The points of issue
Bantam Spectra US hardcover with a full number line ending in 1 and the Bantam Spectra colophon. Viking UK hardcover also dated 1993 (different setting, lower page count).
Is this the true first?
US Bantam Spectra (September 1993) is generally cited as the first edition; the UK Viking hardcover follows the same year. Bridge trilogy volume 1.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Science Fiction Book Club edition exists, identifiable by a blind stamp to the board and no price on the jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Virtual Light a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Bantam Spectra US hardcover with a full number line ending in 1 and the Bantam Spectra colophon. Viking UK hardcover also dated 1993 (different setting, lower page count).
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. US Bantam Spectra (September 1993) is generally cited as the first edition; the UK Viking hardcover follows the same year. Bridge trilogy volume 1.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A Science Fiction Book Club edition exists, identifiable by a blind stamp to the board and no price on the jacket.
I have a first edition of Virtual Light — 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.