# Is "The Caryatids" by Bruce Sterling a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Caryatids by Bruce Sterling (Del Rey / Ballantine, 2009) is identified by: Del Rey hardcover stating First Edition on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1. The US Del Rey hardcover (February 2009) is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Del Rey hardcover stating First Edition on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1
- Publisher imprint reads Del Rey / Ballantine
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Bruce Sterling |
| Publisher | Del Rey / Ballantine |
| Year | 2009 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Del Rey hardcover stating First Edition on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Del Rey hardcover stating First Edition on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1.

## Is this the true first?
The US Del Rey hardcover (February 2009) is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Issued in trade hardcover; no book-club issue noted.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Caryatids* by Bruce Sterling a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-caryatids
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.