Islands of Space
John W. Campbell
Ace Books
Copyright 1956 by John W. Campbell
1st Paperback Printing (?)
Probably no one figure had more influence on science fiction than John W. Campbell. As editor of Astounding and Analog, he not only brought to the public's attention most of the leading authors of the genre, he also helped shape their writing styles. Campbell changed the direction of science fiction, taking it away from the "scientifiction" of the Gernsback era, and turning it into a forward looking genre that made science a secondary, but believable part of each work of fiction.
Islands of Space is a sequel to The Black Star Passes and, even though it was written in 1930, shows the direction that Campbell was to follow years later as an editor. Science is kept to a "possible" level and it is secondary to characterization and storytelling. One of Campbell's main themes was that the human race could think and invent their way out of any predicament.
Note the "Complete and Unabridged" statement on the cover. Wollheim had a habit of editing down some of the works that Ace reprinted from the earlier days of science fiction.