The points of issue
First combined edition, Ace paperback (catalog number 22640), collecting the trilogy with texts revised by Delany for this printing. Later UK and Gollancz editions followed.
Is this the true first?
The Ace omnibus (1970) is the first combined and revised edition; the individual Ace volumes ('Captives of the Flame' 1963, 'The Towers of Toron' 1964, 'City of a Thousand Suns' 1965) are the true firsts of the original texts.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Fall of the Towers (omnibus) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First combined edition, Ace paperback (catalog number 22640), collecting the trilogy with texts revised by Delany for this printing. Later UK and Gollancz editions followed.
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 Ace omnibus (1970) is the first combined and revised edition; the individual Ace volumes ('Captives of the Flame' 1963, 'The Towers of Toron' 1964, 'City of a Thousand Suns' 1965) are the true firsts of the original texts.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None.
I have a first edition of The Fall of the Towers (omnibus) — 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.