Publication History
Triplanetary was first serialized in the magazine Amazing Stories in 1934. Following the success of his Lensman series, Smith expanded and reworked the novel into the first of two Lensman prequels (the second prequel was a new original novel, First Lensman). It was published in book form in 1948 by Fantasy Press in an edition of 4,941 copies.
Major changes to the original version were new introductory chapters concerning the history of the benevolent super-race, the Arisians (who resemble giant human brains) and their enemies, the demonic super-race, the Eddorians (who resemble amoeba). Smith also introduced the idea that the original novel's villain, Gray Roger, had always been secretly Gharlane of Eddore, but disguised in human form. We also learn that Gharlane had previously disguised himself as Nero.
- 1934, USA, Amazing Stories, (January 1934) serialized magazine publication in 4 parts
- 1948, USA, Fantasy Press, (1948) Hardback, 4,941 copies
- 1950, USA, Fantasy Press, (1950) Hardback, 2,505 copies, title in yellow
- 1954, UK, Boardman Books, (1954) Hardback
- 1960, Germany, Zimmermann, (1960) Hardback, as Die Planetenbasis
- 1965, USA, Pyramid Books, (1965) Paperback
- 1997, UK, Ripping Publishing ISBN 1-899884-12-2, (July 1997) Paperback
- 1997, USA, Old Earth Books ISBN 1-882968-09-3, (November 1997) Paperback
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