The points of issue
Orbit UK hardcover. Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 1998 by Orbit, with full number line descending to 1. Priced dust jacket. ISBN 1857236262. A Culture novel, though the connection is left implicit in the text.
Is this the true first?
UK Orbit hardcover (1998) is the true first; the US edition followed later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Inversions a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Orbit UK hardcover. Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 1998 by Orbit, with full number line descending to 1. Priced dust jacket. ISBN 1857236262. A Culture novel, though the connection is left implicit in the text.
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. UK Orbit hardcover (1998) is the true first; the US edition followed later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Inversions — 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.