The points of issue
First English-language edition, translated by Ken Liu, states 'First Edition: September 2016' with a full number line ending in 1. Cloth boards with the spine stamped in blue foil, in dust jacket with the printed price on the front flap. Concludes the trilogy.
Is this the true first?
The Tor US hardcover is the true first in English; priority for English-language collecting goes to Tor. The UK Head of Zeus edition is a separate, later setting.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the dated first-edition line and the number line no longer ends in 1; confirm the complete '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' line is present.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Death's End a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English-language edition, translated by Ken Liu, states 'First Edition: September 2016' with a full number line ending in 1. Cloth boards with the spine stamped in blue foil, in dust jacket with the printed price on the front flap. Concludes the trilogy.
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 Tor US hardcover is the true first in English; priority for English-language collecting goes to Tor. The UK Head of Zeus edition is a separate, later setting.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the dated first-edition line and the number line no longer ends in 1; confirm the complete '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' line is present.
I have a first edition of Death's End — 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.