# Is "Cloud Nine" by Caryl Churchill a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill (Pluto Press, 1979) is identified by: First published London by Pluto Press, 1979, in association with the Joint Stock Theatre Group; issued in wrappers with copyright page stating 'First published 1979.' Written for Joint Stock and premiered in 1979. UK Pluto Press 1979 is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First published London by Pluto Press, 1979, in association with the Joint Stock Theatre Group; issued in wrappers with copyright page stating 'First published 1979.' Written for Joint Stock and premiered in 1979
- A revised text appeared in later printings, so the 1979 Pluto issue is the earliest
- Publisher imprint reads Pluto Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Caryl Churchill |
| Publisher | Pluto Press |
| Year | 1979 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First published London by Pluto Press, 1979, in association with the Joint Stock Theatre Group; issued in wrappers with copyright page… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First published London by Pluto Press, 1979, in association with the Joint Stock Theatre Group; issued in wrappers with copyright page stating 'First published 1979.' Written for Joint Stock and premiered in 1979. A revised text appeared in later printings, so the 1979 Pluto issue is the earliest.

## Is this the true first?
UK Pluto Press 1979 is the true first. A revised text followed (Pluto in the early 1980s, then Methuen) and is a later 'first thus,' and US editions (Routledge/TCG) are later still.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The later revised text differs from the 1979 Pluto first and should not be conflated with it. No book-club issue.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Cloud Nine* by Caryl Churchill a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/cloud-nine
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.