The points of issue
US Bantam Spectra mass-market paperback original; the first printing is dated January 1992 although the book carries a 1991 copyright; first printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1. Cover art by Wil Cormier.
Is this the true first?
The US Bantam Spectra paperback original is the true first edition, published directly into paperback. Sources differ on the year because the book carries a 1991 copyright but the first printing is dated January 1992; the published first edition is the January 1992 Bantam Spectra paperback. It won the 1993 Philip K. Dick Award, given for works published in 1992, which is consistent with a 1992 publication date.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reissues are reprints, not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Through the Heart a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Bantam Spectra mass-market paperback original; the first printing is dated January 1992 although the book carries a 1991 copyright; first printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1. Cover art by Wil Cormier.
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 Bantam Spectra paperback original is the true first edition, published directly into paperback. Sources differ on the year because the book carries a 1991 copyright but the first printing is dated January 1992; the published first edition is the January 1992 Bantam Spectra paperback. It won t
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reissues are reprints, not the true first.
I have a first edition of Through the Heart — 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.