# Is "Stinger" by Robert R. McCammon a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Stinger by Robert R. McCammon (Pocket Books, 1988) is identified by: Pocket Books paperback original, 1988. The Pocket paperback original is the true first; all hardcover editions are later and first-thus only.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Pocket Books paperback original, 1988
- First printing has a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Pocket Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert R. McCammon |
| Publisher | Pocket Books |
| Year | 1988 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Pocket Books paperback original, 1988 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Pocket Books paperback original, 1988. First printing has a full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
The Pocket paperback original is the true first; all hardcover editions are later and first-thus only.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not applicable (paperback original).

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Stinger* by Robert R. McCammon a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/stinger
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.