The points of issue
The three constituent novels (Equations of Life, Theories of Flight, Degrees of Freedom) were each first issued in 2011 as Orbit paperback originals, published within months of one another. First-printing number line ending in 1 on each volume.
Is this the true first?
The 2011 Orbit paperback originals of the three novels are the relevant firsts; the trilogy collectively won the Philip K. Dick Award presented for 2011. The UK Orbit and US Orbit paperback originals appeared in close succession in 2011, with the UK printings possibly slightly ahead; the US Orbit paperback originals are the award-relevant editions, while exact UK-versus-US precedence should be confirmed volume by volume by date.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reissues, including any omnibus gathering, are reprints. UK and US Orbit paperback originals were near-simultaneous in 2011; verify by date for exact precedence.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Samuil Petrovitch Trilogy a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The three constituent novels (Equations of Life, Theories of Flight, Degrees of Freedom) were each first issued in 2011 as Orbit paperback originals, published within months of one another. First-printing number line ending in 1 on each volume.
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 2011 Orbit paperback originals of the three novels are the relevant firsts; the trilogy collectively won the Philip K. Dick Award presented for 2011. The UK Orbit and US Orbit paperback originals appeared in close succession in 2011, with the UK printings possibly slightly ahead; the US Orbit pa
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reissues, including any omnibus gathering, are reprints. UK and US Orbit paperback originals were near-simultaneous in 2011; verify by date for exact precedence.
I have a first edition of The Samuil Petrovitch Trilogy — 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.