The points of issue
Phantasia hardcover, issued as a trade issue plus a signed/numbered limited issue of 350 copies with limitation page; single printing.
Is this the true first?
US Phantasia Press hardcover (October 1983) is the true first; the DAW paperback followed in 1984. Alliance-Union universe.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Forty Thousand in Gehenna a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Phantasia hardcover, issued as a trade issue plus a signed/numbered limited issue of 350 copies with limitation page; single printing.
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 Phantasia Press hardcover (October 1983) is the true first; the DAW paperback followed in 1984. Alliance-Union universe.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None.
I have a first edition of Forty Thousand in Gehenna — 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.