# Is "Hominids" by Robert J. Sawyer a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer (Tor Books, 2002) is identified by: First Tor hardcover, 2002. The US Tor 2002 hardcover is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First Tor hardcover, 2002
- The copyright page states 'First Edition: May 2002' with a full number line descending to 1
- Priced trade dust jacket with the printed price present on the flap
- Confirm both the stated-edition wording and the intact number line reaching 1
- Publisher imprint reads Tor Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert J. Sawyer |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
| Year | 2002 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First Tor hardcover, 2002 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First Tor hardcover, 2002. The copyright page states 'First Edition: May 2002' with a full number line descending to 1. Priced trade dust jacket with the printed price present on the flap. Confirm both the stated-edition wording and the intact number line reaching 1.

## Is this the true first?
The US Tor 2002 hardcover is the true first. UK editions are later.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Science Fiction Book Club edition is a separate issue: a blindstamp on the rear board, no printed price on the jacket, lighter boards, and no full Tor number line. Confirm the trade jacket and the intact number line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Hominids* by Robert J. Sawyer a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/hominids
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.