The points of issue
DAW paperback original (UJ1466), 1979, with the DAW emblem and number on the cover and Michael Whelan cover art; first printing shows no later-printing statement. Morgaine vol. 3.
Is this the true first?
The US DAW paperback original (1979) is the true first; it preceded the SFBC omnibus The Book of Morgaine, whose first printing carries gutter code J21 and is described by dealers as the first hardcover edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Nelson Doubleday SFBC omnibus The Book of Morgaine (1979) is a book club edition containing this novel; it followed the DAW paperback and is not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Fires of Azeroth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: DAW paperback original (UJ1466), 1979, with the DAW emblem and number on the cover and Michael Whelan cover art; first printing shows no later-printing statement. Morgaine vol. 3.
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 US DAW paperback original (1979) is the true first; it preceded the SFBC omnibus The Book of Morgaine, whose first printing carries gutter code J21 and is described by dealers as the first hardcover edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Nelson Doubleday SFBC omnibus The Book of Morgaine (1979) is a book club edition containing this novel; it followed the DAW paperback and is not the first edition.
I have a first edition of Fires of Azeroth — 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.