The points of issue
UK Faber & Faber hardcover, 1987, with dust jacket. This is the first edition of the book and the first appearance under this title.
Is this the true first?
The UK Faber & Faber hardcover of 1987 is the true first. The US edition appeared as Drowning Towers from Arbor House in 1988 (not Morrow, and not 1987). The book won the 1988 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US 'Drowning Towers' (Arbor House, 1988) is a retitled later state, not the same first edition; subsequent printings are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sea and Summer a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Faber & Faber hardcover, 1987, with dust jacket. This is the first edition of the book and the first appearance under this title.
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 UK Faber & Faber hardcover of 1987 is the true first. The US edition appeared as Drowning Towers from Arbor House in 1988 (not Morrow, and not 1987). The book won the 1988 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The US 'Drowning Towers' (Arbor House, 1988) is a retitled later state, not the same first edition; subsequent printings are reprints.
I have a first edition of The Sea and Summer — 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.