The points of issue
Self-published by the author under the Underhill Books imprint. First released as an ebook on 8 January 2019, with a print (paperback/hardcover) edition following in September 2019. As a self-published and largely print-on-demand title, it lacks the conventional number-line points of issue used to distinguish printings.
Is this the true first?
The earliest published form is the January 2019 ebook; the September 2019 print edition is the first physical edition. Because the title is self-published and print-on-demand, a single fixed 'true first' physical state is not cleanly defined, so the earliest ISBN and original cover state should be treated as the first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Print-on-demand reprints are not distinguishable by a number line. Identification rests on the original ISBN and earliest cover state rather than printing points.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Hands of the Emperor a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Self-published by the author under the Underhill Books imprint. First released as an ebook on 8 January 2019, with a print (paperback/hardcover) edition following in September 2019. As a self-published and largely print-on-demand title, it lacks the conventional number-line points of issue used to distinguish printings.
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 earliest published form is the January 2019 ebook; the September 2019 print edition is the first physical edition. Because the title is self-published and print-on-demand, a single fixed 'true first' physical state is not cleanly defined, so the earliest ISBN and original cover state should be t
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Print-on-demand reprints are not distinguishable by a number line. Identification rests on the original ISBN and earliest cover state rather than printing points.
I have a first edition of The Hands of the Emperor — 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.