The points of issue
Macmillan UK hardcover (published 26 January 1996), priced jacket, number line to 1. Night's Dawn vol. 1; Hamilton's first hardcover.
Is this the true first?
UK Macmillan hardcover (1996) is the true first; US Warner split it into two paperbacks (Part 1: Emergence and Part 2: Expansion, 1997).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable; the US is a distinct split-text edition, not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Reality Dysfunction a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Macmillan UK hardcover (published 26 January 1996), priced jacket, number line to 1. Night's Dawn vol. 1; Hamilton's first hardcover.
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 (1996) is the true first; US Warner split it into two paperbacks (Part 1: Emergence and Part 2: Expansion, 1997).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable; the US is a distinct split-text edition, not the true first.
I have a first edition of The Reality Dysfunction — 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.