# Is "Absolution Gap" by Alastair Reynolds a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Absolution Gap by Alastair Reynolds (Gollancz, 2003) is identified by: Gollancz UK hardcover, published 27 November 2003. UK Gollancz hardcover (27 November 2003) is the true first; the US Ace edition followed in 2004.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Gollancz UK hardcover, published 27 November 2003
- Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 2003 by Gollancz, with the first-impression number line including 1
- Blue cloth with silver spine titles in the Chris Moore illustrated dust jacket, priced
- Publisher imprint reads Gollancz
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Alastair Reynolds |
| Publisher | Gollancz |
| Year | 2003 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Gollancz UK hardcover, published 27 November 2003 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Gollancz UK hardcover, published 27 November 2003. Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 2003 by Gollancz, with the first-impression number line including 1. Blue cloth with silver spine titles in the Chris Moore illustrated dust jacket, priced.

## Is this the true first?
UK Gollancz hardcover (27 November 2003) is the true first; the US Ace edition followed in 2004. A later Subterranean Press signed limited edition is a reissue, not the first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Absolution Gap* by Alastair Reynolds a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/absolution-gap
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.