The points of issue
Bantam Spectra hardcover, number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. ISBN 0-553-09958-2, published October 1996.
Is this the true first?
US Bantam Spectra hardcover is the true first; the Millennium UK edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Issued in trade hardcover; no book-club issue is the identifying first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Holy Fire a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Bantam Spectra hardcover, number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. ISBN 0-553-09958-2, published October 1996.
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 Bantam Spectra hardcover is the true first; the Millennium UK edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Issued in trade hardcover; no book-club issue is the identifying first.
I have a first edition of Holy Fire — 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.