The points of issue
True first is the Dragonsteel premium hardcover released to Kickstarter backers October 1, 2023; the Tor trade hardcover followed March 5, 2024, stating First Edition with a number line down to 1.
Is this the true first?
Dragonsteel premium hardcover (October 2023) precedes the Tor trade edition (March 2024); the Tor trade is the widely available first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Two distinct editions: Dragonsteel premium hardcover versus Tor trade hardcover; later Tor printings drop the 1 from the number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Sunlit Man (Secret Project 4) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the Dragonsteel premium hardcover released to Kickstarter backers October 1, 2023; the Tor trade hardcover followed March 5, 2024, stating First Edition with a number line down to 1.
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. Dragonsteel premium hardcover (October 2023) precedes the Tor trade edition (March 2024); the Tor trade is the widely available first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Two distinct editions: Dragonsteel premium hardcover versus Tor trade hardcover; later Tor printings drop the 1 from the number line.
I have a first edition of The Sunlit Man (Secret Project 4) — 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.