If $x^4+8x^3+18x^2+8x+a = 0$ has four distinct real roots, then the real set of $a$ is

$ \textbf{(A)}\ (-9,2) \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ (-9,0) \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ [-9,0) \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ [-8,1) \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ (-8,1)$
1. Given the polynomial equation \(x^4 + 8x^3 + 18x^2 + 8x + a = 0\), we need to determine the set of values for \(a\) such that the equation has four distinct real roots.
2. We start by rewriting the polynomial in a form that is easier to analyze. Notice that:
   \[
   (x^2 + 4x + 1)^2 = x^4 + 8x^3 + 18x^2 + 8x + 1
   \]
   Therefore, we can rewrite the given polynomial equation as:
   \[
   (x^2 + 4x + 1)^2 = 1 - a
   \]
3. For the polynomial to have four distinct real roots, the equation \((x^2 + 4x + 1)^2 = 1 - a\) must have four distinct real solutions. This implies that the quadratic equation \(x^2 + 4x + 1 = \sqrt{1 - a}\) and \(x^2 + 4x + 1 = -\sqrt{1 - a}\) must each have two distinct real roots.
4. Consider the quadratic equation \(x^2 + 4x + 1 = k\), where \(k = \sqrt{1 - a}\) or \(k = -\sqrt{1 - a}\). The discriminant of this quadratic equation must be positive for it to have two distinct real roots. The discriminant \(\Delta\) of \(x^2 + 4x + 1 = k\) is given by:
   \[
   \Delta = 4^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot (1 - k) = 16 - 4(1 - k) = 16 - 4 + 4k = 12 + 4k
   \]
   For the quadratic to have two distinct real roots, we need:
   \[
   12 + 4k > 0 \implies 4k > -12 \implies k > -3
   \]
5. Since \(k = \sqrt{1 - a}\) or \(k = -\sqrt{1 - a}\), we need to consider both cases:
   - For \(k = \sqrt{1 - a}\), we have \(\sqrt{1 - a} > -3\). Since \(\sqrt{1 - a}\) is always non-negative, this condition is always satisfied.
   - For \(k = -\sqrt{1 - a}\), we have \(-\sqrt{1 - a} > -3 \implies \sqrt{1 - a} < 3\).
6. Combining these conditions, we get:
   \[
   0 \leq \sqrt{1 - a} < 3
   \]
   Squaring both sides, we obtain:
   \[
   0 \leq 1 - a < 9 \implies -8 < a \leq 1
   \]
7. Therefore, the set of values for \(a\) such that the polynomial \(x^4 + 8x^3 + 18x^2 + 8x + a = 0\) has four distinct real roots is:
   \[
   (-8, 1)
   \]

The final answer is \(\boxed{(-8, 1)}\).