The points of issue
US Tor hardcover, 1993. Copyright page carries a stated first edition and a full number line that includes the 1.
Is this the true first?
US Tor is the true first; the UK Orbit edition followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
SFBC book club copies are smaller, lack the number line, and have no printed jacket price; later Tor printings drop numbers from the line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Fires of Heaven (WoT 5) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Tor hardcover, 1993. Copyright page carries a stated first edition and a full number line that includes the 1.
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 Tor is the true first; the UK Orbit edition followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
SFBC book club copies are smaller, lack the number line, and have no printed jacket price; later Tor printings drop numbers from the line.
I have a first edition of The Fires of Heaven (WoT 5) — 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.