# Is "Tales of Known Space" by Larry Niven a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Tales of Known Space by Larry Niven (Ballantine, 1975) is identified by: Ballantine paperback original, full title 'Tales of Known Space: The Universe of Larry Niven,' catalog number 24563, with 'First printing, August, 1975' on the copyright page. US Ballantine paperback original is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Ballantine paperback original, full title 'Tales of Known Space: The Universe of Larry Niven,' catalog number 24563, with 'First printing, August, 1975' on the copyright page
- Story collection with a Known Space chronology and Rick Sternbach cover art
- Publisher imprint reads Ballantine
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Larry Niven |
| Publisher | Ballantine |
| Year | 1975 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Ballantine paperback original, full title 'Tales of Known Space: The Universe of Larry Niven,' catalog number 24563, with 'First printing… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Ballantine paperback original, full title 'Tales of Known Space: The Universe of Larry Niven,' catalog number 24563, with 'First printing, August, 1975' on the copyright page. Story collection with a Known Space chronology and Rick Sternbach cover art.

## Is this the true first?
US Ballantine paperback original is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Tales of Known Space* by Larry Niven a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/tales-of-known-space
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.