The points of issue
Orbit UK hardcover. Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 1996 by Orbit, with full number line descending to 1. Priced dust jacket. A Culture novel.
Is this the true first?
UK Orbit hardcover (1996) is the true first; the US edition (Bantam Spectra) followed in 1997.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Excession a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Orbit UK hardcover. Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 1996 by Orbit, with full number line descending to 1. Priced dust jacket. A Culture novel.
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 Orbit hardcover (1996) is the true first; the US edition (Bantam Spectra) followed in 1997.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Excession — 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.