The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' with copyright 1957 by Mark Clifton and Frank Riley; Library of Congress card number 57-14670; 189 pp; printed in the U.S.A. by H. Wolff, New York. Approximately 5,000 copies printed. Serialized in Astounding Science Fiction, 1954.
Is this the true first?
The Gnome Press 1957 hardcover is the true first book edition. The 1954 magazine serialization predates it but is not a book. Later retitled 'The Forever Machine' in paperback, which is a first thus only.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable US book club edition; any paperback retitled 'The Forever Machine' is a later printing, not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of They'd Rather Be Right (aka The Forever Machine) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' with copyright 1957 by Mark Clifton and Frank Riley; Library of Congress card number 57-14670; 189 pp; printed in the U.S.A. by H. Wolff, New York. Approximately 5,000 copies printed. Serialized in Astounding Science Fiction, 1954.
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 Gnome Press 1957 hardcover is the true first book edition. The 1954 magazine serialization predates it but is not a book. Later retitled 'The Forever Machine' in paperback, which is a first thus only.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No notable US book club edition; any paperback retitled 'The Forever Machine' is a later printing, not the first.
I have a first edition of They'd Rather Be Right (aka The Forever Machine) — 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.