How to identify a first printing
- First printing: complete number line counting down to 1 (e.g. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1); a lowest number above 1 indicates a later printing — the standard Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown house practice
- A 'First Edition' (or 'First Printing') statement on the copyright page is common but is not present on every title; the full number line is the reliable signal
Notable points & cautions
- Science-fiction and fantasy division of Hachette Book Group, launched 2007 as the US arm of UK Orbit; major SFF list
- The Orbit division comprises four imprints: Orbit, Redhook (commercial/speculative fiction, launched 2013), Orbit Works (digital), and Run For It (horror, announced July 2024)
- US Orbit is distinct from UK Orbit — confirm the edition's country of publication before applying US conventions
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Orbit, Redhook, Orbit Works, Run For It. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Orbit (US) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printing: complete number line counting down to 1 (e.g. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1); a lowest number above 1 indicates a later printing — the standard Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown house practice A 'First Edition' (or 'First Printing') statement on the copyright page is common but is not present on every title; the full number line is the reliable signal
Does Orbit (US) use a number line?
A 'First Edition' (or 'First Printing') statement on the copyright page is common but is not present on every title; the full number line is the reliable signal
Is a book-club edition a Orbit (US) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Science-fiction and fantasy division of Hachette Book Group, launched 2007 as the US arm of UK Orbit; major SFF list
What era does this cover?
This covers Orbit (US) (US imprint 2007–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.