Portal:Literature/Selected article archive/February 2007

Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns. It soon branched out into other genres, publishing its first science fiction (sf) title in 1953; this was a successful innovation, and within a few years, sf titles outnumbered both mysteries and westerns. Other genres also made an appearance, including nonfiction, gothic novels, media tie-in novelizations, and romances.

Ace became known for the dos-à-dos binding format used for many of its early books, although it did not originate the format. Most of the early titles were published in this "Ace Double" format, and Ace continued to issue books in varied genres, bound dos-à-dos, until 1973. These have proved attractive to book collectors, and some rare titles in mint shape command prices up to $1,000.

Ace, along with Ballantine Books, was one of the leading sf publishers for its first ten years. With the death of owner A. A. Wyn in 1967, however, the company's fortunes began to decline. Two prominent editors, Donald A. Wollheim and Terry Carr, left in 1971, and in 1972 Ace sold to Grosset & Dunlap. Despite financial troubles, there were further successes, particularly with the third Ace Science Fiction Specials series, for which Carr was the editor. Further mergers and acquisitions resulted in the company becoming a part of Berkley Books. Ace then became an [[imprint (trade name)|] of Penguin Group (USA); its editorial team is also responsible the Roc Books imprint, although the two imprints maintain a separate identity.