# Is "Approaching Oblivion" by Harlan Ellison a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Approaching Oblivion by Harlan Ellison (Walker, 1974) is identified by: Walker and Company first hardcover, 1974. US Walker first hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Walker and Company first hardcover, 1974
- Orange paper-covered boards stamped in purple, octavo, 238 pages; dust jacket priced on the front flap
- Eleven stories with a foreword by Michael Crichton and Dillon cover art
- Publisher imprint reads Walker
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Harlan Ellison |
| Publisher | Walker |
| Year | 1974 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Walker and Company first hardcover, 1974 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Walker and Company first hardcover, 1974. Orange paper-covered boards stamped in purple, octavo, 238 pages; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Eleven stories with a foreword by Michael Crichton and Dillon cover art.

## Is this the true first?
US Walker first hardcover is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions lack the jacket price and typically carry a blind-stamped indentation on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Approaching Oblivion* by Harlan Ellison a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/approaching-oblivion
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.