# Is "Master of Life and Death" by Robert Silverberg a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Master of Life and Death by Robert Silverberg (Ace, 1957) is identified by: Ace Double D-237 paperback original, 1957, bound tete-beche (dos-a-dos, the two texts back to back with one inverted) with The Secret Visitors by James White as the reverse novel. US Ace paperback original (Ace Double D-237) is the true first; there is no prior hardcover of Master of Life and Death.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Ace Double D-237 paperback original, 1957, bound tete-beche (dos-a-dos, the two texts back to back with one inverted) with The Secret Visitors by James White as the reverse novel
- First-issue Ace Double wrappers carry the D-237 designation and the original printed cover price
- This is the first book appearance of Master of Life and Death
- The Secret Visitors had earlier been serialized in New Worlds as Tourist Planet
- but saw its first book publication in this same Ace Double
- Publisher imprint reads Ace
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert Silverberg |
| Publisher | Ace |
| Year | 1957 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Ace Double D-237 paperback original, 1957, bound tete-beche (dos-a-dos, the two texts back to back with one inverted) with The Secret… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Ace Double D-237 paperback original, 1957, bound tete-beche (dos-a-dos, the two texts back to back with one inverted) with The Secret Visitors by James White as the reverse novel. First-issue Ace Double wrappers carry the D-237 designation and the original printed cover price. This is the first book appearance of Master of Life and Death; The Secret Visitors had earlier been serialized in New Worlds as Tourist Planet (1956) but saw its first book publication in this same Ace Double.

## Is this the true first?
US Ace paperback original (Ace Double D-237) is the true first; there is no prior hardcover of Master of Life and Death.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; paperback original only. Confirm a first by the D-237 designation and original wrapper price, distinguishing it from any later Ace reissue under a different catalogue number.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Master of Life and Death* by Robert Silverberg a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/master-of-life-and-death
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.