# Is "Playground" by Richard Powers a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Playground by Richard Powers (W. W. Norton, 2024) is identified by: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1; W. The US W.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1
- W. W. Norton, ISBN 9781324086031, published September 24, 2024
- Look for an unclipped jacket retaining the printed Norton price and no remainder mark to the text-block edges
- Publisher imprint reads W. W. Norton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Richard Powers |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton |
| Year | 2024 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1; W. W. Norton, ISBN 9781324086031, published September 24, 2024. Look for an unclipped jacket retaining the printed Norton price and no remainder mark to the text-block edges.

## Is this the true first?
The US W. W. Norton edition is the true first, published September 24, 2024; the UK first was Hutchinson Heinemann in 2024. Booker Prize longlist.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No notable book club edition affects the first-printing identification.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Playground* by Richard Powers a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/playground
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.