The points of issue
US Del Rey/Ballantine first hardcover with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; priced jacket. A Phantasia Press signed limited edition (650 numbered copies signed by Clarke, Paul Lehr frontispiece) was also issued in 1982.
Is this the true first?
US Del Rey trade hardcover and the Phantasia Press signed limited were both issued in 1982; the UK Granada edition also appeared in 1982. No reliable source establishes that the Phantasia limited precedes the Del Rey trade, so they are best treated as simultaneous 1982 issues rather than the limited 'preceding.'
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition: 'Book Club Edition' noted on the jacket flap, no printed price, and often a blind-stamped device on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of 2010: Odyssey Two a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Del Rey/Ballantine first hardcover with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; priced jacket. A Phantasia Press signed limited edition (650 numbered copies signed by Clarke, Paul Lehr frontispiece) was also issued in 1982.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US Del Rey trade hardcover and the Phantasia Press signed limited were both issued in 1982; the UK Granada edition also appeared in 1982. No reliable source establishes that the Phantasia limited precedes the Del Rey trade, so they are best treated as simultaneous 1982 issues rather than the limited
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition: 'Book Club Edition' noted on the jacket flap, no printed price, and often a blind-stamped device on the rear board.
I have a first edition of 2010: Odyssey Two — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.