The points of issue
US Bantam Spectra mass-market paperback original, 1990; short-story collection; first printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1. Cover art by Mark Harrison.
Is this the true first?
The US Bantam Spectra paperback original of 1990 is the true first edition of this collection. It won the 1991 Philip K. Dick Award and was a Locus Award nominee for best collection. The collection gathers nineteen stories, including the Nebula Award-winning novella Rachel in Love. This is a collection rather than a novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reissues are reprints, not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Points of Departure a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Bantam Spectra mass-market paperback original, 1990; short-story collection; first printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1. Cover art by Mark Harrison.
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 Bantam Spectra paperback original of 1990 is the true first edition of this collection. It won the 1991 Philip K. Dick Award and was a Locus Award nominee for best collection. The collection gathers nineteen stories, including the Nebula Award-winning novella Rachel in Love. This is a collect
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reissues are reprints, not the true first.
I have a first edition of Points of Departure — 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.