The points of issue
Paperback original; first printing from Pocket Books under its Timescape imprint, cover art by Carl Lundgren. Story collection assembled by Zelazny.
Is this the true first?
US Pocket Books (Timescape) paperback original is the true first; a later Underwood-Miller hardcover is a separate collectible, not the first appearance.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition of the paperback original.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Last Defender of Camelot a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Paperback original; first printing from Pocket Books under its Timescape imprint, cover art by Carl Lundgren. Story collection assembled by Zelazny.
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 Pocket Books (Timescape) paperback original is the true first; a later Underwood-Miller hardcover is a separate collectible, not the first appearance.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition of the paperback original.
I have a first edition of The Last Defender of Camelot — 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.