The points of issue
DAW hardcover with a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Third volume of the Foreigner sequence.
Is this the true first?
US DAW hardcover (1996) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
An SFBC hardcover exists (club number 11765 on the rear jacket panel); club copies lack the jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Inheritor a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: DAW hardcover with a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Third volume of the Foreigner sequence.
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 DAW hardcover (1996) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
An SFBC hardcover exists (club number 11765 on the rear jacket panel); club copies lack the jacket price.
I have a first edition of Inheritor — 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.