The points of issue
Arsenal Pulp Press (Vancouver) trade paperback original, May 2016; first printing.
Is this the true first?
The Canadian Arsenal Pulp Press 2016 trade paperback original is the true first edition; it is a paperback original with no preceding hardcover. It won the Philip K. Dick Award announced in 2017, making Casper the first Canadian woman to win the award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reissues are reprints, not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Mercy Journals a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Arsenal Pulp Press (Vancouver) trade paperback original, May 2016; first 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. The Canadian Arsenal Pulp Press 2016 trade paperback original is the true first edition; it is a paperback original with no preceding hardcover. It won the Philip K. Dick Award announced in 2017, making Casper the first Canadian woman to win the award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and reissues are reprints, not the first edition.
I have a first edition of The Mercy Journals — 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.