The points of issue
Story collection. US Avon hardcover, November 1998, states First Edition on the copyright page with a full number line. The UK Headline edition (March 1999) is a distinct later edition that adds five pieces not in the US book.
Is this the true first?
US Avon true first (1998) precedes the UK Headline edition (1999); the UK edition also has different, expanded contents.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Story collection. US Avon hardcover, November 1998, states First Edition on the copyright page with a full number line. The UK Headline edition (March 1999) is a distinct later edition that adds five pieces not in the US book.
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. US Avon true first (1998) precedes the UK Headline edition (1999); the UK edition also has different, expanded contents.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings differ.
I have a first edition of Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions — 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.