Eye of the Needle
by Ken Follett
Eye of the Needle is a Second World War spy thriller by Ken Follett, first published in the United Kingdom in 1978 under the title Storm Island. A German agent who has learned the truth about the D-Day deception races to reach a U-boat while MI5 pursues him. It won the 1979 Edgar Award.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First edition
- Futura, 1978
The first edition of Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett was published in London by Futura in 1978. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
Later and other editions
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Awards and honours
Adaptations
- Eye of the Needle film, 1981
In print
- Editions recorded
- 83 on Open Library, 33 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 12 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Ken Follett
Questions about Eye of the Needle
No questions yet. Not sure which edition you have, or whether a detail matters? Be the first to ask: collectors and our editors answer.
Reviews of Eye of the Needle
Read it or own it? Share what Eye of the Needle is like to read or collect.
Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of Eye of the Needle?
The first edition of Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett was published in London by Futura in 1978.
How many editions of Eye of the Needle are there?
We track 2 editions of Eye of the Needle, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Did Eye of the Needle win any awards?
Yes: Eye of the Needle won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel (1979), according to Wikidata.
Has Eye of the Needle been adapted?
Yes, including Eye of the Needle (film, 1981), according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- Eye of the Needle (novel), Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Eye of the Needle (Q1215095), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
- Eye of the Needle, Ken Follett official site (ken-follett.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 18 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.