Peter F. Hamilton First Editions

• Mindstar Rising — 1993 · Pan BooksPan UK mass-market paperback original (Pan Books, London, 1993). The copyright page states first publication in 1993 by Pan Books and carries a full number line reading down to 1; ISBN 0-330-32376-8. Pictorial wrappers with the printed UK cover price present at the lower spine or back panel. This is Hamilton's debut novel and the first volume of the Greg Mandel trilogy. The UK Pan paperback original (1993) is the true first edition; the novel was issued directly in paperback with no prior UK hardcover. The first hardcover anywhere is the later Tor edition (New York, 1996, ISBN 0-312-85955-4), which is also the first US edition and the first US and first hardcover appearance. None notable. Distinguish later Pan impressions by a number line no longer running to 1; the Tor 1996 hardcover is a separate later first-thus in boards and jacket, not the true first.
• A Quantum Murder — 1994 · Pan/MacmillanPan Books (London) mass-market paperback original, 1994, ISBN 0-330-33045-9; a first printing carries the full descending number line to 1 with no later-printing statement. Second novel of the Greg Mandel sequence, following Mindstar Rising. As a paperback original the wrappers themselves are the issue point: pictorial Pan cover with the priced back panel present, and the copyright page stating first publication…. The Pan UK paperback original of 1994 is the true first edition; the novel appeared in paperback before any hardcover. The later US Tor edition was the first hardcover appearance, so a hardcover collector's 'first' and the true textual first are different books. No book-club edition of note; the Pan paperback original is the form to seek.
• The Nano Flower — 1995 · Pan BooksPan UK paperback original; the copyright page states first publication 1995 by Pan Books and carries a full descending number line down to 1. Issued in wrappers as a paperback original with no dust jacket. Greg Mandel vol. 3, with cover art by Larry Rostant. The UK Pan paperback original (1995) is the true first. There was no UK hardcover; the first hardcover edition of the text is the later US Tor hardcover, published in 1998. Hamilton's first hardcover appearance overall was The Reality Dysfunction (Macmillan, 1996). None notable.
• The Reality Dysfunction — 1996 · MacmillanMacmillan (London) hardcover, published 26 January 1996, the true first. First impression is identified by the full descending number line 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page (the terminal 1 must be present) and the priced dust jacket. A substantial volume of roughly 955 pages; this is the opening book of the Night's Dawn trilogy and Hamilton's first hardcover novel. The jacket should retain its printed cover…. The UK Macmillan hardcover of 1996 is the true first. The US Warner/Aspect release split the single novel into two mass-market paperbacks (Part 1: Emergence and Part 2: Expansion, 1997), so no US edition can be the first of the complete text. None notable. The US paperbacks are a distinct split-text edition rather than a book-club issue; later Macmillan impressions advance the number line so the terminal 1 no longer appears.
• The Neutronium Alchemist — 1997 · MacmillanMacmillan UK hardcover, Book Two of the Night's Dawn Trilogy, published 20 October 1997. First printing identified by the number line 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page. Colour pictorial unclipped jacket with cover art by Jim Burns, title lettered in white to the spine, and the printed price retained on the front flap. A signed limited state was also issued (limitation of 500 numbered and 26 lettered…. UK Macmillan hardcover (20 October 1997) is the true first; US Warner again split the text into two paperbacks (Consolidation and Conflict), which are not the true first. None notable; the true first is the single-volume Macmillan hardcover with the 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 line, Jim Burns jacket, and priced flap. The US two-volume split paperbacks are not the first.
• A Second Chance at Eden — 1998 · MacmillanA novella and six stories set in the Night's Dawn (Confederation) universe. Macmillan UK hardcover, London, 1998; 431 pp; ISBN 0-333-74125-0 (9780333741252). 'First published 1998 by Macmillan' on the copyright page with a number line ending in 1. UK Macmillan hardcover (1998) is the true first collection; the US Warner Aspect edition followed in 1999. None notable.
• The Naked God — 1999 · MacmillanMacmillan UK hardcover (published 8 October 1999), the third and final volume of the Night's Dawn trilogy. First printing carries a full descending number line ending in 1. Issued in black boards with gilt spine lettering; the first-issue dust jacket features a wraparound illustration by Jim Burns and carries the printed retail price, which should be present and unclipped for a complete copy. UK Macmillan hardcover (8 October 1999) is the true first; it precedes the US Warner hardcover (22 October 1999), Hamilton's first US hardcover publication. None notable.
• Fallen Dragon — 2001 · MacmillanMacmillan UK hardcover in priced dust jacket. The copyright page carries the 'First published 2001 by Macmillan' statement together with the descending number line 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. The first-issue jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap. UK Macmillan hardcover (2001) is the true first; the US Warner Aspect edition followed in March 2002. None notable.
• Misspent Youth — 2002 · MacmillanThe Macmillan UK hardcover (published September 2002) carries a number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and is issued in a dust jacket bearing the printed price. A near-future prequel to the Commonwealth setting. The UK Macmillan hardcover (2002) is the true first; the US edition did not appear until years later. None notable.
• Pandora's Star — 2004 · MacmillanMacmillan (London) hardcover in dust jacket, Part One of the Commonwealth Saga. The first printing is identified by the full descending number line 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page, beneath the statement that the book was first published 2004 by Macmillan. The jacket should retain its printed cover price. A Goldsboro Books signed limited slipcased issue also exists and is a distinct collectible printing…. The UK Macmillan hardcover (2004) is the true first; it preceded the US Del Rey edition of March 2004 and is the edition collectors seek. None notable.
• Judas Unchained — 2005 · MacmillanFirst Macmillan UK hardcover, first printing, identified by the number line 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Bound in brown boards with silver lettering on the spine; jacket art by Jim Burns, the unclipped jacket carrying the printed price. Commonwealth Saga volume 2. UK Macmillan hardcover (October 2005) is the true first; the US Del Rey edition followed in 2006. A signed, slipcased limited edition of 1000 numbered copies was also issued. None notable.
• The Dreaming Void — 2007 · MacmillanMacmillan UK hardcover, priced jacket, number line ending in 1; navy boards with silver spine lettering and a Jim Burns jacket. Void Trilogy vol. 1. A signed, numbered limited edition of 1000 copies was also issued. UK Macmillan hardcover (2007) is the true first; the US Del Rey edition followed. None notable.
• The Temporal Void — 2008 · MacmillanUK Macmillan (London) hardcover, published 3 October 2008, first printing with the descending number line 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page and the printed price present on the jacket. Void Trilogy vol. 2; 746 pp. A separately issued signed, numbered limited edition of 1,000 copies also exists, signed by Hamilton on the colophon; the ordinary trade first printing is the standard first. UK Macmillan hardcover, published 3 October 2008, is the true first; the US Del Rey edition did not appear until March 2009. None notable.
• The Evolutionary Void — 2010 · Del ReyDel Rey (an imprint of Random House) US hardcover, 2010, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page and a complete number line ending in 1. A volume of 694 pages bound in black cloth over black boards, the spine stamped in gilt, in a priced first-state dust jacket that should retain its printed price. Void Trilogy volume 3 (ISBN 0345496574). Unusually for Hamilton, the US Del Rey hardcover (24 August 2010) preceded the UK Macmillan hardcover (early September 2010), so the Del Rey edition is the true first. None notable.
• Great North Road — 2012 · MacmillanMacmillan UK hardcover, 2012 (ISBN 978-0-230-76999-1), stated first with the full number line and issued in the priced illustrated dust jacket (the printed price should be present on the front flap). Signed trade copies are signed by the author on the title page. A separate signed limited edition in a numbered slipcase (500 copies, signed on the 'LIMITED EDITION' page) was also issued and should not be confused…. UK Macmillan hardcover (27 September 2012) is the true first; the US Del Rey edition followed at the very end of 2012 into January 2013. Later printings and the US Del Rey issue differ; the numbered slipcased limited edition is a distinct issue from the trade first.
• The Abyss Beyond Dreams — 2014 · MacmillanMacmillan (London) hardcover in dust jacket, the first volume of the Chronicle of the Fallers. The first UK printing carries a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page beneath the statement that the book was first published 2014 by Macmillan; the jacket should retain its printed cover price. Distinct from the trade printing, Macmillan issued a signed, numbered, slipcased limited edition of…. The UK Macmillan hardcover (9 October 2014) is the true first; the US Del Rey edition followed on 21 October 2014. Macmillan also issued a signed numbered slipcased limited edition of 800 copies alongside the trade printing. None notable.
• Night Without Stars — 2016 · MacmillanMacmillan (London) hardcover in dust jacket, the second volume of the Chronicle of the Fallers. The first impression carries a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1), beneath the statement that the book was first published 2016 by Macmillan. The jacket should retain its printed cover price. Macmillan also issued a signed first impression of the trade printing;…. The UK Macmillan hardcover (22 September 2016) is the true first; the US Del Rey edition, retitled A Night Without Stars, followed on 27 September 2016. Note the differing titles between the two markets when identifying a copy. None notable.
• Salvation — 2018 · MacmillanMacmillan UK hardcover in a priced dust jacket, with a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Salvation Sequence volume 1. The printed jacket price should be present (unclipped); it confirms state only and is never a valuation. Publication was effectively simultaneous: the US Del Rey edition went on sale 4 September 2018, two days before the UK Macmillan hardcover on 6 September 2018. Neither edition has clear-cut precedence, and the two are distinct settings; the UK Macmillan is the edition generally collected as the first for this British author, while collectors seeking the earliest-dated printing sometimes prefer the Del Rey. None notable.
• Salvation Lost — 2019 · MacmillanMacmillan UK hardcover, Salvation Sequence volume two, with a complete descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page marking the first printing, issued in a priced pictorial dust jacket. The printed price should be present on the jacket flap; a price-clipped flap does not by itself change the printing identification, which rests on the number line. A first printing shows the full descending number line…. The UK Macmillan and US Del Rey hardcovers appeared near-simultaneously in late October 2019, with listed dates putting the US Del Rey (29 October) two days ahead of the UK Macmillan (31 October). The UK Macmillan is nonetheless the edition conventionally collected as the first for this British author. The US Del Rey first printing is likewise identified by its own full number line. None notable; confirm a first printing by the complete number line rather than any stated later-printing wording.
• The Saints of Salvation — 2020 · MacmillanMacmillan UK hardcover in a priced dust jacket, with a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page (dealers of confirmed firsts describe it as 'first UK edition, first printing, number line to 1'). Salvation Sequence volume 3. The printed jacket price should be present (unclipped) and confirms state only, never a valuation. UK Macmillan hardcover, 29 October 2020, is the true first, preceding the US Del Rey hardcover of 17 November 2020 by roughly three weeks. None notable.

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