The points of issue
Arbor House/Morrow hardcover with the words First Edition stated on the copyright page together with a full number line ending in 1; priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
The US hardcover is the true first; the Legend UK edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book club edition exists, identifiable by the blind gutter code and lack of a printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Islands in the Net a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Arbor House/Morrow hardcover with the words First Edition stated on the copyright page together with a full number line ending in 1; priced dust jacket.
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. The US hardcover is the true first; the Legend UK edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A book club edition exists, identifiable by the blind gutter code and lack of a printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of Islands in the Net — 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.