The points of issue
First edition is the Tor hardcover (US, March 26, 2019), first printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1, with a priced dust jacket; tan boards with gold spine lettering. Unlike the paperback-original SF titles in this group, this title had a true Tor hardcover first edition. Won the 2020 Hugo for Best Novel; first Teixcalaan novel.
Is this the true first?
The US Tor 2019 hardcover is the true first. The UK edition (Tor UK / Pan Macmillan, 2019) is a separate first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition noted. Verify the Tor first printing by the number line ending in 1 and the priced dust jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Memory Called Empire a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition is the Tor hardcover (US, March 26, 2019), first printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1, with a priced dust jacket; tan boards with gold spine lettering. Unlike the paperback-original SF titles in this group, this title had a true Tor hardcover first edition. Won the 2020 Hugo for Best Novel; first Teixcalaan novel.
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. The US Tor 2019 hardcover is the true first. The UK edition (Tor UK / Pan Macmillan, 2019) is a separate first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition noted. Verify the Tor first printing by the number line ending in 1 and the priced dust jacket.
I have a first edition of A Memory Called Empire — 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.