# Is "Consider Phlebas" by Iain M. Banks a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks (Macmillan, London, 1987) is identified by: First UK Macmillan hardcover, London, 1987: yellow cloth boards with the dust jacket carrying the net printed price on the front flap (the printed price should be present). The UK Macmillan hardcover (1987) is the true first, preceding the US St.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First UK Macmillan hardcover, London, 1987: yellow cloth boards with the dust jacket carrying the net printed price on the front flap (the printed price should be present)
- First Culture novel and Banks's first SF under the 'M.' byline
- Uncorrected proofs exist and are not the trade first
- Publisher imprint reads Macmillan, London
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Iain M. Banks |
| Publisher | Macmillan, London |
| Year | 1987 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First UK Macmillan hardcover, London, 1987: yellow cloth boards with the dust jacket carrying the net printed price on the front flap (the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First UK Macmillan hardcover, London, 1987: yellow cloth boards with the dust jacket carrying the net printed price on the front flap (the printed price should be present). First Culture novel and Banks's first SF under the 'M.' byline. Uncorrected proofs exist and are not the trade first.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Macmillan hardcover (1987) is the true first, preceding the US St. Martin's Press edition (also 1987). Collect the Macmillan for priority; uncorrected proofs exist and are not the trade first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US St. Martin's edition (1987) is a later, separate setting and is bound in dark blue paper-covered boards with gilt spine titling and states 'First American Edition' — do not confuse it with the UK first. Confirm the Macmillan imprint and the yellow cloth binding for the true first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Consider Phlebas* by Iain M. Banks a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/consider-phlebas
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.