The points of issue
UK Scribner (Simon & Schuster UK) trade paperback, 2002, is the true first edition; it was issued in wrappers, not as a hardcover. The first hardcover appearance was the Gollancz edition published in London in 2003.
Is this the true first?
The 2002 Scribner UK trade paperback is the true first; it precedes both the 2003 Gollancz UK hardcover and the 2005 US Old Earth Books hardcover. Winner of the 2002 BSFA Award and the 2003 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Gollancz 2003 hardcover is the first hardcover (UK); the Old Earth Books 2005 hardcover is the first US edition. Neither is the true first. Do not confuse the later hardcovers with the original Scribner wrappers first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Separation a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Scribner (Simon & Schuster UK) trade paperback, 2002, is the true first edition; it was issued in wrappers, not as a hardcover. The first hardcover appearance was the Gollancz edition published in London in 2003.
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 2002 Scribner UK trade paperback is the true first; it precedes both the 2003 Gollancz UK hardcover and the 2005 US Old Earth Books hardcover. Winner of the 2002 BSFA Award and the 2003 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Gollancz 2003 hardcover is the first hardcover (UK); the Old Earth Books 2005 hardcover is the first US edition. Neither is the true first. Do not confuse the later hardcovers with the original Scribner wrappers first.
I have a first edition of The Separation — 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.