# Is "Misspent Youth" by Peter F. Hamilton a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Misspent Youth by Peter F. Hamilton (Macmillan, 2002) is identified by: The Macmillan UK hardcover (published September 2002) carries a number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and is issued in a dust jacket bearing the printed price. The UK Macmillan hardcover (2002) is the true first; the US edition did not appear until years later.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The Macmillan UK hardcover (published September 2002) carries a number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and is issued in a dust jacket bearing the printed price
- A near-future prequel to the Commonwealth setting
- Publisher imprint reads Macmillan
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Peter F. Hamilton |
| Publisher | Macmillan |
| Year | 2002 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The Macmillan UK hardcover (published September 2002) carries a number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and is issued in a dust jacket… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
The Macmillan UK hardcover (published September 2002) carries a number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and is issued in a dust jacket bearing the printed price. A near-future prequel to the Commonwealth setting.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Macmillan hardcover (2002) is the true first; the US edition did not appear until years later.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Misspent Youth* by Peter F. Hamilton a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/misspent-youth
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.