The points of issue
Small Beer Press (Easthampton) trade paperback original, March 2019; a short-story collection; first printing. Signed copies exist.
Is this the true first?
The US Small Beer Press 2019 trade paperback original is the true first edition of this story collection; it is a paperback original with no preceding hardcover. It won the Philip K. Dick Award announced in 2020.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reissues are reprints, not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Small Beer Press (Easthampton) trade paperback original, March 2019; a short-story collection; first printing. Signed copies exist.
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. The US Small Beer Press 2019 trade paperback original is the true first edition of this story collection; it is a paperback original with no preceding hardcover. It won the Philip K. Dick Award announced in 2020.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and reissues are reprints, not the first edition.
I have a first edition of Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea — 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.