The points of issue
UK Gollancz hardcover, London, 2002; issued in dust jacket. First book of the Kefahuchi Tract trilogy. Confirm a true first by the 2002 Gollancz title page and the absence of any later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
The UK Gollancz 2002 hardcover is the true first; the US Bantam Spectra edition (2004) is the first US. Light won the 2002 James Tiptree Jr. Award and was shortlisted for the 2003 Arthur C. Clarke Award; the trilogy's second volume, Nova Swing, later won the Clarke Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
US Bantam Spectra is the first US, not the true first; later printings and reissues are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Light a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Gollancz hardcover, London, 2002; issued in dust jacket. First book of the Kefahuchi Tract trilogy. Confirm a true first by the 2002 Gollancz title page and the absence of any later-printing statement.
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 UK Gollancz 2002 hardcover is the true first; the US Bantam Spectra edition (2004) is the first US. Light won the 2002 James Tiptree Jr. Award and was shortlisted for the 2003 Arthur C. Clarke Award; the trilogy's second volume, Nova Swing, later won the Clarke Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
US Bantam Spectra is the first US, not the true first; later printings and reissues are reprints.
I have a first edition of Light — 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.