A Collector’s Guide to the Enderverse by Chris W.
I first read ‘Ender’s Game’ in 1998 at the age of 14. I was hooked and Orson Scott Card quickly became my favorite author. I’m also a lifelong book collector, but collecting the works of Card didn’t cross my mind until nearly a decade after I first encountered the Enderverse. Why’d I wait so long?
The answer is because there is surprisingly little information about the different versions of Card’s work. You can find an internet resource for nearly every bestselling author. Stephen King, for example, has dozens of sites dedicated to his works, but not Card.
What you see below is a summary of the collectible versions of ‘Ender’s Game’ as well as the other stories in the Enderverse.
I welcome additions and corrections. Most of the material below is based on Card’s bibliography and what I’ve seen on the market. I’ve also received assistance from the Philotic Web and Hatrack River message boards.
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The Four Versions of Ender’s Game
There are at least four written versions of ‘Ender’s Game’:
- The story was first published as a novella in the August 1977 issue of the Analog.
- The story first appeared as a standalone novel in 1985. This version went on to win the Hugo and Nebula awards, yet comparatively few people have read (or own) this version of the book.
- The version most familiar to readers today is the 1991 revised version. Card made several minor changes to reflect the changed political climate after the fall of the Soviet Union.
- The final version has yet to be published, but Card claims to have already written it. In the afterward to ‘Ender in Exile’, Card said he rewrote Chapter 15 and posted it on Intergalactic Medicine Show. To my knowledge, he never actually did so. (If he did and if you have a copy, please contact me ASAP!) Card said in the afterward that he hoped to publish this fourth version of ‘Ender’s Game’ in the future.
‘Ender’s Game’ Version One: Analog 1977
The August 1977 issue of Analog is highly sought after. Most issues of Analog go for under $5 on eBay, but not the August 1977 issue. I’ve seen a few auctions exceed a hundred bucks for an unsigned copy in good condition. Signed copies are rarely auctioned, but when they are, they go for a small fortune.
If you’d rather not spend that sum on on item (which is understandable), the short story has been reproduced in numerous other publications. For example, you can find the novella in ‘First Meetings in Ender’s Universe’ or some versions of Card’s short story collection, ‘Maps in a Mirror’.
‘Ender’s Game’ Version Two: The 1985 Novel
The 1985 novel was published in the United States by Tor. I am not aware of the number in the initial printing.
A true first edition will have a price on the dust jacket of $13.95. The copyright page will say “First Tor printing: January 1985”.
First edition first printing copies go for several hundred dollars. If you’d rather not spend that much money, but would still like to see a copy before the 1991 revisions check out the 1986 first mass market paperback. Or search on eBay or Abebooks for a copy of ‘Ender’s War’, which was a 1986 book club omnibus containing the original versions of both ‘Ender’s Game’ and ‘Speaker for the Dead’.
‘Ender’s Game’ Version Three: The 1991 Revisions
As discussed above, Card made minor revisions to the original novel in 1991. A new hardcover was released by Tor in August 1991, but it isn’t particularly collectible. Dozens of other editions have followed. The post 1991 version is referred to in promotional materials as the “Author’s Definitive Edition.”
There are, however, three collectible versions of the 1991 revised version of Ender’s Game: two versions by Tor and one by Easton Press.
Card’s bibliography (which has a few understandable inaccuracies) indicates that Tor released two limited leather-bound editions: one in August 1991 and another in September 1992. The latter version is boxed, and this 1992 edition was issued in a limited edition of 225 copies, 25 of which are lettered (presumably with letters A to Y). However, other than the reference in Card’s bibliography, I’ve never seen a copy of the 1991 edition mentioned online. I do not know whether these limited editions are signed, nor do I know the limitation number. If you have information, I’d love to hear from you!
Easton Press released a signed leather-bound edition in 1993 as part of their Masterpieces of Science Fiction series. Easton Press is known for printing high-quality, leather-bound books, and their version of ‘Ender’s Game’ does not disappoint. Copies are rare and sell for quite a bit, but they’re a good way to get a signed copy of the book. The exact print count is unknown, but I’d estimate it at a few hundred.
A Gift Edition
If you’re looking for a nice copy to buy a friend or yourself, in 2006 a “Gift Edition” of the book was released. This version is hardback and seems well designed. It isn’t particularly rare or collectible, but it is affordable and it is a beautiful copy of the book. Last year around Christmas you could order copies signed by Card from a Barnes & Noble in his hometown.
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‘Speaker for the Dead’
There are two collectible versions of ‘Speaker for the Dead’: the first edition and the Easton Press edition.
Tor released a hardcover in March 1986. First edition first printing copies will say “First printing: March 1986” on the copyright page and have a dust jacket price of $15.95. I’ve never seen information on the size of the first printing. For some reason, Card’s bibliography says the book was published in February 1986, but I’ve never seen a copy that said that on the copyright page.
Easton Press released a leather-bound edition in 1990. Easton Press is known for printing high-quality, leather bound books, and their version of ‘Speaker for the Dead’ does not disappoint. The book was released without a signature. The number of copies printed is unknown, but it seems to be rarer than the Easton Press version of ‘Ender’s Game’, despite the lower price of ‘Speaker for the Dead’. I’ve seen copies sell for as little as $40.
Like ‘Ender’s Game’, ‘Speaker for the Dead’ received slight revisions in 1991. None of the newer versions are particularly collectible. If you want to read the original version but don’t want to spring for a first edition or the Easton Press edition, I recommend buying a copy of ‘Ender’s War’.
‘Ender’s War’
The Science Fiction Book Club released an omnibus book called ‘Ender’s War’ in 1986. The book contains the original novelization of ‘Ender’s Game’ and ‘Speaker for the Dead’. The book does not sell for much, even if signed.
A true first printing will have a gutter code reading Q24 on Page 633.
‘Xenocide’
‘Xenocide’ was released in hardcover by Tor in August 1991. A true first edition can be had for a few dollars unless signed.
‘Xenocide’ was released in a signed limited leather-bound edition of 325 copies. Three hundred copies are numbered, and 25 are lettered (presumably with letters A to Y). This version features black leather with gold printing in a black leather slipcase. For some reason, this edition is not mentioned on Card’s bibliography.
‘Xenocide’ is partially based on the short story “Gloriously Bright,” which first appeared in the January 1991 edition of Analog. Copies of that Analog issue go for less than $10.
‘Children of the Mind’
‘Children of the Mind’ was released in hardcover by Tor in August 1996. A true first edition can be had for a few dollars unless signed.
‘COTM’ was released in a signed limited leathe-rbound edition of 100 copies. Seventy five copies are numbered, and 25 are lettered (presumably with letters A to Y). This version features brown leather with gold printing in a brown leather slipcase. For some reason, this edition is also not mentioned on Card’s bibliography.
‘First Meetings’
‘First Meetings’ has been published in at least three formats: a Subterranean Press hardcover edition (the Endercon edition), a Subterranean Press signed limited edition, and the Tor edition.
The Subterranean Press editions were released in July 2002 and called “First Meetings: Three Stories from the Enderverse.” The hardcover edition was sold only at Endercon and via Hatrack River. The signed limited edition was limited to 350 numbered copies and comes in a slipcase. Product details are still available from SubPress.
The Tor edition (‘First Meetings in the Enderverse’) isn’t particularly collectible unless signed, but it does include a story (‘Teacher’s Pest’) not found in the SubPress version. The book was released in August 2003, after Card had stopped conducting signing tours, so copies with signatures are rarer than other books.
‘Ender in Exile’
‘Ender in Exile’ was released in hardcover by Tor in November 2008. A true first edition can be had for a few dollars unless signed. The book was released after Card had stopped conducting signing tours, so copies with signatures are rarer than other books.
‘Ender in Exile’ was released in a signed limited leather-bound edition of 100 copies. Seventy five copies are numbered, and 25 are lettered (presumably with letters A to Y). This version features brown leather with gold printing in a brown leather slipcase. For some reason, this edition is also not mentioned on Card’s bibliography.
‘A War of Gifts’
As far as I know, there is not a limited edition of version of ‘A War of Gifts’. The hardcover was released by Tor in November 2007 with a deckled edge. On a true first edition, the copyright page will say “First Edition: November 2007” and will contain a full number line.
Signed copies are readily available.
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‘Ender’s Shadow’
‘Ender’s Shadow’ was released by Tor in September 1999. A first edition isn’t particularly collectible unless signed, and signed copies are readily available.
Tor released a signed limited leather-bound edition of 200 copies, but they rarely come up for sale. 175 copies are signed and numbered, and 25 copies are lettered (presumably using letters A to Y). The edition is slipcased and bound in brown leather with silver lettering.
‘Shadow of the Hegemon’
‘SOTH’ was released by Tor in January 2001. A first edition isn’t particularly collectible unless signed, and signed copies are readily available. ‘SOTH’ was Card’s last signing tour.
Tor released a signed limited leather-bound edition of 125 copies. 100 copies are signed and numbered, and 25 copies are lettered (presumably using letters A to Y). The edition is slipcased and bound in brown leather with silver lettering. Interestingly, this edition isn’t mentioned on OSC’s bibliography.
‘Shadow Puppets’
‘Shadow Puppets’ was released by Tor in August 2002. A first edition isn’t expensive unless signed. Because Card never did a signing tour for ‘Shadow Puppets’, signed copies can be hard to come by.
Tor released a signed limited leather-bound edition of 125 copies. 100 copies are signed and numbered, and 25 copies are lettered (presumably using letters A to Y). The edition is slipcased and bound in brown leather with silver lettering.
‘Shadow Puppets’ is the only lettered edition of an OSC book I’ve ever seen come up for sale. (I bought it, and the letter is W.)
For some reason, limited edition copies of ‘Shadow Puppets’ come up for sale more often than the other books.
‘Shadow of the Giant’
‘SOTG’ was released by Tor in March 2005. A first edition isn’t expensive unless signed. Because Card never did a signing tour for ‘SOTG’, signed copies can be hard to come by.
Tor released a signed limited leather-bound edition of 100 copies. I’m not sure how many of those are numbered and how many of those are lettered. I’ve never seen a number higher than 75, so it is possible that the last twenty five copies are lettered. The edition is slipcased and bound in brown leather with silver lettering. Interestingly, this edition isn’t mentioned on OSC’s bibliography.
Shadows in Flight, Earth Unaware, Earth Afire, and Earth Awakens
I am not aware of a limited edition of Shadows in Flight, Earth Unaware, Earth Afire, or Earth Awakens. Tor does not show a limited edition as having been published. Neither does Card’s bibliography, but that document is known for leaving out limited editions! The first editions of Shadows in Flight and Earth Unaware were released in 2012; Earth Afire was released in 2013; Earth Awakens in 2014. None of the books are particularly expensive unless signed.
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Short Stories
Card has released a number of short stories from the Enderverse. Most of them are included in ‘First Meetings’ or incorporated into ‘Ender in Exile’. The rest are available on Intergalactice Medicine Show. You can still buy printed copies of Intergalactic Medicide Show; I’m not aware of any limited editions.
Signed or Inscribed?
A quick note for those of you new to book collecting: flat signed copies (where there is no writing on the page other than the signature) tend to sell for more than inscribed copies (where the author has written a personal note to somebody). Signed (and even inscribed) copies of ‘Ender’s Game’ and the other books are collectible no matter what the edition!
But be careful of forgeries. One advantage to buying signed limited editions or an Easton Press edition is that you know the signature is real. Card’s signature would be difficult to fake, but it is doable. Card almost always signs on the half title page, so be skeptical of copies signed on other pages. Compare the signature to a copy you can find on the web.
Card no longer accepts books for signature by mail. However, you can buy signed bookplates for $1 at the Hatrack River store.
Additions or Mistakes?
I’d love to hear from you with questions or comments. If you have information about the revised version of Chapter 15 or the Tor limited editions of Ender’s Game, I’d be particularly interested in hearing from you!