The points of issue
US Ace paperback original, 1986; pictorial wrappers (cover art by James Warhola). The copyright page carries the statement 'Ace Science Fiction Special / March 1986,' which identifies the first printing.
Is this the true first?
US Ace paperback original, 1986, is the true first; there was no preceding hardcover. Winner of the 1987 Philip K. Dick Award (for the 1986 publication year).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reissues are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Homunculus a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Ace paperback original, 1986; pictorial wrappers (cover art by James Warhola). The copyright page carries the statement 'Ace Science Fiction Special / March 1986,' which identifies the first printing.
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 Ace paperback original, 1986, is the true first; there was no preceding hardcover. Winner of the 1987 Philip K. Dick Award (for the 1986 publication year).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reissues are reprints.
I have a first edition of Homunculus — 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.