The points of issue
Memoir. Arbor House hardcover, blue cloth, in priced dust jacket; copyright page carries a full number line ending in 1. Not a paperback original.
Is this the true first?
US Arbor House hardcover (1988) is the true first; an expanded edition followed in 1990.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None documented.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Motion of Light in Water a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Memoir. Arbor House hardcover, blue cloth, in priced dust jacket; copyright page carries a full number line ending in 1. Not a paperback original.
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 Arbor House hardcover (1988) is the true first; an expanded edition followed in 1990.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None documented.
I have a first edition of The Motion of Light in Water — 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.