Ballantine Books Inc., 2019 cover
Cover of the Ballantine Books Inc., 2019 edition of this book. The Severn House 1983 jacket has not been photographed yet.
Identification points are listed only where two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 28 Oct 2026.
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The first British edition is a Severn House hardback issued in London in 1983 (ISBN 072780961X), 410 pages, 25 cm. The book first appeared in America from Del Rey/Ballantine, New York, in November 1983 (ISBN 0345298748, xiv plus 286 pages, cover art by Michael Whelan), and a Science Fiction Book Club hardback followed in 1984; neither of those is the British issue. Check the title page for the Severn House imprint and the 0727 ISBN prefix.
We have not yet confirmed the issue points that tell this first impression from later ones. Until we do, compare your copy's title page and copyright page with the publisher, place and year above: any later printing or edition statement means it is not this one.
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The cover image shows this book but may not be this edition or printing.
Severn House, United Kingdom, in 1983, in hardback.
Points of issue are listed only where at least two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 28 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
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