The points of issue
Warner hardcover under the Questar imprint; copyright page states First Printing: June 1991 with the number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1; priced jacket. Company Wars.
Is this the true first?
US Warner hardcover (June 1991) is the true first; L.W. Currey lists the Warner printing as the first edition. A UK New English Library edition also appeared in 1991 but does not precede it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC edition exists.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Heavy Time a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Warner hardcover under the Questar imprint; copyright page states First Printing: June 1991 with the number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1; priced jacket. Company Wars.
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 Warner hardcover (June 1991) is the true first; L.W. Currey lists the Warner printing as the first edition. A UK New English Library edition also appeared in 1991 but does not precede it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC edition exists.
I have a first edition of Heavy Time — 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.