The points of issue
Timescape/Simon & Schuster hardcover, cloth-backed boards, 397 pages; first printing identified by a complete number line descending to 1 (1 through 10) on the copyright page; priced dust jacket.
Is this the true first?
The US Timescape/Simon & Schuster 1982 hardcover is the true first edition. A first British edition was issued separately and does not precede it.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions exist; they are typically identified by a price-clipped or unpriced jacket stating Book Club Edition and lack the trade first printing's number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of No Enemy But Time a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Timescape/Simon & Schuster hardcover, cloth-backed boards, 397 pages; first printing identified by a complete number line descending to 1 (1 through 10) on the copyright page; priced dust jacket.
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 Timescape/Simon & Schuster 1982 hardcover is the true first edition. A first British edition was issued separately and does not precede it.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club editions exist; they are typically identified by a price-clipped or unpriced jacket stating Book Club Edition and lack the trade first printing's number line.
I have a first edition of No Enemy But Time — 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.