# Is "Crystal Express" by Bruce Sterling a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Crystal Express by Bruce Sterling (Arkham House, 1989) is identified by: First story collection. The US Arkham House hardcover is the true first and the only collectible first; Arkham printed a single run.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First story collection
- Arkham House hardcover in black cloth with gilt-stamped spine; jacket and interior illustrations by Rick Lieder
- Single print run of roughly 4,231 copies with no later printing
- Publisher imprint reads Arkham House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Bruce Sterling |
| Publisher | Arkham House |
| Year | 1989 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First story collection |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First story collection. Arkham House hardcover in black cloth with gilt-stamped spine; jacket and interior illustrations by Rick Lieder. Single print run of roughly 4,231 copies with no later printing.

## Is this the true first?
The US Arkham House hardcover is the true first and the only collectible first; Arkham printed a single run. A Legend UK trade paperback followed.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Crystal Express* by Bruce Sterling a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/crystal-express
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.