The points of issue
Ballantine Books paperback original, catalog number 02331, August 1971. Wraps; co-written with David Gerrold. Expanded from the magazine serial 'The Misspelled Magishun' (If, 1970).
Is this the true first?
US Ballantine paperback original is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Flying Sorcerers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Ballantine Books paperback original, catalog number 02331, August 1971. Wraps; co-written with David Gerrold. Expanded from the magazine serial 'The Misspelled Magishun' (If, 1970).
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 Ballantine paperback original is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition.
I have a first edition of The Flying Sorcerers — 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.