The points of issue
First US hardcover, Putnam 1971, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed cover price. Assembled and expanded from earlier Riverworld novellas.
Is this the true first?
The US Putnam 1971 hardcover is the true first book edition. Component stories appeared in magazines in 1965-66, and a Berkley Medallion paperback also appeared in 1971, but the Putnam hardcover is the first book form. UK editions are later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club edition lacks the first-edition statement, carries a blind-stamp on the rear board, and has a club jacket with no printed price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of To Your Scattered Bodies Go a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US hardcover, Putnam 1971, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed cover price. Assembled and expanded from earlier Riverworld novellas.
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 Putnam 1971 hardcover is the true first book edition. Component stories appeared in magazines in 1965-66, and a Berkley Medallion paperback also appeared in 1971, but the Putnam hardcover is the first book form. UK editions are later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The book-club edition lacks the first-edition statement, carries a blind-stamp on the rear board, and has a club jacket with no printed price.
I have a first edition of To Your Scattered Bodies Go — 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.