The points of issue
US St. Martin's Press (Griffin) trade paperback, 2004; ISBN 9780312261214; full title 'Air: Or, Have Not Have.' UK Gollancz edition followed in 2005.
Is this the true first?
The US St. Martin's edition of 2004 is the true first; the UK Gollancz edition followed in 2005. The book won the 2006 Arthur C. Clarke Award, the BSFA Award, the 2005 James Tiptree Jr. (Otherwise) Award, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The UK Gollancz edition is a separate, later state; subsequent printings are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Air a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US St. Martin's Press (Griffin) trade paperback, 2004; ISBN 9780312261214; full title 'Air: Or, Have Not Have.' UK Gollancz edition followed in 2005.
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 St. Martin's edition of 2004 is the true first; the UK Gollancz edition followed in 2005. The book won the 2006 Arthur C. Clarke Award, the BSFA Award, the 2005 James Tiptree Jr. (Otherwise) Award, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The UK Gollancz edition is a separate, later state; subsequent printings are reprints.
I have a first edition of Air — 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.