The points of issue
Tor hardcover with First Edition: November 2001 stated on the copyright page and a full number line; jacket priced.
Is this the true first?
The US Tor hardcover (2001) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Copies lacking the priced jacket and the stated first edition line with full number line suggest a book club or later printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Collected Stories of Vernor Vinge a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Tor hardcover with First Edition: November 2001 stated on the copyright page and a full number line; jacket priced.
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 Tor hardcover (2001) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Copies lacking the priced jacket and the stated first edition line with full number line suggest a book club or later printing.
I have a first edition of The Collected Stories of Vernor Vinge — 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.