The points of issue
Jove paperback original as by Owen West, a movie tie-in novelization; copyright page states First Jove edition published November 1980. Important quirk: standard retail first-issue copies carry a number line ending in 2, because the true first printing was a promotional Special Advance Edition whose number line ends in 1. Retail copies with the line ending in 2 are the collected first trade printing.
Is this the true first?
Paperback original under the Owen West pseudonym; the advance promotional printing precedes the retail issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A (paperback original).
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Funhouse a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Jove paperback original as by Owen West, a movie tie-in novelization; copyright page states First Jove edition published November 1980. Important quirk: standard retail first-issue copies carry a number line ending in 2, because the true first printing was a promotional Special Advance Edition whose number line ends in 1. Retail copies with the line ending in 2 are the collected first trade printing.
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. Paperback original under the Owen West pseudonym; the advance promotional printing precedes the retail issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A (paperback original).
I have a first edition of The Funhouse — 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.