The points of issue
New English Library (UK) paperback original, 1984. The first US edition is the Tor paperback of January 1986. The novel did not appear in hardcover until the much later Dark Regions Press definitive edition.
Is this the true first?
The 1984 UK New English Library paperback is the true first; the US Tor paperback original followed in 1986.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A (paperback original).
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Night Show a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: New English Library (UK) paperback original, 1984. The first US edition is the Tor paperback of January 1986. The novel did not appear in hardcover until the much later Dark Regions Press definitive edition.
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 1984 UK New English Library paperback is the true first; the US Tor paperback original followed in 1986.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A (paperback original).
I have a first edition of Night Show — 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.