# Is "To Sleep in a Sea of Stars" by Christopher Paolini a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini (Tor Books / Macmillan, 2020) is identified by: Tor Books (New York), 2020, first printing, identified by the full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page. The US Tor Books hardcover is the true first (September 15, 2020), reflecting Paolini's move from Knopf to Tor for his science fiction; a UK Tor/Macmillan edition (ISBN 978-1-5290-4650-2) also appeared in 2020.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Tor Books (New York), 2020, first printing, identified by the full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page
- Issued in black boards with blue lettering to the spine
- The first-state, unclipped dust jacket carries the printed first-issue price on the front flap
- Paolini's adult science-fiction debut and the launch of the Fractalverse
- Publisher imprint reads Tor Books / Macmillan
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Christopher Paolini |
| Publisher | Tor Books / Macmillan |
| Year | 2020 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | Tor Books (New York), 2020, first printing, identified by the full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Tor Books (New York), 2020, first printing, identified by the full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page. Issued in black boards with blue lettering to the spine. The first-state, unclipped dust jacket carries the printed first-issue price on the front flap. Paolini's adult science-fiction debut and the launch of the Fractalverse.

## Is this the true first?
The US Tor Books hardcover is the true first (September 15, 2020), reflecting Paolini's move from Knopf to Tor for his science fiction; a UK Tor/Macmillan edition (ISBN 978-1-5290-4650-2) also appeared in 2020. A signed numbered limited issue of roughly 750 copies exists.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings advance the number line so it no longer ends in 1; first printings should retain the priced, unclipped jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *To Sleep in a Sea of Stars* by Christopher Paolini a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/to-sleep-in-a-sea-of-stars
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.