# Is "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (Simon & Schuster, 1974) is identified by: First printing per Simon & Schuster convention, with no statement of a later printing. US Simon & Schuster first hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing per Simon & Schuster convention, with no statement of a later printing
- The first printing carries the word 'spared' on page 465 (corrected to 'spaced' in later states)
- Dust jacket priced 9.95 on the flap
- Co-written with Jerry Pournelle
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Larry Niven |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1974 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing per Simon & Schuster convention, with no statement of a later printing |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing per Simon & Schuster convention, with no statement of a later printing. The first printing carries the word 'spared' on page 465 (corrected to 'spaced' in later states). Dust jacket priced 9.95 on the flap. Co-written with Jerry Pournelle.

## Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster first hardcover is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition has a blind stamp on the rear board and lacks a price on the jacket flap.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Mote in God's Eye* by Larry Niven a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-mote-in-gods-eye
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.