The points of issue
Signet paperback original, published March 1981. Copyright page states First Printing with the month and year and carries a full number line including 1. As by Richard Bachman.
Is this the true first?
Paperback original; no hardcover first. Scarce as a paperback original in collectible grade.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A (paperback original); later printings are stated.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Roadwork a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Signet paperback original, published March 1981. Copyright page states First Printing with the month and year and carries a full number line including 1. As by Richard Bachman.
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. Paperback original; no hardcover first. Scarce as a paperback original in collectible grade.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A (paperback original); later printings are stated.
I have a first edition of Roadwork — 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.