The points of issue
UK Gollancz hardcover, London 1995, with pictorial dust jacket (cover art by Steve Crisp). First printing per the Gollancz number line.
Is this the true first?
The UK Gollancz 1995 hardcover is the true first; it precedes the US Avon/Eos edition (US mass-market appeared in 1997). Won the 1996 Arthur C. Clarke Award and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best SF Novel. It was shortlisted for, but did not win, the BSFA Award for Best Novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US Avon edition is the first US, not the true first; later reissues are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Fairyland a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Gollancz hardcover, London 1995, with pictorial dust jacket (cover art by Steve Crisp). First printing per the Gollancz number line.
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 UK Gollancz 1995 hardcover is the true first; it precedes the US Avon/Eos edition (US mass-market appeared in 1997). Won the 1996 Arthur C. Clarke Award and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best SF Novel. It was shortlisted for, but did not win, the BSFA Award for Best Novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The US Avon edition is the first US, not the true first; later reissues are reprints.
I have a first edition of Fairyland — 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.