The points of issue
Black cloth-backed boards in priced dust jacket; copyright page states 'First Edition' together with a Random House number line whose lowest number is 2 (e.g. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2). Both the stated 'First Edition' and the line must be present.
Is this the true first?
US Random House (New York) is the true first, 1994 (published September 1994).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Per Random House practice of the period, the first printing carries the 'First Edition' statement and a number line that does NOT descend to 1 (the lowest digit is 2). A copy whose line runs to 1, or that lacks the 'First Edition' statement, is a later printing or club issue. Book-club copies also lack the priced trade jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Black cloth-backed boards in priced dust jacket; copyright page states 'First Edition' together with a Random House number line whose lowest number is 2 (e.g. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2). Both the stated 'First Edition' and the line must be present.
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 Random House (New York) is the true first, 1994 (published September 1994).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Per Random House practice of the period, the first printing carries the 'First Edition' statement and a number line that does NOT descend to 1 (the lowest digit is 2). A copy whose line runs to 1, or that lacks the 'First Edition' statement, is a later printing or club issue. Book-club copies also lack the priced trade jacket.
I have a first edition of The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story — 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.