The points of issue
The Macmillan Company first hardcover, 1971 (published March 1971). Cloth, 312 pages; first printing stated on the copyright page; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Collects twenty stories including 'I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream' and '“Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman.'
Is this the true first?
US Macmillan first hardcover is the true first edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the stated first printing and the jacket price and usually carry a blind-stamped dot on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Alone Against Tomorrow a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The Macmillan Company first hardcover, 1971 (published March 1971). Cloth, 312 pages; first printing stated on the copyright page; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Collects twenty stories including 'I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream' and '“Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman.'
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. US Macmillan first hardcover is the true first edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions lack the stated first printing and the jacket price and usually carry a blind-stamped dot on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Alone Against Tomorrow — 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.