The points of issue
Orbit UK hardcover, black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine. Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 2000 by Orbit, with full number line descending to 1. Priced dust jacket. ISBN 1857239695. A Culture novel.
Is this the true first?
UK Orbit hardcover (2000) is the true first; the US edition followed in 2001.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Look to Windward a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Orbit UK hardcover, black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine. Copyright page states First published in Great Britain in 2000 by Orbit, with full number line descending to 1. Priced dust jacket. ISBN 1857239695. A Culture novel.
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 (2000) is the true first; the US edition followed in 2001.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Look to Windward — 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.