The points of issue
First edition stated on the copyright page in the manner used by Random House at the time. The hardcover was issued in a price-clipped-able dust jacket; confirm a first by the stated edition and the absence of any later-printing notice. ISBN 0-394-51189-1.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1980 Random House hardcover. A later 1993 Dalkey Archive paperback (ISBN 1-56478-028-7 / 1-56478-439-8) is a reprint, not the first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Aberration of Starlight a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition stated on the copyright page in the manner used by Random House at the time. The hardcover was issued in a price-clipped-able dust jacket; confirm a first by the stated edition and the absence of any later-printing notice. ISBN 0-394-51189-1.
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. True first is the 1980 Random House hardcover. A later 1993 Dalkey Archive paperback (ISBN 1-56478-028-7 / 1-56478-439-8) is a reprint, not the first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Aberration of Starlight — 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.