The points of issue
River City Publishing (Montgomery, Alabama) first edition, 2002. A single-volume hardcover of 726 pages, stated first edition, first printing. McCammon's return after a roughly decade-long hiatus and the first Matthew Corbett novel.
Is this the true first?
US River City hardcover is the true first. The 2003 Pocket Books paperback reprint split the novel into two volumes; two-volume sets are reprints, not firsts.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition; small-press trade hardcover.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Speaks the Nightbird a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: River City Publishing (Montgomery, Alabama) first edition, 2002. A single-volume hardcover of 726 pages, stated first edition, first printing. McCammon's return after a roughly decade-long hiatus and the first Matthew Corbett novel.
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 River City hardcover is the true first. The 2003 Pocket Books paperback reprint split the novel into two volumes; two-volume sets are reprints, not firsts.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition; small-press trade hardcover.
I have a first edition of Speaks the Nightbird — 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.