# Is "Roadwork" by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Roadwork by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) (Signet, 1981) is identified by: Signet paperback original, published March 1981. Paperback original; no hardcover first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Signet paperback original, published March 1981
- Copyright page states First Printing with the month and year and carries a full number line including 1
- As by Richard Bachman
- Publisher imprint reads Signet
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Richard Bachman (Stephen King) |
| Publisher | Signet |
| Year | 1981 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Signet paperback original, published March 1981 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Signet paperback original, published March 1981. Copyright page states First Printing with the month and year and carries a full number line including 1. As by Richard Bachman.

## Is this the true first?
Paperback original; no hardcover first. Scarce as a paperback original in collectible grade.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A (paperback original); later printings are stated.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Roadwork* by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/roadwork
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.