# Is "Once Upon a Time: A Floating Opera" by John Barth a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Once Upon a Time: A Floating Opera by John Barth (Little, Brown, 1994) is identified by: edition published 1994 by Little, Brown (ISBN 0316082627). True first is the 1994 Little, Brown U.S.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First U.S. edition published 1994 by Little, Brown (ISBN 0316082627)
- The first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line; the dust jacket carries the original price on the front flap
- A memoir-and-novel hybrid
- Publisher imprint reads Little, Brown
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Barth |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
| Year | 1994 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First U.S. edition published 1994 by Little, Brown (ISBN 0316082627) |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First U.S. edition published 1994 by Little, Brown (ISBN 0316082627). The first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line; the dust jacket carries the original price on the front flap. A memoir-and-novel hybrid.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 1994 Little, Brown U.S. edition. Confirmed against dealer descriptions of first/first copies.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue is a recognized first-edition pitfall for this title.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Once Upon a Time: A Floating Opera* by John Barth a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/once-upon-a-time-a-floating-opera
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.