# Is "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (Ace Books, 1969) is identified by: Paperback original, Ace Science Fiction Special (series edited by Terry Carr), Ace catalogue number 47800, with wraparound cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon (who supplied the art for the Ace Specials line). The Ace mass-market PAPERBACK is the true first edition and precedes the Walker & Company hardcover (US, 1969) — documented by L.W.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Paperback original, Ace Science Fiction Special (series edited by Terry Carr), Ace catalogue number 47800, with wraparound cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon (who supplied the art for the Ace Specials line)
- A first printing shows 'An Ace Science Fiction Special' with the 47800 number and printed cover price on the front cover, NO Hugo/Nebula award announcement anywhere on the cover or wrapper, and NO stated printing or additional-printing line on the copyright page
- Retain the printed cover price
- Publisher imprint reads Ace Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ursula K. Le Guin |
| Publisher | Ace Books |
| Year | 1969 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Paperback original, Ace Science Fiction Special (series edited by Terry Carr), Ace catalogue number 47800, with wraparound cover art by Leo… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Paperback original, Ace Science Fiction Special (series edited by Terry Carr), Ace catalogue number 47800, with wraparound cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon (who supplied the art for the Ace Specials line). A first printing shows 'An Ace Science Fiction Special' with the 47800 number and printed cover price on the front cover, NO Hugo/Nebula award announcement anywhere on the cover or wrapper, and NO stated printing or additional-printing line on the copyright page. Retain the printed cover price.

## Is this the true first?
The Ace mass-market PAPERBACK is the true first edition and precedes the Walker & Company hardcover (US, 1969) — documented by L.W. Currey (246), who records that the hardcover was preceded the same year by the Ace paperback; the UK hardcover editions are later still. Because it was a paperback original, fine first-printing copies are scarce. The novel won the 1969 Nebula and 1970 Hugo, but a genuine first printing predates those wins and therefore carries NO award banner. The Walker hardcover is routinely miscalled 'the first,' but the paperback holds precedence.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Ace printings add award mentions to the cover, a stated later printing on the copyright page, and a raised price. The Walker hardcover — and any book-club hardcover issue — is later than the Ace paperback original.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Left Hand of Darkness* by Ursula K. Le Guin a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-left-hand-of-darkness
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.