# Is "Footfall" by Larry Niven a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Footfall by Larry Niven (Del Rey / Ballantine, 1985) is identified by: First edition, first printing. US Del Rey/Ballantine 1985 first hardcover is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing
- The copyright page states 'First Edition' with a full number line descending to 1
- Co-written with Jerry Pournelle and published May 1985 by Del Rey/Ballantine
- The book is quarter-bound in blue cloth over boards and issued in a priced pictorial dust jacket with cover art by Michael Whelan; a list of the novel's characters is printed on the endpapers
- The jacket should retain its printed price
- Publisher imprint reads Del Rey / Ballantine
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Larry Niven |
| Publisher | Del Rey / Ballantine |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first printing |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing. The copyright page states 'First Edition' with a full number line descending to 1. Co-written with Jerry Pournelle and published May 1985 by Del Rey/Ballantine. The book is quarter-bound in blue cloth over boards and issued in a priced pictorial dust jacket with cover art by Michael Whelan; a list of the novel's characters is printed on the endpapers. The jacket should retain its printed price.

## Is this the true first?
US Del Rey/Ballantine 1985 first hardcover is the true first. There was no Del Rey signed/limited issue of this title.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club edition lacks the priced jacket and the number line, is printed on lighter bulk stock, and is marked 'Book Club Edition'.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Footfall* by Larry Niven a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/footfall
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.