The points of issue
First Tordotcom hardcover, May 2020 (ISBN 9781250229861). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line including 1, and carries the printed price on the dust jacket flap (unclipped). First full-length Murderbot novel; prior entries are novellas. Publisher's boards.
Is this the true first?
The US Tordotcom 2020 trade hardcover is the true first. A signed limited edition may exist as a separate state; confirm the 'First Edition' statement and full number line to distinguish the trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition is the standard concern here; verify the priced jacket and full number line ending in 1 to confirm the first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Network Effect a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First Tordotcom hardcover, May 2020 (ISBN 9781250229861). First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line including 1, and carries the printed price on the dust jacket flap (unclipped). First full-length Murderbot novel; prior entries are novellas. Publisher's boards.
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. The US Tordotcom 2020 trade hardcover is the true first. A signed limited edition may exist as a separate state; confirm the 'First Edition' statement and full number line to distinguish the trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition is the standard concern here; verify the priced jacket and full number line ending in 1 to confirm the first printing.
I have a first edition of Network Effect — 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.