# Is "Act of Love" by Joe R. Lansdale a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Act of Love by Joe R. Lansdale (Zebra, 1981) is identified by: Zebra Books mass-market paperback original, 1981 first printing. The US Zebra paperback original is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Zebra Books mass-market paperback original, 1981 first printing
- Lansdale's first novel
- Publisher imprint reads Zebra
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Joe R. Lansdale |
| Publisher | Zebra |
| Year | 1981 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Zebra Books mass-market paperback original, 1981 first printing |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Zebra Books mass-market paperback original, 1981 first printing. Lansdale's first novel.

## Is this the true first?
The US Zebra paperback original is the true first. Later Subterranean Press and Cemetery Dance limited hardcovers are first-thus reprints, not the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not applicable; paperback original.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Act of Love* by Joe R. Lansdale a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/act-of-love
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.