# Is "The Armageddon Rag" by George R.R. Martin a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Armageddon Rag by George R.R. Martin (Poseidon Press, 1983) is identified by: US Poseidon Press hardcover, 1983; the first trade printing has a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. The Poseidon Press trade hardcover (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) and a Nemo Press signed, numbered, slipcased limited edition of 500 copies with art by Victor Moscoso appeared essentially simultaneously in 1983; the Poseidon issue is the trade first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Poseidon Press hardcover, 1983; the first trade printing has a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page
- The full title reads 'The Armageddon Rag: A Stereophonic Long-Playing Novel.' First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Poseidon Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | George R.R. Martin |
| Publisher | Poseidon Press |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Poseidon Press hardcover, 1983; the first trade printing has a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US Poseidon Press hardcover, 1983; the first trade printing has a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. The full title reads 'The Armageddon Rag: A Stereophonic Long-Playing Novel.' First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
The Poseidon Press trade hardcover (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) and a Nemo Press signed, numbered, slipcased limited edition of 500 copies with art by Victor Moscoso appeared essentially simultaneously in 1983; the Poseidon issue is the trade first. The UK edition follows. The novel's commercial failure pushed Martin toward television work.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition differs: it is typically smaller and lighter, lacks the complete number line, and carries a blind-stamped code on the rear board instead of a jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Armageddon Rag* by George R.R. Martin a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-armageddon-rag
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.