# Is "State of Fear" by Michael Crichton a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of State of Fear by Michael Crichton (HarperCollins, 2004) is identified by: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page above a complete number line ending in 1. US HarperCollins first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page above a complete number line ending in 1
- Issued in a color pictorial dust jacket whose front panel carries the author's name in tall red capitals across the top and the title in silver across the bottom; a first-issue jacket should retain the publisher's printed price on the front flap and be unclipped
- Publisher imprint reads HarperCollins
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Michael Crichton |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Year | 2004 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page above a complete number line ending in 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page above a complete number line ending in 1. Issued in a color pictorial dust jacket whose front panel carries the author's name in tall red capitals across the top and the title in silver across the bottom; a first-issue jacket should retain the publisher's printed price on the front flap and be unclipped.

## Is this the true first?
US HarperCollins first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints and book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement and the number line ending in 1; book-club copies are typically smaller and lighter with a blind rear-board stamp and no printed jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *State of Fear* by Michael Crichton a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/state-of-fear
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.