The points of issue
Hardcover, published 31 October 2023, 576 pp, ISBN 9781982188344. The first printing shows a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with a first-state jacket priced as issued. Won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel for 2023 (presented 2024) and the 2024 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel; it also won the Shirley Jackson Award.
Is this the true first?
The US Saga Press 2023 hardcover is the true first; the UK Titan edition (2023) is a separate edition. A rare novel to take both the Bram Stoker and the World Fantasy Award, which broadens collector interest.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the lowest digits from the number line. Saga Press uses the number line rather than a 'First Edition' slug; confirm the full line ending in 1 and the priced first-state jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Reformatory a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Hardcover, published 31 October 2023, 576 pp, ISBN 9781982188344. The first printing shows a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, with a first-state jacket priced as issued. Won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel for 2023 (presented 2024) and the 2024 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel; it also won the Shirley Jackson Award.
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 US Saga Press 2023 hardcover is the true first; the UK Titan edition (2023) is a separate edition. A rare novel to take both the Bram Stoker and the World Fantasy Award, which broadens collector interest.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings drop the lowest digits from the number line. Saga Press uses the number line rather than a 'First Edition' slug; confirm the full line ending in 1 and the priced first-state jacket.
I have a first edition of The Reformatory — 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.