The Real first and Presumed first

[Grey_Wolf]

In the copy of The Narnia Septology which I have

Nr 1 is The Magician's Nephew
Nr 2 is The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe

Anyone concur with or contest this?

[Earniel]

In my old septology The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the first book of the series. And The Magician's Nephew is last or penultimate (I forget) but is called a 'prologue' to the whole series.

I suppose its place depends on whether you go by writing date or place in the story-timeline.

[Valandil]

That's how I understand it.

Most people suggest that I read LWW first - what do you 'mooters say? :)

[Serenoli]

I agree with them. Even though The Magician's Nephew was chronologically first, it makes more sense reading them the way they were written. Its more of a flashback than a prologue, if you get what I mean.

[Firekitten2006]

I just got the HUGE book with all 7 books in it and it says that although the Magicians Nephew was written after all the others, Lewis wanted it read first. It is as a prologue to the rest of them, as you see if you read it. (I'm reading it right now, and its slowing coming out and showing the background to the rest of the books).

[durinsbane2244]

i think the lion should be read first, like the redwall books...

[Lotesse]

I think one should read whatever book one feels like reading first, it's all good. Read the last one first! Read 'em backwards, standing on your head and juggling, who cares as long as you read them. Plus, you'll never get the same effect by watching any of the little movies as you will from READing the books, so - read them. In whatever order you fancy, it really doesn't matter. Screw the movies; the books are the thing!!

[durinsbane2244]

indeed

[cee2lee2]

I think one should read whatever book one feels like reading first, it's all good. Read the last one first! Read 'em backwards, standing on your head and juggling, who cares as long as you read them. Plus, you'll never get the same effect by watching any of the little movies as you will from READing the books, so - read them. In whatever order you fancy, it really doesn't matter. Screw the movies; the books are the thing!!


Agreed...............but I don't think I would have enjoyed The Magician's Nephew as much if I had read it first. I started with LW&W and read in published order, enjoying the progression/revelation of the tale on through The Last Battle.

[Earniel]

I feel likewise, cee2lee2. And most people I know seem to enjoy reading 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' more than 'The Magician's Nephew' so it might indeed be the best start. But then again, everyone's different...

[durinsbane2244]

i think that the lion should come first because it was written first, and thus it has an introductory element in it, so, as you read, you learn about narnia and how everything works, so you can then go on to the others knowing what Lewis means...

[Wayfarer]

The Magicians Nephew should definitely be read first. Reading them in the order they were written leaves that story as the odd one out in what is otherwise a chronological cycle relating the history of Narnia from it's creation to its destruction.

The various books in the series are also written in such a way that there isn't any reason not to read them in chronological order. The gaps and changes between each adventure are such that you really gain nothing by reading LWW first, since Narnia is re-introduced in each story as new characters are added and the veteran characters learn what's different this time around. Reading TMN first makes the most sense and is probably the most enjoyable, since it sets up for Jadis to become queen and helps explain the Lamp-post and the Wardrobe.

[brownjenkins]

what wayfarer said :D

[Curubethion]

I'm kinda undecided on this one. True, the proper chronology puts the background into place, but I think that's a mixed blessing. Consider an analogy to LOTR: in Hobbit, you didn't know any of the Ring's background. And if you did, that would totally have messed up your perception of the story. Instead, you got to discover, along with Frodo and Bilbo, what the Ring really was.
And I think that's what non-chronological reading is about: discovery of things, and then letting them all fit together.

[Rían]

good analogy, Curubethion. I like the order they were published in. I like the "filling in the blanks" feeling.

[brownjenkins]

i agree, but there isn't really a huge amount of discovery in the magician's nephew... certainly not at anywhere near the same level as tolkien

[Rían]

no, there's not, but there's still some discovery. I just like it the way I read it - a bit of hopping around, looking at different places and people, and some discovery along the way. Narnia is a different work from LOTR/Sil/etc. but I love them both!

[brownjenkins]

it definitely can work either way :)

[BeardofPants]

I read the LWW first, but I would have preferred to start with Magician's Nephew. I guess I'm in the MN-first crowd.

[mithrand1r]

That's how I understand it.

Most people suggest that I read LWW first - what do you 'mooters say? :)

I read MN first, but this was after I saw the LLW cartoon.
I think I read the rest of the Narnia books, but I am not sure. I definitely read the SilverChair, LWW and MN.

I liked the MN. I do not think it makes much difference regarding the order you read the books. Although they are chronological, I think each book is mostly independent from the other books.

I think the Movie makers did a great job in portraying the White Witch. She is similar to my idea of her from MN. (Especially regarding her height.)

I am inclined to say read MN first, but I do not think you can go wrong regardless of which book you read first.

[Wayfarer]

I am inclined to say read MN first, but I do not think you can go wrong regardless of which book you read first.

The way the Chronicles are set up, most of them don't need to be read in chronological order. There are significant chronological gaps between most of them, and the setting changes enough between stories that you can read any of them as a stand alone without much confusion.

[Mercutio]

I think LWW should be read first:

1. It introduces Aslan very well...mysterious...expectant...builds up...who is this "Aslan"...etc. MM assumes you know about Aslan already.
1.5 Lewis wrote them beginning with LWW, so his ideas and themes and thoughts progress in the published order, and un-chronologically.
2. You get the general feel for the series in LWW (as well as an intro to the symbolism/theology).
3. MN is a flashback.
4. MN (about beginning) and Last Battle (about end) go well together.

:)

[azalea]

When I first read them, LWW was the first in the series, and so I tend toward thinking that is the best way. It's fun to later read MN and say, oh, that's Prf. Kirke, oh, that's how the lampost came to be there, etc.
But then I think that reading MN first is perfectly acceptable, because then upon reading LWW the same thing would happen in reverse ("I know how that got there, I know who she is," etc.). The only book that doesn't fit perfectly is HHB, because it kind of flashes back from the end of LWW, but that's okay. The reader would still see it the same way.
So, Val, either way would be fine! :)

[hectorberlioz]

I agree with them. Even though The Magician's Nephew was chronologically first, it makes more sense reading them the way they were written. Its more of a flashback than a prologue, if you get what I mean.
And besides, it's a little surpise to find to find out that the prof. form LWW is Digory, a Narnia goer himself. Maybe not a big surprise, just a pleasant one. ;)

[inked]

As I have ranted before, it is publication order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

Dost thou sayest read the SILMARILLION firstest?

No, precioussssssssssssss, thou dost not!

:p

edit: 11-24-2004 http://www.entmoot.com/showthread.php?t=11514&page=4&pp=20 #63

Well, I am going to go all over nerdy here about the recent publications of the CoN because I came across them numbered IN PROPER CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE PER NARNIAN TIME! The only proper sequence to read them in for the first time is publication order in my inestimable and not at all humble nor modest opinion! It's, it's blasphemy, that's what it is, to number them for unsuspecting gift giving adults to buy for children!!! Some poor soul will now encounter them as though they were historically accurate renditions of Narnia instead of the wonderfully kaleidescoped published sequence. Ahh, the lack of romance and adventure to encounter Aslan as in TMN rather than LWW!!!!

I hear there are persons who consider this chronological series read to be proper and the only correct way to read TCON BUT that is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG (did I mention I regard that view as erroneous?)! I adduce the very proper stage and television and BBC productions of the series as further evidence of my thesis! And the ERTV/Kraft foods animated movie, as well!
And the intended current productions!!!!!!!!! Everyone knows they should be produced as published! Egads! Has the world gone enumeration delusional?

*breathes*

Oh, the horror of it! Is it the baleful influence of the enumerated HP series casting a bewitchment of arithmancy over the whole publishing industry? DO those chaps/chappettes in the booking world think that works of fiction need be cast all in the modes of artificial history a la Tolkein? Will they next number all the extant Tolkeiniana in the same fashion from Silmarillion to HoME whatever we are at? (And a good long lifetime to 'em if they try that!)
Shall we have Charles Williams novels subjected to the iniquities of this ilk?

*breathes...again*

I dare say sequentially narrative Lord Peter Wimsey novels are published as such for they were produced as such! But this irritatingly anachronistical ephemeral fad of producing numbered TCON is simply WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! To enter Narnia unaccompanied by Mr. Tumnus on the first visit????
It is sacrilege! Do not succumb to this mania for enumeration!
Go to Narnia as published and read for nearly 6 decades, not some moddish pseudo-historicism route, I beg of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*breathes*
...and tomorrow I'll say how I REALLY FEEL about this atrocity of enumerated publication by historicists!!!!!

[Acalewia]

Calm down Inked! :p

When I was first inroduced to CoN, I read LWW. Of course I didn't know at the time there were 6 more. In buying the big book with them all in it, I read MN first. I really don't think it matters as long as you read them. It should be your choice.

[azalea]

the ERTV/Kraft foods animated movie




Off-topic: Anyone seen this for sale anywhere?

[hectorberlioz]

Off-topic: Anyone seen this for sale anywhere?
I do remember watching an animated LWW! I watched in a motel, where we hooked up our video machine...wow ages ago.

[inked]

Off-topic: Anyone seen this for sale anywhere?

Check your local video store or online. It was marketed by Vestron. :)

[Mercutio]

Well, I am going to go all over nerdy here about the recent publications of the CoN because I came across them numbered IN PROPER CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE PER NARNIAN TIME! The only proper sequence to read them in for the first time is publication order in my inestimable and not at all humble nor modest opinion! It's, it's blasphemy, that's what it is, to number them for unsuspecting gift giving adults to buy for children!!! Some poor soul will now encounter them as though they were historically accurate renditions of Narnia instead of the wonderfully kaleidescoped published sequence. Ahh, the lack of romance and adventure to encounter Aslan as in TMN rather than LWW!!!!

I hear there are persons who consider this chronological series read to be proper and the only correct way to read TCON BUT that is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG (did I mention I regard that view as erroneous?)! I adduce the very proper stage and television and BBC productions of the series as further evidence of my thesis! And the ERTV/Kraft foods animated movie, as well!
And the intended current productions!!!!!!!!! Everyone knows they should be produced as published! Egads! Has the world gone enumeration delusional?


We have an old edition of them (pages falling out, spine breaking, etc.) that lists them in published order.

I dare say sequentially narrative Lord Peter Wimsey novels are published as such for they were produced as such!

I never really thought about that. But I suppose they must've been. In the front of our copies, they seem to list the novels in alphabetical order. Chronologically, aren't some in the middle move-around-able? It doesn't really matter whether you read Murder Must Advertise or Unnatural Death first. I understand getting the Wimsey-Vane in order, though, definitely. It's different from TCON--they are mostly separate stories. Wimsey mysteries follow a handful of characters for a prolonged period of time.

[cee2lee2]

As I have ranted before, it is publication order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

....To enter Narnia unaccompanied by Mr. Tumnus on the first visit????
It is sacrilege! ....


Hear! Hear! One of the best reasons yet for starting with LWW.

[Wayfarer]

As I have ranted before, it is publication order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

Dost thou sayest read the SILMARILLION firstest?

No, precioussssssssssssss, thou dost not! I wouldn't recommend anyone read the silmarillion first - or second, or at all. If the potential reader is, like me, is the sort of person who can really enjoy a work like the Silmarillion, they'll search it out and read it without needing to be told about it. If they're any other sort of person, chances are they'll never bother with it, and that's just fine.

Thank you, by the way, for that wonderful demonstration of all the worst elements to be found in a fanbase. Would you like to borrow my title? It's getting awfully dusty and someone else might get better use out of it than I am these days.

I'll happily leave you to your sacred cow, but throwing a tantrum because not everybody wants to do it your way is not only ridiculous, it's positively antithetical to the author's intent, and rather detrimental to the proper enjoyment of the stories. The stories indisputibly form a chronological cycle with a distinct beginning and end, and the author himself expressed a preference for reading them that way - which is, of course, the reasoning behind the order of the current publishing.

[inked]

Gee, Wayfarer, I am honored! But shouldn't you have said that over a year ago when I originally posted it? :D

Unfortunately, that is the only "tantrum" I have ever produced, assuming rant = tantrum. I don't think I qualify for your sig on that basis! :p

[littleadanel]

Gee, how I envy you people for this debate! :p I wish I had all the seven to read in whatever order I choose. The thing is, here only four were published so far - The Magician's Nephew, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Horse And His Boy, and Prince Caspian... (Not counting the ones published sometime around '90-'92, nowhere to be seen now, of course. I bet if it weren't for the movie, they wouldn't be published again now. :rolleyes: ) So far, I've actually seen Prince Caspian only, tucked into the corner of the fantasy-shelf in the bookstore. Really, these huge and gorgeous-looking bookstores in my town just stink when it comes to books I'm really interested in. :rolleyes: I guess I'll have to read Prince Caspian first :p

I think one should read whatever book one feels like reading first, it's all good. Read the last one first! Read 'em backwards, standing on your head and juggling, who cares as long as you read them.

lol :D Reminds me of myself, really. I took up the custom of reading the last sentence/paragraph/page of the book I've just started, when I don't yet know what it's about, and keep thinking about it while reading, and when I actually reach the end, it just slips into its place, like the last piece of a puzzle. ;)

[cee2lee2]

.....I took up the custom of reading the last sentence/paragraph/page of the book I've just started, when I don't yet know what it's about, and keep thinking about it while reading, and when I actually reach the end, it just slips into its place, like the last piece of a puzzle. ;)


Intriguing way to read a book. I've sometimes skipped ahead to find out what happens when I'm not particularly enjoying the book but I want to know how it ends up. But your idea of the last piece of the puzzle is an interesting approach. Might try it myself!

[littleadanel]

... Might try it myself!

Gee, am I actually spreading this? :o :D

Anyway, yesterday I've been to a more decent bookstore, and brought LWW, MN and um.. yes, the Horse and his boy. Already finished LWW, and I really liked it. Especially the part when Aslan plays with Susan and Lucy after his resurrection. And when one of the girls (can't remember who) calls him As, just as they call each other Lu and Ed and Su... ;)

Oh goodness, sometimes I really doubt I'm normal... :p But at least when (sometime in the future...) I have my own children, they'll have many books to choose from.

[Valandil]

OK - I finally read it! The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, that is.

I decided to read that one first, in hopes of reading it and afterwards catching the movie while it's still in theaters. It didn't take much time at all - but I poured a lot more time into it the last few days - when I read most of it (like from Friday through today I think - I probably read the last 2/5's today).

Loved it, of course! And looking forward to seeing the movie now.

[crickhollow]

val, are you trying to tell me that you've never read the lion, the witch and wardrobe before? where have you been?

[Valandil]

Under a ... rock? :o

But I DID read Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters and A Grief Observed in my early college years (if that helps redeem me).

[crickhollow]

a little, but not really. :D

[cee2lee2]

......But I DID read Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters and A Grief Observed in my early college years (if that helps redeem me).


Interesting! I did the opposite - read the Chronicles of Narnia and the space trilogy in early college and the others much later. Still haven't read A Grief Observed.

[crickhollow]

I've never actually read screwtape, but I have listened to the audio book that's narrated by John Cleese. great way to spend an early morning commute to Seattle. Or anywhere, really.

[inked]

Valandil, "today thou art a (literary) man"! :D

[hectorberlioz]

I've never actually read screwtape, but I have listened to the audio book that's narrated by John Cleese. great way to spend an early morning commute to Seattle. Or anywhere, really.
John Cleese reads Screwtape? :eek: That should be interesting. :D I'm going to look for that now.

[inked]

Yes. Available on audio cassette and CD formats. I recommend the latter as it has all the letters (50th anniversary edition) and can be searched more easily! :D

I once taught a Sunday School class on SCREWTAPE using this format. It was quite well appreciated by all due to our narrator! :cool:

[GreyMouser]

Absolutely fanatical on this- CS, what were you thinking?

1-TLTWTW
2-Prince Caspian
3-The Dawn Treader
4- The Silver Chair
5, 6, The Magician's Nephew; TheHorse and His Boy
7- The Last Battle

Have hung out at our college library warning (Taiwanese) English-Language teachers against the printed order- "But it says No. 1 " "PUT THAT DOWN- start with The Lion.."

[Finrod Felagund]

Read LLW, and the go back and read the series in timeline order. Thats my 2 cents.