The points of issue
US Europa Editions trade paperback original, April 2018; first printing.
Is this the true first?
The US Europa Editions 2018 trade paperback original is the true first edition; it is a paperback original with no preceding hardcover. It won the Philip K. Dick Award announced in 2019.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reissues are reprints, not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Theory of Bastards a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Europa Editions trade paperback original, April 2018; first printing.
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 US Europa Editions 2018 trade paperback original is the true first edition; it is a paperback original with no preceding hardcover. It won the Philip K. Dick Award announced in 2019.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and reissues are reprints, not the first edition.
I have a first edition of Theory of Bastards — 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.