Literary Machines (short title) is a book first published in 1981 by Ted Nelson and republished nine times by 1993.

The format of the book is nonlinear, as the chapters are arranged in such a way that the text can be read out of order.

Since that time the book has gone through various editions with different-colored covers, printed by various people with various degrees of permission.

The main revision took place in 1987, when I added most of the technical material..." The preface to the second edition, also in 1981, states "This special edition of Literary Machines has been printed by XOC, Inc. under special arrangement with Ted Nelson.

Certain changes have been made in the text by XOC, Inc. to reflect the current status of the Xanadu System.