The points of issue
True first is the 1973 Bantam mass-market paperback original; there was no hardcover first. A first printing carries no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Koontz substantially rewrote the novel for a 1997 edition, which is a distinct text and a separate first thus.
Is this the true first?
The 1973 Bantam paperback original is the true first edition. The 1997 rewrite is a different work and should not be conflated with it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
There is no book club edition of the 1973 paperback original; later printings add additional printing lines to the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Demon Seed a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the 1973 Bantam mass-market paperback original; there was no hardcover first. A first printing carries no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Koontz substantially rewrote the novel for a 1997 edition, which is a distinct text and a separate first thus.
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 1973 Bantam paperback original is the true first edition. The 1997 rewrite is a different work and should not be conflated with it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
There is no book club edition of the 1973 paperback original; later printings add additional printing lines to the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Demon Seed — 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.