The points of issue
DAW paperback original, DAW Collectors No. 444, stated First Printing, August 1981, on the copyright page.
Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder.
Is this the true first?
US DAW paperback original (August 1981) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None known.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Wave Without a Shore a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: DAW paperback original, DAW Collectors No. 444, stated First Printing, August 1981, on the copyright page.
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 DAW paperback original (August 1981) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None known.
I have a first edition of Wave Without a Shore — 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.