The points of issue
UK Voyager (HarperCollins) hardcover, April 1997, ISBN 0-00-225425-5; Xeelee-sequence story collection; dust jacket; first printing per the number line.
Is this the true first?
The UK Voyager 1997 hardcover is the true first. The US HarperPrism trade paperback (January 1999) was the Philip K. Dick Award-eligible edition and won the award presented in 2000. This is a collection, not a novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US HarperPrism edition is the first US printing; later printings are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Vacuum Diagrams a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Voyager (HarperCollins) hardcover, April 1997, ISBN 0-00-225425-5; Xeelee-sequence story collection; dust jacket; first printing per the number line.
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 UK Voyager 1997 hardcover is the true first. The US HarperPrism trade paperback (January 1999) was the Philip K. Dick Award-eligible edition and won the award presented in 2000. This is a collection, not a novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The US HarperPrism edition is the first US printing; later printings are reprints.
I have a first edition of Vacuum Diagrams — 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.