The points of issue
US Tor hardcover, published March 4, 2014; 'First Edition: March 2014' stated with number line ending in 1. Text point: the first printing carries the original ending in which Kaladin kills Szeth; Sanderson revised the scene for later printings so that the storm kills Szeth instead.
Is this the true first?
US Tor true first; UK Gollancz follows. First printings with the original Szeth ending are the first state of the text.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry the revised Szeth ending; leatherbound and anniversary editions are separate.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive 2) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Tor hardcover, published March 4, 2014; 'First Edition: March 2014' stated with number line ending in 1. Text point: the first printing carries the original ending in which Kaladin kills Szeth; Sanderson revised the scene for later printings so that the storm kills Szeth instead.
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 Tor true first; UK Gollancz follows. First printings with the original Szeth ending are the first state of the text.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings carry the revised Szeth ending; leatherbound and anniversary editions are separate.
I have a first edition of Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive 2) — 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.