The points of issue
Story collection. Bantam Spectra paperback original, number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. ISBN 0-553-57642-9, published 1999.
Is this the true first?
US Bantam Spectra paperback original is the first; no US hardcover edition was issued. A Gollancz UK edition exists separately.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Good Old-Fashioned Future a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Story collection. Bantam Spectra paperback original, number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. ISBN 0-553-57642-9, published 1999.
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 Bantam Spectra paperback original is the first; no US hardcover edition was issued. A Gollancz UK edition exists separately.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None.
I have a first edition of A Good Old-Fashioned Future — 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.