The points of issue
UK Bantam Press hardcover, published March 2004; dark blue boards, dust jacket; first printing has a full number line including 1.
Is this the true first?
UK Bantam Press 2004 hardcover is the true first (UK and Canada); the US Tor edition followed in April 2007.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The simultaneous UK trade paperback, later printings, the US Tor edition (2007), and book-club copies differ from the hardcover first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Midnight Tides (Malazan 5) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Bantam Press hardcover, published March 2004; dark blue boards, dust jacket; first printing has a full number line including 1.
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 Bantam Press 2004 hardcover is the true first (UK and Canada); the US Tor edition followed in April 2007.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The simultaneous UK trade paperback, later printings, the US Tor edition (2007), and book-club copies differ from the hardcover first.
I have a first edition of Midnight Tides (Malazan 5) — 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.