# Is "Gain" by Richard Powers a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Gain by Richard Powers (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998) is identified by: Copyright page stating First edition, 1998, with a complete number line that includes the 1. US Farrar, Straus and Giroux first edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page stating First edition, 1998, with a complete number line that includes the 1
- Correct first-printing issue price present on an unclipped front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Richard Powers |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
| Year | 1998 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page stating First edition, 1998, with a complete number line that includes the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Copyright page stating First edition, 1998, with a complete number line that includes the 1. Correct first-printing issue price present on an unclipped front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Farrar, Straus and Giroux first edition is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book-club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Gain* by Richard Powers a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/gain
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.