The points of issue
Berkley (Penguin Random House) trade paperback original, published September 10, 2019, in wraps. First printing has the full number line ending in 1 and the printed cover price. The first edition is a trade PAPERBACK. Won the 2019 Nebula Award for Best Novel; the author's first novel.
Is this the true first?
The true first is the Berkley trade paperback original (2019). There was no hardcover first edition; the book debuted in trade paperback and ebook.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition. The trap is expecting a hardcover; the first edition is a paperback original. Confirm the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Song for a New Day a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Berkley (Penguin Random House) trade paperback original, published September 10, 2019, in wraps. First printing has the full number line ending in 1 and the printed cover price. The first edition is a trade PAPERBACK. Won the 2019 Nebula Award for Best Novel; the author's first 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 true first is the Berkley trade paperback original (2019). There was no hardcover first edition; the book debuted in trade paperback and ebook.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition. The trap is expecting a hardcover; the first edition is a paperback original. Confirm the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of A Song for a New Day — 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.