The points of issue
The true first edition is the Science Fiction Book Club hardcover issued by Nelson Doubleday in 1978; the first printing is reported with Doubleday gutter code I 36 on page 242. The DAW paperback followed in 1979. Faded Sun trilogy vol. 2.
Is this the true first?
The Nelson Doubleday SFBC hardcover (1978) precedes the DAW paperback (1979) and is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The true first is itself a book club edition: an SFBC hardcover with a gutter code and no printed jacket price. Copies without the first-printing gutter code are later SFBC printings.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Faded Sun: Shon'jir a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The true first edition is the Science Fiction Book Club hardcover issued by Nelson Doubleday in 1978; the first printing is reported with Doubleday gutter code I 36 on page 242. The DAW paperback followed in 1979. Faded Sun trilogy vol. 2.
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 Nelson Doubleday SFBC hardcover (1978) precedes the DAW paperback (1979) and is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The true first is itself a book club edition: an SFBC hardcover with a gutter code and no printed jacket price. Copies without the first-printing gutter code are later SFBC printings.
I have a first edition of The Faded Sun: Shon'jir — 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.