Question

[james_davis_nicoll]

Which is the correct order to read the Lensmen books in? The ones that were published first first, with the two prequels last, or in internal chronological order?

Comments

[mastadge.livejournal.com]

Unless it doesn't match composition order!

[le-trombone.livejournal.com]

Unless the author has stated there was some grand design that he or she tipped over by mistake, there's never really a reason to read out of publication order. The composition will be implicit in the writing.

Caveat: I've only read one E. E. Smith book, The Skylark of Space, so while I presume Smith didn't pull a fast one, others may correct me on this.

Caveat two: I frequently don't care about order -- I can hold dependencies in my memory just fine -- so I frequently don't follow my own advice (but I don't read in internal chronological order either).