The points of issue
Retitled omnibus of the Xenogenesis trilogy with an introduction by Joan Slonczewski; trade paperback original, first printing per number line.
Is this the true first?
Not the first omnibus: the trilogy was first collected as Xenogenesis (Guild America/SFBC, 1989). Lilith's Brood (2000) is the first trade edition under this title; not a first of the individual novels.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The 1989 Guild America Xenogenesis omnibus is itself a book-club edition, smaller with no jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Lilith's Brood (omnibus) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Retitled omnibus of the Xenogenesis trilogy with an introduction by Joan Slonczewski; trade paperback original, first printing per number line.
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. Not the first omnibus: the trilogy was first collected as Xenogenesis (Guild America/SFBC, 1989). Lilith's Brood (2000) is the first trade edition under this title; not a first of the individual novels.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The 1989 Guild America Xenogenesis omnibus is itself a book-club edition, smaller with no jacket price.
I have a first edition of Lilith's Brood (omnibus) — 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.