The points of issue
Ballantine mass-market paperback original, 1981 (Ballantine 29427); copyright page carries Ballantine's dated First Edition statement rather than a modern number line. Ketchum's first novel; Ballantine required cuts to the text and quickly withdrew support after release, so first-printing copies are scarce. A special advance edition was distributed to booksellers in early 1981.
Is this the true first?
The 1981 Ballantine paperback original is the true first; the unexpurgated text with Ketchum's restored ending first appeared from Overlook Connection Press in 1999 and is a first thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not applicable; issued only as a mass-market paperback original.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Off Season a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ballantine mass-market paperback original, 1981 (Ballantine 29427); copyright page carries Ballantine's dated First Edition statement rather than a modern number line. Ketchum's first novel; Ballantine required cuts to the text and quickly withdrew support after release, so first-printing copies are scarce. A special advance edition was distributed to booksellers in early 1981.
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 1981 Ballantine paperback original is the true first; the unexpurgated text with Ketchum's restored ending first appeared from Overlook Connection Press in 1999 and is a first thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Not applicable; issued only as a mass-market paperback original.
I have a first edition of Off Season — 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.