The points of issue
Phantasia hardcover, trade issue plus a signed/numbered limited issue; wraparound jacket, frontispiece, and map by David Cherry; single printing.
Is this the true first?
US Phantasia Press hardcover (May 1985) is the true first; the DAW paperback followed. Chanur vol. 3.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Kif Strike Back a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Phantasia hardcover, trade issue plus a signed/numbered limited issue; wraparound jacket, frontispiece, and map by David Cherry; single 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. US Phantasia Press hardcover (May 1985) is the true first; the DAW paperback followed. Chanur vol. 3.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None.
I have a first edition of The Kif Strike Back — 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.