The points of issue
Doubleday hardcover with First Edition stated on the copyright page; saffron-orange boards stamped in black; price printed on the front jacket flap (unclipped); 185 pages. Patternist series.
Is this the true first?
US Doubleday hardcover (1978) is the true first and the scarcest Patternist title. Butler disowned the novel and refused to authorize reprints after its initial editions, so no later hardcover printings exist.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition: no jacket price, blind stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Survivor a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Doubleday hardcover with First Edition stated on the copyright page; saffron-orange boards stamped in black; price printed on the front jacket flap (unclipped); 185 pages. Patternist series.
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 Doubleday hardcover (1978) is the true first and the scarcest Patternist title. Butler disowned the novel and refused to authorize reprints after its initial editions, so no later hardcover printings exist.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club edition: no jacket price, blind stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of Survivor — 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.