# Is "Shaman's Crossing (The Soldier Son Trilogy 1)" by Robin Hobb a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Shaman's Crossing (The Soldier Son Trilogy 1) by Robin Hobb (Voyager / HarperCollins, 2005) is identified by: UK Voyager (HarperCollins) hardcover, published 4 July 2005, ISBN 0007196121; first printing carries the number line descending to 1 on the copyright page. UK Voyager hardcover true first, 4 July 2005; it preceded the US Eos edition by about two months.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- UK Voyager (HarperCollins) hardcover, published 4 July 2005, ISBN 0007196121; first printing carries the number line descending to 1 on the copyright page
- Book One of the Soldier Son Trilogy
- A separate Voyager signed-and-numbered limited edition was issued simultaneously with black boards, no cover art, and a slipcase (ISBN 0007214685) — distinct from the trade first
- US Eos/HarperCollins hardcover (ISBN 0060757620) followed in September 2005
- Publisher imprint reads Voyager / HarperCollins
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robin Hobb |
| Publisher | Voyager / HarperCollins |
| Year | 2005 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | UK Voyager (HarperCollins) hardcover, published 4 July 2005, ISBN 0007196121; first printing carries the number line descending to 1 on the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
UK Voyager (HarperCollins) hardcover, published 4 July 2005, ISBN 0007196121; first printing carries the number line descending to 1 on the copyright page. Book One of the Soldier Son Trilogy. A separate Voyager signed-and-numbered limited edition was issued simultaneously with black boards, no cover art, and a slipcase (ISBN 0007214685) — distinct from the trade first. US Eos/HarperCollins hardcover (ISBN 0060757620) followed in September 2005.

## Is this the true first?
UK Voyager hardcover true first, 4 July 2005; it preceded the US Eos edition by about two months.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings state a higher lowest digit on the number line; distinguish the trade first from the slipcased signed/numbered limited (black boards, no jacket art).

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Shaman's Crossing (The Soldier Son Trilogy 1)* by Robin Hobb a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/shamans-crossing-the-soldier-son-trilogy-1
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.