The points of issue
US Warner Aspect mass-market paperback original, 1995 (ISBN 0-446-60260-4); first printing indicated by the number line counting down to 1.
Is this the true first?
The US Warner Aspect (Warner Books) paperback original (1995) is the true first; Bethke's debut novel. Winner of the Philip K. Dick Award for 1995 (presented 1996).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reissues and reprints are not true firsts.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Headcrash a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Warner Aspect mass-market paperback original, 1995 (ISBN 0-446-60260-4); first printing indicated by the number line counting down to 1.
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 Warner Aspect (Warner Books) paperback original (1995) is the true first; Bethke's debut novel. Winner of the Philip K. Dick Award for 1995 (presented 1996).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reissues and reprints are not true firsts.
I have a first edition of Headcrash — 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.