The points of issue
Bantam hardcover, December 2004. Copyright page carries a full number line ending in 1. First printing runs 401 pages with blue boards.
Is this the true first?
Bantam US true first; a Charnel House signed limited edition followed in February 2005.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club copies are noticeably smaller, bound in red boards rather than the trade edition's blue, and carry a book club identification number on the jacket; they lack a jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Life Expectancy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Bantam hardcover, December 2004. Copyright page carries a full number line ending in 1. First printing runs 401 pages with blue boards.
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. Bantam US true first; a Charnel House signed limited edition followed in February 2005.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club copies are noticeably smaller, bound in red boards rather than the trade edition's blue, and carry a book club identification number on the jacket; they lack a jacket price.
I have a first edition of Life Expectancy — 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.