# Is "Edge of Dark Water" by Joe R. Lansdale a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Edge of Dark Water by Joe R. Lansdale (Mulholland Books / Little, Brown, 2012) is identified by: Mulholland Books (Little, Brown) US first edition (ISBN 9780316188432), identified by the First Edition statement with a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, in dust jacket. The US Mulholland / Little, Brown hardcover is the recognized true first, published March 2012.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Mulholland Books (Little, Brown) US first edition (ISBN 9780316188432), identified by the First Edition statement with a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, in dust jacket
- Distinguish the US trade hardcover from the concurrent British PS Publishing hardcover by imprint: the PS issue is a signed limited of 300 numbered copies with a special jacket and slipcase, signed on the limitation page
- Publisher imprint reads Mulholland Books / Little, Brown
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Joe R. Lansdale |
| Publisher | Mulholland Books / Little, Brown |
| Year | 2012 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Mulholland Books (Little, Brown) US first edition (ISBN 9780316188432), identified by the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Mulholland Books (Little, Brown) US first edition (ISBN 9780316188432), identified by the First Edition statement with a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page, in dust jacket. Distinguish the US trade hardcover from the concurrent British PS Publishing hardcover by imprint: the PS issue is a signed limited of 300 numbered copies with a special jacket and slipcase, signed on the limitation page.

## Is this the true first?
The US Mulholland / Little, Brown hardcover is the recognized true first, published March 2012. The PS Publishing UK signed limited also appeared in 2012, effectively concurrent, but the US trade hardcover is the standard collected first; the PS issue is distinguished by its limitation and slipcase rather than preceding the US.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No standard trade book club edition is a concern here. The 2013 Mulholland trade paperback is a later issue; distinguish the US trade first from the UK PS limited by imprint, number line, limitation page, and slipcase.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Edge of Dark Water* by Joe R. Lansdale a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/edge-of-dark-water
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.