The points of issue
First edition is the Orbit trade paperback original (US, August 16, 2016), in wraps, first printing identified by a number line ending in 1, with the original printed cover price. Second volume of the Broken Earth Trilogy; won the 2017 Hugo for Best Novel.
Is this the true first?
The Orbit 2016 trade paperback original is the true first edition. A later Subterranean Press signed/limited hardcover is a separate state, a first thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Verify the trade paperback first printing by the number line ending in 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Obelisk Gate a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition is the Orbit trade paperback original (US, August 16, 2016), in wraps, first printing identified by a number line ending in 1, with the original printed cover price. Second volume of the Broken Earth Trilogy; won the 2017 Hugo for Best Novel.
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 Orbit 2016 trade paperback original is the true first edition. A later Subterranean Press signed/limited hardcover is a separate state, a first thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Verify the trade paperback first printing by the number line ending in 1.
I have a first edition of The Obelisk Gate — 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.