The points of issue
UK PS Publishing hardcover, 2008. PS issued the title in two states: an unsigned trade hardcover and a signed, numbered, slipcased limited edition with a limitation page (the signed limited was a small numbered run).
Is this the true first?
UK PS Publishing 2008 is the true first. Winner of the 2009 Arthur C. Clarke Award. As is typical for PS Publishing, the signed/numbered slipcased limited is the more sought-after first state, alongside the unsigned trade hardcover.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition; later mass-market or trade printings are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Song of Time a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK PS Publishing hardcover, 2008. PS issued the title in two states: an unsigned trade hardcover and a signed, numbered, slipcased limited edition with a limitation page (the signed limited was a small numbered run).
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 PS Publishing 2008 is the true first. Winner of the 2009 Arthur C. Clarke Award. As is typical for PS Publishing, the signed/numbered slipcased limited is the more sought-after first state, alongside the unsigned trade hardcover.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition; later mass-market or trade printings are reprints.
I have a first edition of Song of Time — 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.