# Is "Cruising Paradise (stories)" by Sam Shepard a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Cruising Paradise (stories) by Sam Shepard (Alfred A. Knopf, 1996) is identified by: Knopf hardcover, 1996, half black cloth over boards with silver spine stamping and dust jacket. US Knopf hardcover is the true first; a UK Secker & Warburg edition also appeared in 1996.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Knopf hardcover, 1996, half black cloth over boards with silver spine stamping and dust jacket. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the publisher's number line; confirm the stated 'First Edition' wording is present
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Sam Shepard |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1996 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Knopf hardcover, 1996, half black cloth over boards with silver spine stamping and dust… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Knopf hardcover, 1996, half black cloth over boards with silver spine stamping and dust jacket. 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the publisher's number line; confirm the stated 'First Edition' wording is present.

## Is this the true first?
US Knopf hardcover is the true first; a UK Secker & Warburg edition also appeared in 1996.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition typically encountered for this title.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Cruising Paradise (stories)* by Sam Shepard a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/cruising-paradise-stories
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.