# Is "The Hollow Man" by Dan Simmons a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Hollow Man by Dan Simmons (Bantam, 1992) is identified by: Bantam (Spectra) US first edition hardcover, dated "A Bantam Book / October 1992" on the copyright page, with the first-printing key reading BVG 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. US Bantam first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Bantam (Spectra) US first edition hardcover, dated "A Bantam Book / October 1992" on the copyright page, with the first-printing key reading BVG 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
- Bound in quarter blue cloth over purple paper boards with silver spine lettering; the pictorial dust jacket is illustrated by John Jude Palencar and, in first-issue state, retains its printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Bantam
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Dan Simmons |
| Publisher | Bantam |
| Year | 1992 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Bantam (Spectra) US first edition hardcover, dated "A Bantam Book / October 1992" on the copyright page, with the first-printing key… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Bantam (Spectra) US first edition hardcover, dated "A Bantam Book / October 1992" on the copyright page, with the first-printing key reading BVG 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Bound in quarter blue cloth over purple paper boards with silver spine lettering; the pictorial dust jacket is illustrated by John Jude Palencar and, in first-issue state, retains its printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Bantam first edition. A signed limited edition was issued by Lord John Press and is a separate issue from the Bantam trade first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the "October 1992" Bantam printing statement and the BVG number line, are typically smaller and lighter with a blindstamp on the rear board, and carry no printed price on the jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Hollow Man* by Dan Simmons a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-hollow-man
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.