# Is "Look to Windward" by Iain M. Banks a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks (Orbit, 2000) is identified by: Orbit UK hardcover, black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine. UK Orbit hardcover (2000) is the true first; the US edition followed in 2001.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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
- Publisher imprint reads Orbit
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Iain M. Banks |
| Publisher | Orbit |
| Year | 2000 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Orbit UK hardcover, black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Look to Windward* by Iain M. Banks a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/look-to-windward
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.