The points of issue
US Bantam Spectra mass-market paperback original, 1991. First printing identified by the full descending number line ending in '1' on the copyright page (standard Bantam first-printing convention).
Is this the true first?
The US Bantam Spectra 1991 paperback original is the first edition. A UK HarperCollins/Grafton edition (also 1991) was the first hardcover; the two appeared the same year, so strict precedence is not certain, but the US paperback original is the recognized first. Winner of the 1992 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition is noted; later HarperVoyager and Gollancz SF Masterworks reissues are reprints ('first thus').
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Synners a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Bantam Spectra mass-market paperback original, 1991. First printing identified by the full descending number line ending in '1' on the copyright page (standard Bantam first-printing convention).
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 Bantam Spectra 1991 paperback original is the first edition. A UK HarperCollins/Grafton edition (also 1991) was the first hardcover; the two appeared the same year, so strict precedence is not certain, but the US paperback original is the recognized first. Winner of the 1992 Arthur C. Clarke
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition is noted; later HarperVoyager and Gollancz SF Masterworks reissues are reprints ('first thus').
I have a first edition of Synners — 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.