The points of issue
Macmillan UK hardcover (published October 1997), priced jacket, number line to 1. Night's Dawn vol. 2.
Is this the true first?
UK Macmillan hardcover (1997) is the true first; US Warner again split the text into two paperbacks.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable; the US split-text paperbacks are not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Neutronium Alchemist a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Macmillan UK hardcover (published October 1997), priced jacket, number line to 1. Night's Dawn vol. 2.
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. UK Macmillan hardcover (1997) is the true first; US Warner again split the text into two paperbacks.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable; the US split-text paperbacks are not the true first.
I have a first edition of The Neutronium Alchemist — 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.