# Is "Magic Terror" by Peter Straub a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Magic Terror by Peter Straub (Random House, 2000) is identified by: Random House (New York) US first edition, 2000, of this collection of seven tales; ISBN 9780375503931. The US Random House hardcover is the true first edition; the UK HarperCollins edition followed in 2001.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House (New York) US first edition, 2000, of this collection of seven tales
- ISBN 9780375503931
- The copyright page states First Edition and carries the Random House printer's key in the house's split-even/odd form, reading 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3, with both the stated line and the low number 3 present on a true first printing
- Issued in boards with dust jacket; the first-state jacket should retain its printed price and be unclipped
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Peter Straub |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 2000 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House (New York) US first edition, 2000, of this collection of seven tales |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House (New York) US first edition, 2000, of this collection of seven tales; ISBN 9780375503931. The copyright page states First Edition and carries the Random House printer's key in the house's split-even/odd form, reading 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3, with both the stated line and the low number 3 present on a true first printing. Issued in boards with dust jacket; the first-state jacket should retain its printed price and be unclipped.

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House hardcover is the true first edition; the UK HarperCollins edition followed in 2001.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition exists and is distinguished from the trade first by the absence of the stated First Edition and full number line on the copyright page, a blind stamp or dot on the rear board, and lighter, thinner binding; verify the Random House printer's key 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Magic Terror* by Peter Straub a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/magic-terror
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.