The points of issue
Ace Double M-121, bound dos-a-dos with Emil Petaja's 'Alpha Yes, Terra No!'; paperback original with the M-121 catalog number on the cover.
Is this the true first?
US Ace Double M-121 (1965) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Ballad of Beta-2 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ace Double M-121, bound dos-a-dos with Emil Petaja's 'Alpha Yes, Terra No!'; paperback original with the M-121 catalog number on the cover.
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 Ace Double M-121 (1965) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None.
I have a first edition of The Ballad of Beta-2 — 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.