# Is "All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers" by Larry McMurtry a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers by Larry McMurtry (Simon & Schuster, 1972) is identified by: Simon & Schuster, New York, 1972, first edition, first printing; the copyright page states "First printing." Bound in black cloth with the spine lettered in red, and with red endpapers and pastedowns; collation [5], 7–286, [2] pp. True first US edition of the novel (Simon & Schuster, 1972); McMurtry's sixth book.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Simon & Schuster, New York, 1972, first edition, first printing; the copyright page states "First printing." Bound in black cloth with the spine lettered in red, and with red endpapers and pastedowns; collation [5], 7–286, [2] pp
- The first-issue dust jacket retains its printed front-flap price
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Larry McMurtry |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1972 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Simon & Schuster, New York, 1972, first edition, first printing; the copyright page… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Simon & Schuster, New York, 1972, first edition, first printing; the copyright page states "First printing." Bound in black cloth with the spine lettered in red, and with red endpapers and pastedowns; collation [5], 7–286, [2] pp. The first-issue dust jacket retains its printed front-flap price.

## Is this the true first?
True first US edition of the novel (Simon & Schuster, 1972); McMurtry's sixth book.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club edition lacks the "First printing" statement, is printed on thinner bulk with a blind-stamp to the rear board, and its jacket bears no printed flap price; later printings alter or drop the statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers* by Larry McMurtry a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/all-my-friends-are-going-to-be-strangers
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.