The points of issue
US Ace Books mass-market paperback original, 2005; first printing identified by the Ace number line ending in 1.
Is this the true first?
The US Ace paperback original of 2005 is the true first. It won the Philip K. Dick Award presented in 2006 for works published in 2005. A paperback original with no preceding hardcover.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reissues are reprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of War Surf a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Ace Books mass-market paperback original, 2005; first printing identified by the Ace number line ending in 1.
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 Ace paperback original of 2005 is the true first. It won the Philip K. Dick Award presented in 2006 for works published in 2005. A paperback original with no preceding hardcover.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reissues are reprints.
I have a first edition of War Surf — 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.