The points of issue
New English Library (UK) paperback original, 1982 (ISBN 0-450-05496-9). The first US edition is the Warner Books paperback of 1983 (ISBN 0-446-90519-4).
Is this the true first?
The 1982 UK New English Library paperback is the true first; the US Warner paperback followed in 1983. The first hardcover was Headline (UK), 1993, issued with added short stories.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A (paperback original).
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Out Are the Lights a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: New English Library (UK) paperback original, 1982 (ISBN 0-450-05496-9). The first US edition is the Warner Books paperback of 1983 (ISBN 0-446-90519-4).
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 1982 UK New English Library paperback is the true first; the US Warner paperback followed in 1983. The first hardcover was Headline (UK), 1993, issued with added short stories.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A (paperback original).
I have a first edition of Out Are the Lights — 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.