# Is "A Song for Lya and Other Stories" by George R.R. Martin a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Song for Lya and Other Stories by George R.R. Martin (Avon, 1976) is identified by: Martin's first book; first story collection. US Avon paperback original is the true first; no hardcover precedes it.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Martin's first book; first story collection
- US Avon paperback original (Avon 27581), 1976; copyright page of the first printing states First Avon Printing: February, 1976
- Hugo-winning title novella
- Publisher imprint reads Avon
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | George R.R. Martin |
| Publisher | Avon |
| Year | 1976 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Martin's first book; first story collection |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Martin's first book; first story collection. US Avon paperback original (Avon 27581), 1976; copyright page of the first printing states First Avon Printing: February, 1976. Hugo-winning title novella.

## Is this the true first?
US Avon paperback original is the true first; no hardcover precedes it.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Avon reprints change the printing statement on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Song for Lya and Other Stories* by George R.R. Martin a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-song-for-lya-and-other-stories
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.