1960 | EARTH'S LAST FORTRESS | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1960] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-431 (35¢). Bound with LOST IN SPACE by George O. Smith. Reprint of MASTERS OF TIME. Also collected in TWO SCIENCE FICTION NOVELS. |
| 1957 | EMPIRE OF THE ATOM | Chicago: Shasta Publishers, [1957] | Boards. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1968 | THE FAR-OUT WORLDS OF A. E. VAN VOGT | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1968] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book H-92 (60¢). Later enlarged as THE WORLDS OF A. E. VAN VOGT. ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1973]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1973 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1973 | FUTURE GLITTER | New York: Ace Books, [1973] | Wrappers. First Ace Printing: October 1973 on © page. An Ace Book 25980 (95¢). Reissued as TYRANOPOLIS. ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1976]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1976 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1976 | THE GRYB | [New York]: Kensington Publishing Corp., [1976] | Wrappers. First Printing: May , 1976 on © page. Zebra 182 ($1.25). Reprint collection. All stories collected from earlier books. |
| 1950 | THE HOUSE THAT STOOD STILL | [New York]: Greenberg: Publisher, [1950] | No statement of printing on © page. Revised as THE MATING CRY. Reissued as UNDERCOVER ALIENS. |
| 1971 | M 33 IN ANDROMEDA | New York: Paperback Library, [1971] | Wrappers. First Printing: April, 1971 on © page. A Paperback Library Science Fiction Original 65-584 (95¢). |
| 1974 | THE MAN WITH A THOUSAND NAMES | New York: DA IV Books, Inc., [1974] | Wrappers. First Printing, August 1974/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 114 UQI 125 (95¢). |
| 1950 | MASTERS OE TIME | Reading, Pennsylvania: Fantasy Press, 1950 | Two bindings, priority as listed:
|
| 1960 | THE MATING CRY | [New York]: Beacon Books. [1960] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Beacon Book 289 (Galaxy Novel No. 44) (35¢). Revision of THE HOUSE THAT STOOD STILL. |
| 1957 | THE MIND CAGE | New York: Simon and Schuster . 1957 | Boards with cloth shelf back. First printing so stated on © page. Later collected! in VAN VOGT OMNIBUS (2). |
| 1952 | MISSION: INTERPLANETARY | [New York]: Published by the New American Library. [1952] | Wrappers. First printing, January, 1952 on © page. N.A.L. Signet Books 914 (250). Reissue of THE VOYAGE OF THE SPACE BEAGLE. |
| 1955 | MISSION TO THE STARS | New York: Berkley Publishing Corp.. [1955] | Wrappers. December, 1955 on © page. Berkley Books 344 (250). Reissue of THE MIXED MEN. |
| 1952 | THE MIXED MEN | New York: Gnome Press, [1952] | Two bindings, probable priority as listed: (A) Blue boards, spine lettered in red; (B) Blue cloth, spine lettered in red. First edition so stated on © page. Reissued as MISSION TO THE STARS. |
| 1965 | MONSTERS | New York: Paperback Library, Inc., [1965] | Wrappers. First Printing: February, 1965 on © page. Paperback Library 52-5115 (50¢). Note: Second printing issued in 1967 bears the cover title SCIENCE FICTION MONSTERS. Reissued as THE BLAL. |
| 1969 | MOONBEAST | [London]: Panther Science Fiction., [1969] | Wrappers. Panther edition published 1969 on © page. Panther 586 02937 0 (5/-). Reissue of THE BEAST. |
| 1972 | MORE THAN SUPERHUMAN! | [New York]: A Dell Book, [1972] | Wrappers. First printing-May 1971 on © page. Dell 5818 Note: Two stories are collaborations, one with Forrest J. Ackerman, the other with James H. Schmitz. |
| 1955 | ONE AGAINST ETERNITY | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1955] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-94 (35¢). Bound with THE OTHER SIDE OF HERE by Murray Leinster. Reissue of THE WEAPON MAKERS. |
| 1948 | OUT OF THE UNKNOWN | Los Angeles: Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc., [1948] | Two bindings, priority as listed:
ALSO: [Reseda, California: Powell Publications, Inc., 2969.] Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Powell Sci-Fi PP 128 (95c). Adds introduction by van Vogt arid story "The Wellwisher" by E. Mayne Hull. Issued later as THE SEA THING. ALSO: [London]: New English Library, [1970]. Wrappers. First NEL abridged edition, October 1970 on © page. New English Library Science Fiction 2793 (25p). Abridged reprint. Collects five of the six stories in the 1948 FPCI edition, deleting "The Witch" by van Vogt. |
| 1956 | THE PAWNS OF NULL-A | New York: Ace Books, [1956] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double-Size Books D-I87 (35¢). Reissued as THEPLAYERS OF NULL-A. |
| 1954 | PLANETS FOR SALE | New York: Frederick Fell, Inc., Publishers, [1954] | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. With E. MAYNE HULL. Note: A novelization of a series of five stories by E. Mayne Hull first published in Astounding Science Fiction in partial collaboration with van Vogt. It is probable that van Vogt is responsible for the novelization. Title page of the Fell edition credits E. Mayne Hull only. Novel was reissued in 1965 by the Book Company of America of Beverly Hills attributing the work to both authors. See van Vogt, Reflections, pp. 75-76. Later collected in A VAN VOGT OMNIBUS. |
| 1966 | THE PLAYERS OF NULL-A | [New York]: Published by Berkley Publishing Corp., [1966] | Wrappers. March, 1966 on © page. Berkley Medallion Fl 195 (50¢). Minor textual revisions. Issued earlier as THE PAWNS OF NULL-A. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1970]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1970 on © page. Text follows 1966 Berkley edition. New introduction by van Vogt. First hardcover edition. ALSO: Boston: Gregg Press, 1977. First Printing, June 1977 on © page. Text follows 1966 Berkley edition. Replaces van Vogt introduction with one by Charles Platt. Note: Not issued in dust jacket. |
| 1971 | THE PROXY INTELLIGENCE AND OTHER MIND BENDERS | New York: Paperback Library, [1971] | Wrappers. First Printing: January, 1971 on © page Paperback Library Science Fiction Original 64-512 (75¢). "The Proxy Intelligence" was later collected in THE UNIVERSE MAKER AND THE PROXY INTELLIGENCE. |
| 1970 | QUEST FOR THE FUTURE | New York: An Ace Book, [1970] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book 69700 (95¢). ALSO: New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1970]. Boards. No statement of printing on © page. Two printings, priority as listed:
|
| 1965 | ROGUE SHIP | Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1965 | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1970 | THE SEA THING AND OTHER STORIES | London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1970] | Boards. First published in Great Britain 1970 on © page. With E. MAYNE HULL. Reissue of the 1969 Powell edition of OUT OF THE UNKNOWN. |
| 1974 | THE SECRET GALACTICS | Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., [1974] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. A Reward Book Science Fiction Original No. 1 ($2.45). Reissued as EARTH FACTOR X. ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1975]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1975 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1959 | SIEGE OF THE UNSEEN | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1959] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-391 (35¢). Bound with THE WORLD SWAPPERS by John Brunner. Issued later in Great Britain as THREE EYES OF EVIL (see TWO SCIENCE FICTION NOVELS). |
| 1969 | THE SILKIE | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1969] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book 76500 (60¢). ALSO: Sauk City: Arkham House, 1946. No statement of printing on © page. ALSO: New York: Simon and Schuster, 1951. Boards with cloth shelf back. First printing so slated on © page. Revised text. Later collected in TRIAD and VAN VOGT OMNIBUS (2). |
| 1977 | SUPER MIND | New York: DAW Books, Inc., [1977] | Wrappers. First DAW printing, January 1977 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 on © page. DAW: sf Books No. 224 UY1275 ($1.25). |
| 1959 | TRIAD | New York: Simon and Schuster, [1959] | Boards. Four printings, priority as listed:
|
| 1964 | THE TWISTED MEN | New York: Ace Books., Inc., [1964] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double F-253 (40¢). Bound with ONE OF OUR ASTEROIDS IS MISSING by Calvin M. Knox. |
| 1964 | TWO HUNDRED MILLION A.D | New York: Paperback Library, Inc., [1964] | Wrappers. First Printing: July, 1964 on © page. Paperback Library Silver Edition 52-304 (50¢). Reissue of THE BOOK OF PTATH. |
| 1973 | TWO SCIENCE FICTION NOVELS | London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1973] | Boards. This edition first published in 1973 ... on © page. Reprint. Collects THE THREE EYES OF EVlL(issued earlier in the U.S. as SIEGE OFTHE UNSEEN) and EARTH'S LAST FORTRESS. First hardcover printing for both titles. |
| 1977 | TYRANOPOLIS | London: Sphere Books Limited, [1977] | Wrappers. First Sphere Books edition 1977 on © page. Sphere SF 0 7221 8734 3 (85p). Reissue of FUTURE GLITTER. |
| 1976 | UNDERCOVER ALIENS | [London]: Panther, [1976] | Wrappers. Published in Great Britain in 1976 ... on © page. Panther Science Fiction 586 043241 (50p). Reissue of THE HOUSE THAT STOOD STILL. |
| 1953 | THE UNIVERSE MAKER | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1953] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page, Ace Double Novel Books D-31 (35¢). Bound with THE WORLD OF NULL-A by van Vogt. Collected later in THE UNIVERSE MAKER AND THE PROXY INTELLIGENCE. |
| 1976 | THE UNIVERSE MAKER AND THE PROXY INTELLIGENCE | London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1976] | Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1976 ... on © page. Reprint. Collects THE UNIVERSE MAKER and THE PROXY INTELLIGENCE. First hardcover printing for both titles. |
| 1967 | A VAN VOGT OMNIBUS | London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1967] | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. Reprint. Collects PLANETS FOR SALE (with E. Mayne Hull), THE BEAST, and THE BOOK OF PT ATH. |
| 1971 | VAN VOGT OMNIBUS (2) | London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1971] | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. Reprint, Collects THE MIND CAGE, THE WINGED MAN (with E. Mayne Ml), and SLAN. |
| 1962 | THE VIOLENT MAN | New York: Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, [1962] | First printing so stated on © page. |
| 1950 | THE VOYAGE OF THE SPACE BEAGLE | New York: Simon and Schuster, 1950 | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. Reissued as MISSION: INTERPLANETARY. Later collected in TRIAD. |
| 1959 | THE WAR AGAINST THE RULL | New York: Simon and Schuster. 1959 | Boards with cloth shelf back. First printing so stated on © page. |
| 1947 | THE WEAPON MAKERS | Providence,R.I.: Hadley Publishing Co., [1947] | No statement of printing on © page. ALSO: New York: Greenberg: Publisher, [1952]. Boards. No statement of printing on © page. Revised text. Reissued as ONE AGAINST ETERNITY. |
| 1951 | THE WEAPON SHOPS OF ISHER | New York: Greenberg: Publisher, [1951] | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1966 | THE WINGED MAN | Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1966 | First edition so stated on © page. With E. MAYNE HULL. Note: Short novel by Hull rewritten and expanded by Van Vogt. Later collected in VAN VOGT OMNIBUS (2). |
| 1962 | THE WIZARD OF LINN | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1962] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book F-154 (40¢). ALSO: [London]: New English Library, [1976]. Boards. First published in hardcover in Great Britain, in 1976 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1948 | THE WORLD OF A | New York: Simon and Schuster, 1948 | No statement of printing on © page. Later collected in TRIAD. ALSO: THE WORLD OF NULL-A. [New York]: Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1970]. Wrappers. A Berkley Medallion Book S1802 (75¢). Revised text and new introduction. |
| 1974 | THE WORLDS OF A. E. VAN VOGT | New York: Ace Books, [1974] | Wrappers. First Ace printing: January 1974 on © page. Ace 22812 ($1.25). Collects contents of THE FAR-OUT WORLDS OF A. E. VAN VOGT and adds "The Storm", "The Expendables," and "The Reflected Men." |
A. E. van Vogt – First Printing Dust Jacket Identification Points
Gallery of First state Dust Jackets of van Vogt’s works. Only includes the first appearance in book form. Either the UK or US edition and does not include later printings.
Reference:
- Wikipedia
- L. W. Currey, Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction and Selected Nonfiction.
