# Is "Anathem" by Neal Stephenson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Anathem by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow, 2008) is identified by: Morrow hardcover with 'First Edition' stated and a full number line descending to 1. The US Morrow hardcover, published September 9, 2008, is the true first; the UK Atlantic Books edition followed.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Morrow hardcover with 'First Edition' stated and a full number line descending to 1
- First-printing copies were issued with a promotional CD and ochre endpapers, though the CD is a feature rather than a state point
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neal Stephenson |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 2008 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Morrow hardcover with 'First Edition' stated and a full number line descending to 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Morrow hardcover with 'First Edition' stated and a full number line descending to 1. First-printing copies were issued with a promotional CD and ochre endpapers, though the CD is a feature rather than a state point.

## Is this the true first?
The US Morrow hardcover, published September 9, 2008, is the true first; the UK Atlantic Books edition followed.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Trade only.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Anathem* by Neal Stephenson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/anathem
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.