The points of issue
Gollancz UK hardcover (November 2004), copyright page stating first publication in Great Britain in 2004 by Gollancz with a complete number line including 1; priced dust jacket. Issued alongside a simultaneous trade paperback; the hardcover is the collectible first.
Is this the true first?
UK Gollancz hardcover (2004) is the true first; the US Ace edition followed in 2005.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Century Rain a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Gollancz UK hardcover (November 2004), copyright page stating first publication in Great Britain in 2004 by Gollancz with a complete number line including 1; priced dust jacket. Issued alongside a simultaneous trade paperback; the hardcover is the collectible first.
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. UK Gollancz hardcover (2004) is the true first; the US Ace edition followed in 2005.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Century Rain — 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.