The points of issue
US Del Rey/Ballantine first hardcover with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; priced jacket; Michael Whelan cover and interior illustrations. A signed limited issue also exists.
Is this the true first?
US Del Rey first edition, 1986; a UK Grafton edition also appeared in 1986. The US Del Rey is identified as the US first; absolute world precedence over Grafton is not firmly documented.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition: 'Book Club Edition' noted on the jacket flap, no printed price, and often a blind-stamped device on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Songs of Distant Earth a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Del Rey/Ballantine first hardcover with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; priced jacket; Michael Whelan cover and interior illustrations. A signed limited issue also exists.
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. US Del Rey first edition, 1986; a UK Grafton edition also appeared in 1986. The US Del Rey is identified as the US first; absolute world precedence over Grafton is not firmly documented.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club edition: 'Book Club Edition' noted on the jacket flap, no printed price, and often a blind-stamped device on the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Songs of Distant Earth — 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.