The points of issue
US Ace paperback original, 1982; pictorial wrappers; Ace Science Fiction. First printing identified per the Ace number line / first-printing statement on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US Ace paperback original, 1982, is the true first; there was no preceding hardcover. Winner of the inaugural Philip K. Dick Award (presented in 1983 for the 1982 publication year).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Avon/Eos omnibus 'Ware Tetralogy' and subsequent reissues are reprints or 'first thus.'
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Software a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Ace paperback original, 1982; pictorial wrappers; Ace Science Fiction. First printing identified per the Ace number line / first-printing statement on the copyright page.
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 Ace paperback original, 1982, is the true first; there was no preceding hardcover. Winner of the inaugural Philip K. Dick Award (presented in 1983 for the 1982 publication year).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Avon/Eos omnibus 'Ware Tetralogy' and subsequent reissues are reprints or 'first thus.'
I have a first edition of Software — 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.