# Is "Songs of Stars and Shadows" by George R.R. Martin a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Songs of Stars and Shadows by George R.R. Martin (Pocket Books, 1977) is identified by: Story collection of nine pieces; the author's second collection, issued as 'A Kangaroo Book' by Pocket Books. US Pocket Books paperback original is the true first; there was no prior hardcover.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Story collection of nine pieces; the author's second collection, issued as 'A Kangaroo Book' by Pocket Books
- US Pocket Books mass-market paperback original (Pocket 81277), 1977, ISBN 0-671-81277-7, 240 pages, no dust jacket as issued
- The first printing states 'POCKET BOOK edition published July, 1977' on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Pocket Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | George R.R. Martin |
| Publisher | Pocket Books |
| Year | 1977 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Story collection of nine pieces; the author's second collection, issued as 'A Kangaroo Book' by Pocket Books |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Story collection of nine pieces; the author's second collection, issued as 'A Kangaroo Book' by Pocket Books. US Pocket Books mass-market paperback original (Pocket 81277), 1977, ISBN 0-671-81277-7, 240 pages, no dust jacket as issued. The first printing states 'POCKET BOOK edition published July, 1977' on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
US Pocket Books paperback original is the true first; there was no prior hardcover.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reprints change the printing statement on the copyright page; the July 1977 Pocket statement identifies the first printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Songs of Stars and Shadows* by George R.R. Martin a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/songs-of-stars-and-shadows
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.