# Is "Burning Chrome" by William Gibson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Burning Chrome by William Gibson (Arbor House, 1986) is identified by: Story collection, Arbor House hardcover. US Arbor House hardcover (1986) is the true first edition; the Victor Gollancz UK hardcover (also 1986) follows.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Story collection, Arbor House hardcover
- First-printing copies carry a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; introduction by Bruce Sterling
- Later printings remove the low digits from the number line
- Publisher imprint reads Arbor House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William Gibson |
| Publisher | Arbor House |
| Year | 1986 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Story collection, Arbor House hardcover |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Story collection, Arbor House hardcover. First-printing copies carry a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; introduction by Bruce Sterling. Later printings remove the low digits from the number line.

## Is this the true first?
US Arbor House hardcover (1986) is the true first edition; the Victor Gollancz UK hardcover (also 1986) follows. First collection of Gibson's short fiction.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Science Fiction Book Club issue exists, identifiable by a blind gutter dot on the rear board and no price on the jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Burning Chrome* by William Gibson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/burning-chrome
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.