# Is "Everything's Eventual" by Stephen King a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Everything's Eventual by Stephen King (Scribner, 2002) is identified by: First Scribner edition of King's 2002 story collection, identified by the stated line "First Scribner hardcover edition" on the copyright page together with the complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (lowest numeral 1 present for a first printing). US Scribner and UK Hodder & Stoughton editions were published simultaneously in March 2002; the Scribner issue is the standard collected first and is distinguished by the "First Scribner hardcover edition" statement with the full number line ending in 1.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First Scribner edition of King's 2002 story collection, identified by the stated line "First Scribner hardcover edition" on the copyright page together with the complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (lowest numeral 1 present for a first printing)
- Binding is blue-gray quarter cloth over gray boards with bright silver title stamping on the spine and plain white endpapers
- 459 pages
- The pictorial first-state dust jacket carries the wraparound illustration by Mark Stutzman, and the printed cover price should be present on the front flap (unclipped)
- Publisher imprint reads Scribner
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Stephen King |
| Publisher | Scribner |
| Year | 2002 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First Scribner edition of King's 2002 story collection, identified by the stated line "First Scribner hardcover edition" on the copyright… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First Scribner edition of King's 2002 story collection, identified by the stated line "First Scribner hardcover edition" on the copyright page together with the complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (lowest numeral 1 present for a first printing). Binding is blue-gray quarter cloth over gray boards with bright silver title stamping on the spine and plain white endpapers; 459 pages. The pictorial first-state dust jacket carries the wraparound illustration by Mark Stutzman, and the printed cover price should be present on the front flap (unclipped).

## Is this the true first?
US Scribner and UK Hodder & Stoughton editions were published simultaneously in March 2002; the Scribner issue is the standard collected first and is distinguished by the "First Scribner hardcover edition" statement with the full number line ending in 1.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club and later Scribner printings lack the complete descending-to-1 number line and the "First Scribner hardcover edition" statement; club copies are typically smaller, lighter, and often bear a blind stamp to the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Everything's Eventual* by Stephen King a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/everythings-eventual
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.