The points of issue
US Ace paperback original, 1985; pictorial wrappers (cover art by John Berkey). First printing per the Ace number line / first-printing statement on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US Ace paperback original, 1985, is the true first and the award-eligible edition. Winner of the 1986 Philip K. Dick Award (for the 1985 publication year). A later Charnel House signed/limited hardcover is a collectible 'first thus,' not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Charnel House limited hardcover is a later deluxe state; subsequent reissues are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dinner at Deviant's Palace a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Ace paperback original, 1985; pictorial wrappers (cover art by John Berkey). First printing per the Ace number line / first-printing statement on the copyright page.
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. US Ace paperback original, 1985, is the true first and the award-eligible edition. Winner of the 1986 Philip K. Dick Award (for the 1985 publication year). A later Charnel House signed/limited hardcover is a collectible 'first thus,' not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Charnel House limited hardcover is a later deluxe state; subsequent reissues are reprints.
I have a first edition of Dinner at Deviant's Palace — 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.