Robert Silverberg (1935 – ) is an American author and editor, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple winner of both Hugo and Nebula Awards, a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, and a Grand Master of SF. He has attended every Hugo Awards ceremony since the inaugural event in 1953.
Silverberg was born to Jewish parents in Brooklyn, New York. A voracious reader since childhood, he began submitting stories to science fiction magazines during his early teenage years. He received a BA in English Literature from Columbia University, in 1956. While at Columbia, he wrote the juvenile novel Revolt on Alpha C (1955), published by Thomas Y. Crowell with the cover notice: “A gripping story of outer space”. He won his first Hugo in 1956 as the “best new writer”.
In the August 1967 issue of Galaxy, Silverberg published a 20,000-word novelette called “Hawksbill Station”. This story earned Silverberg his first Hugo and Nebula story award nominations. An expanded novel form of Hawksbill Station was published the following year. In 1969 Nightwings was awarded the Hugo for best novella. Silverberg won a Nebula award in 1970 for the short story “Passengers”, two the following year for his novel A Time of Changes and the short story “Good News from the Vatican”, and yet another in 1975 for his novella “Born with the Dead”.
Robert Silverberg received a Nebula award in 1986 for the novella Sailing to Byzantium, which takes its name from the poem by William Butler Yeats; a Hugo in 1987 for the novella Gilgamesh in the Outback, set in the Heroes in Hell universe of Bangsian Fantasy; a Hugo in 1990 for Enter a Soldier. Later: Enter Another. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame inducted Silverberg in 1999, its fourth class of two deceased and two living writers, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America made him its 21st SFWA Grand Master in 2005.
Robert Silverberg – First Edition Identification Guide
Note: This list only includes works published prior to 1977.
| Year | Title | Publisher | First edition/printing identification points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | ACROSS A BILLION YEARS | New York: The Dial Press, Inc., [1969] | First printing so stated on © page. |
| 1955 | ALIENS FROM SPACE | New York: Avalon Books, [195S] | No statement of printing on © page. David Osborne, pseudonym. |
| 1969 | THE ANVIL OF TIME | London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1969] | Boards. First published in Great Britain 1969 on © page. Issued earlier in the U.S. as HAWKS BILL STATION. |
| 1976 | THE BEST OF ROBERT SILVERBERG | New York: Pocket Books, [1976] | Wrappers. February, 1976 on © page. Pocket Books 80282 ($1.95). ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1977]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1977 ... on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1971 | THE BOOK OF SKULLS | New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, [1971] | Boards with cloth shelf back. Code A-72.77 [C] on © page. |
| 1974 | BORN WITH THE DEAD | New York: Random House, [1974] | Boards. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1969 | THE CALIBRATED ALLIGATOR | New York Chicago San Francisco: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, [1969] | Two bindings, no priority:
|
| 1976 | CAPRICORN GAMES | New York: Random House, [1976] | Boards. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1967 | COLLISION COURSE | New York: Avalon Books, [1967] | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1965 | CONQUERORS FROM THE DARKNESS | New York * Chicago * San Francisco: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. [1965] | Two bindings, no priority:
|
| 1970 | THE CUBE ROOT OF UNCERTAINTY | [New York]: The Macmillan Company, [1970] | First printing so stated on © page. |
| 1959 | THE DAWNING LIGHT | New York: Gnome Press, Inc., [1959] | Boards. First edition so stated on © page. With RANDALL GARRETT. Robert Randall, pseudonym. |
| 1969 | DIMENSION THIRTEEN | New York: Ballantine Books, [1969] | Wrappers. First Printing: May, 1969 on © page. Ballantine Science Fiction 01601 (75¢). |
| 1970 | DOWNWARD TO THE EARTH | Garden City: Nelson Doubleday, Inc., [1970] | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. Four printings, priority as listed:
|
| 1972 | DYING INSIDE | New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, [1972] | Boards. Code A-10.72 (V) on © page. |
| 1973 | EARTH'S OTHER SHADOW | [New York]: New American Library, [1973] | Wrappers. First Printing, June, 1973 on © page. Signet 451-Q5538 (95¢). ALSO: [London]: Millington, [1977]. Boards. First published inGreat Britain in 1977 ... on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1975 | THE FEAST OF ST. DIONYSUS | New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, [1975] | Boards. Code 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 V/C 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 on © page. |
| 1967 | THE GATE OF WORLDS | New York Chicago San Francisco: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, [1967] | Two bindings, no priority:
|
| 1964 | GODLING, GO HOME | New York: Belmont Books, [1964] | Wrappers. June 1964 on © page. Belmont Future Series L92-591 (50¢). |
| 1968 | HAWKSBILL STATION | Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1968 | First edition so stated on © page. Issued later in Great Britain as THE ANVIL OF TIME. |
| 1958 | INVADERS FROM EARTH | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1958] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-286 (35¢). Bound with ACROSS TIME by David Grinnell. Note: Abridged as "We, the Marauders." See A PAIR FROM SPACE. ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1977]. Boards. This edition published in Great Britain in 1977 ... on © page. First separate hardcover edition. Collected earlier in hardcover in A ROBERT SILVERBERG OMNIBUS. |
| 1958 | INVISIBLE BARRIERS | New York: Avalon Books, [1958] | No statement of printing on © page. Two states noted, probable sequence as listed:
|
| 1958 | LEST WE FORGET THEE, EARTH | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1958] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-291 (35¢). Calvin M. Knox, pseudonym. Bound with PEOPLE MINUS by Raymond Z. Gallun. |
| 1960 | LOST RACE OF MARS | Philadelphia, Toronto: The John C. Winston Company, [1960] | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1969 | THE MAN IN THE MAZE | [New York]: An Avon Book, [1969] | Wrappers. First A von Printing, February, 1969 on © page. An Avon Original V2262 (75¢). ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1969]. Boards. First published in Great Britain 1969 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1965 | THE MASK OF AKHNATEN | New York: The Macmillan Company, [1965] | Two bindings, no priority:
|
| 1968 | THE MASKS OF TIME | New York: Ballantine Books, [1968] | Wrappers. First Edition: May, 1968 on © page. Ballantine Science Fiction Original U6121 (75¢). Issued later in Great Britain as VORNAN-19. |
| 1957 | MASTER OF LIFE AND DEATH | New York: Ace Books, [1957] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-237 (35¢). Bound with THE SECRET VISITORS by James White. ALSO: London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1977]. Boards. This edition published in Great Britain in 1977 ... on © page. First separate hardcover edition. Collected earlier in hardcover in A ROBERT SILVERBERG OMNIBUS. |
| 1971 | MOONFERNS AND STARSONGS | New York: Ballantine Books, [1971] | Wrappers. First Printing: June, 1971 on © page. Ballantine Books Science Fiction 02278-5-095 (95¢). |
| 1966 | NEEDLE IN A TIMESTACK | New York: Ballantine Books, [1966] | Wrappers. First Edition: November, 1966 on © page. A Ballantine Science Fiction Original U2330 (50¢). |
| 1962 | NEXTSTOP THE STARS | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1962] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double F-145 (40¢). Bound with THE SEED OF EARTH by Silverberg. |
| 1969 | NIGHT WINGS | [New York]: Avon, [1969] | Wrappers. First A von Printing, September, 1969 on © page. An Avon Original V2303 (75¢). ALSO: New York: Walker and Company, [1970]. Boards. First published in book form in the United States of America in 1970 ... on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1964 | ONE OF OUR ASTEROIDS is MISSING | New York: Ace Books, INC.,[1964] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double F-253 (40¢). Calvin M. Knox, pseudonym. Bound with the THE TWISTED MEN by A. E. van Vogt. |
| 1965 | A PAIR FROM SPACE | New York: Belmont Books, [1965] | Wrappers. January 1965 on © page. Belmont 92-612 (50¢). Note: A later printing drops January 1965 from © page and carries book number B50-813. Contains "We, the Marauders, "an abridged version of INVADERS FROM EARTH. |
| 1970 | PARSECS AND PARABLES | Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1970 | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1959 | THE PLANET KILLERS | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1959] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-407 (35¢). Bound with WE CLAIM THESE STARS! by Poul Anderson. |
| 1967 | PLANET OF DEATH | New York, Chicago, San Francisco: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, [1967] | Two bindings, no priority:
|
| 1959 | THE PLOT AGAINST EARTH | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1959] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-358 (35¢). Calvin M. Knox, pseudonym. Bound with RECRUIT FOR ANDROMEDA by Milton Lesser. |
| 1972 | THE REALITY TRIP | New York: Ballantine Books, [1972] | Wrappers. First Printing: March, 1972 on © page. Ballantine Books Science Fiction 02548-2-095 (95¢). |
| 1962 | RECALLED TO LIFE | New York: Lancer Books, [1962] | Wrappers. A Lancer Science Fiction Classic * 1962 on © page. The Lancer Science Fiction Library 74-810 (75¢). Note: Lancer Focus Books 72-156 (50¢) is a reprint. ALSO: Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1972. No statement of printing on © page. Code N24 at base of page 184. Revised text. |
| 1964 | REGAN'S PLANET | New York: Pyramid Books, [1964] | Wrappers. March 1964 on © page. Pyramid Books F-986 (40¢). |
| 1955 | REVOLT ON ALPHA C | New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, [1955] | First printing so stated on © page. |
| 1970 | A ROBERT SILVERBERG OMNIBUS | London: Sidgwick & Jackson, [1970] | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. Reprint. Collects MASTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, INVADERS FROM EARTH, and THE TIME-HOPPERS. Note: First hardcover publication for MASTER OF LIFE AND DEATH and INVADERS FROM EARTH. |
| 1972 | THE SECOND TRIP | Garden City: Nelson Doubleday, Inc., [1972] | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. Code 39N at base of page 181. Note: Issued by the Science Fiction Book Club. |
| 1962 | THESEED OF EARTH | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1962] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double F-145 (40¢). Bound with NEXT STOP THE STARS by Silverberg. |
| 1976 | SHADRACH IN THE FURNACE | Indianapolis/New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., [1976] | Boards with cloth shelf back. First printing so stated on © page. |
| 1976 | THESHORES OF TOMORROW | Nashville New York: Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers, [1976] | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1957 | THE SHROUDED PLANET | New York: Gnome Press, Inc., Publishers, 1957 | Boards. First edition so stated on © page. With RANDALL GARRETT. Robert Randall, pseudonym. |
| 1965 | THE SILENT INVADERS | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1965] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double F-195 (40¢). Bound with BATTLE ON VENUS by William F. Temple. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1975]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1975 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1971 | SON OF MAN | New York: Ballantine Books, [1971] | Wrappers. First printing: June, 1971 on © page. Ballantine Books 02277-7-125 ($1.25). |
| 1958 | STARHAVEN | New York: Avalon Books, [1958] | No statement of printing on © page. Ivar Jorgenson, pseudonym. |
| 1959 | STARMAN'S QUEST | Hicksville, N.Y.: Gnome Press, [1959] | Two bindings, priority as listed:
|
| 1958 | STEPSONS OF TERRA | New York: AceBooks, Inc., [1958] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-311 (35¢). Bound with A MAN CALLED DESTINY by Lan Wright. |
| 1975 | THE STOCHASTIC MAN | New York Evanston San Francisco /London: Harper & Row, Publishers, [1975] | Boards with cloth shelf back. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1974 | SUNDANCE AND OTHER SCIENCE FICTION STORIES | Nashville/New York: Thomas Nelson Inc., [1974] | Boards. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1975 | SUNRISE ON MERCURY | Nashville New York: Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers, [1975] | Boards. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1957 | THE 13TH IMMORTAL | New York: Ace Books, [1957] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-223 (35¢). Bound with THIS FORTRESS WORLD by James E. Gunn. |
| 1967 | THORNS | New York: Ballantine Books, [1967] | Wrappers. First Edition: August, 1967 on © page. A Ballantine Science Fiction Original U6097 (75¢). ALSO: New York: Walker and Company, [1969]. Boards. Published in the United States of America in 1969 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1967 | THOSE WHO WATCH | [New York]: Published by The New American Library, [1967] | Wrappers. First printing, April, 1967 on © page. Signet Books P3160 (60¢). |
| 1969 | THREE SURVIVED | New York Chicago San Francisco: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, [1969] | Two bindings, no priority:
|
| 1967 | THE TIME-HOPPERS | Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1967 | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1971 | A TIME OF CHANGES | Garden City: Nelson Doubleday, Inc., [1971] |
|
| 1964 | TIME OF THE GREAT FREEZE | New York/Chicago/San Francisco: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, [1964] | Two bindings, no priority: (A) Boards. Trade binding. (B) Pictorial cloth reproducing dust jacket design. Library binding. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1969 | TO LIVE AGAIN | Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1969 | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1967 | TO OPEN THE SKY | New York: Ballantine Books, [1967] | Wrappers. First Edition: May, 1967 on © page. Ballantine Science Fiction U6093 (75¢). ALSO: Boston: Gregg Press, 1977. First Printing, June 1977 on © page. First hardcover edition. Note: Not issued in dust jacket. |
| 1965 | TO WORLDS BEYOND | Philadelphia New York: Chilton Books, [1965] | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1970 | TOWER OF GLASS | New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, [1970] | Code A-l0.70 (C) on © page. |
| 1973 | UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY | New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, [1973] | Code 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 C/C 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 on © page. Note: The 1975 Cumulative Book Index indicates that the 1975 Victor Gollancz edition adds two stories not in the Scribner edition. This is not correct. The Gollancz edition is photo-offset from the Scribner plates and the texts are identical. |
| 1969 | UP THE LINE | New York: Ballantine Books, [1969] | Wrappers. First Printing: August, 1969 on © page. Ballantine Books 01680 (75¢). |
| 1973 | VALLEY BEYOND TIME | [New York]: A Dell Book, [1973] | Wrappers. First Dell printing-January 1973 on © page. Dell 9249 (95¢). |
| 1970 | VORNAN-19 | London; Sidgwick & Jackson, [1970] | Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1970 on © page. Issued earlier in the U.S. as THE MASKS OF TIME. |
| 1971 | THE WORLD INSIDE | Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1971 | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1970 | WORLD'S FAIR, 1992 | Chicago New York: Follett Publishing Company, [1970] | Boards. First printing so stated on © page. |
Robert Silverberg – First Printing Dust Jacket Identification Points
Gallery of First state Dust Jackets of Silverberg’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.
