# Is "A Child Again" by Robert Coover a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Child Again by Robert Coover (McSweeney's, 2005) is identified by: First McSweeney's edition (2005), a story collection. True first is the 2005 McSweeney's Books edition (San Francisco).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First McSweeney's edition
- , a story collection
- As issued, the rear board carries a pocket holding fifteen playing cards printing the story 'Heart Suit' (thirteen middle cards readable in any order), wrapped with an unbroken paper band, no dust jacket
- The card deck is present in all first-edition copies, not just some; a complete deck and intact band are integral to the book as issued
- Publisher imprint reads McSweeney's
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert Coover |
| Publisher | McSweeney's |
| Year | 2005 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First McSweeney's edition |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First McSweeney's edition (2005), a story collection. As issued, the rear board carries a pocket holding fifteen playing cards printing the story 'Heart Suit' (thirteen middle cards readable in any order), wrapped with an unbroken paper band, no dust jacket. The card deck is present in all first-edition copies, not just some; a complete deck and intact band are integral to the book as issued.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 2005 McSweeney's Books edition (San Francisco).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Child Again* by Robert Coover a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-child-again
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.