The points of issue
Gollancz UK hardcover, priced jacket, number line including 1. Revenger vol. 2.
Is this the true first?
UK Gollancz hardcover (8 January 2019) is the true first; the Orbit US trade paperback followed on 15 January 2019.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Shadow Captain a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Gollancz UK hardcover, priced jacket, number line including 1. Revenger vol. 2.
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. UK Gollancz hardcover (8 January 2019) is the true first; the Orbit US trade paperback followed on 15 January 2019.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Shadow Captain — 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.