The points of issue
True UK first is the Unwin Hyman (London) 1990 hardcover, with pictorial dust jacket and '1990' Unwin Hyman imprint on the title and copyright pages. Unwin Hyman was shortly afterward absorbed into HarperCollins, making the imprint short-lived. An Unwin trade paperback of the same setting also appeared.
Is this the true first?
The UK Unwin Hyman 1990 hardcover is the true first, preceding the US Avon/AvoNova paperback (1992). Winner of the 1990 BSFA Award and the 1991 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Voyager/Gollancz reissues are reprints ('first thus'), not the first. The 1992 US Avon/AvoNova paperback original is sometimes mistaken for the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Take Back Plenty a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True UK first is the Unwin Hyman (London) 1990 hardcover, with pictorial dust jacket and '1990' Unwin Hyman imprint on the title and copyright pages. Unwin Hyman was shortly afterward absorbed into HarperCollins, making the imprint short-lived. An Unwin trade paperback of the same setting also appeared.
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 UK Unwin Hyman 1990 hardcover is the true first, preceding the US Avon/AvoNova paperback (1992). Winner of the 1990 BSFA Award and the 1991 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later Voyager/Gollancz reissues are reprints ('first thus'), not the first. The 1992 US Avon/AvoNova paperback original is sometimes mistaken for the first edition.
I have a first edition of Take Back Plenty — 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.