Advance reader copy

An advance copy is "a free copy of a new book given out by a publisher before the book is widely available," best known as the ARC (advance reading copy or advance review copy) and sometimes simply a galley. ARCs exist "to generate reviews and publicity for the book in advance of its official publication date," typically reaching trade reviewers such as Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews "between four and six months before the book's expected release." They "may lack binding and cover art," "may have typos and other mistakes," and publishers "often discourage reviewers from quoting directly from the ARC"; unlike proof copies, they target reviewers rather than authors and editors. In self-publishing, "the author is responsible for finding reviewers and distributing copies."

For a novelist launching a book, the ARC is the review engine: the early quotes it wins become blurb material on the finished, ISBN-identified edition.