Narnia reading order.

**Frodo-X** · 12-26-2006, 11:35 AM

I've been given the all-in-one set of the Narnia books for Christmas. I am unsure of how to read them, however. From what I understand, I can read them in chronological order, which is how the book is put together, or the order in which they were published.

Can any of you tell me which way is better and why?

**Jonathan Bogart** · 12-26-2006, 01:06 PM

http://forums.comicbookresources.com...ghlight=narnia

For the record, I'm on the "order they were written" team. The reasons are 1) that's how I grew up reading them, 2) your idea of Narnia expands in the same way that the writer's did, and 3) theological stuff which probably doesn't matter to most readers.

**Sanagi** · 12-26-2006, 08:58 PM

Chronology is no good reason to postpone reading The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe.

That said, according to this site, C.S. Lewis preferred the chronological order... But only slightly, and he even says it doesn't really matter. The site also gives the arguments to the contrary(the main one being, TLTWATW just feels like the first in the series).

**Solaris** · 12-27-2006, 12:20 PM

TBH, I favor the published order. Lion Witch Wardrobe is a good book to start it off with. While I like The Magician's Nephew (the chronological first), IMO it's not as good a book to introduce a reader to the feel Narnia.

:)

**i_mmmchocolate** · 12-27-2006, 07:39 PM

It doesn't matter but, chronological is best, in my opinion.

**Valmore** · 12-27-2006, 07:49 PM

I'm partial to the classic "published" order, which as I recall, goes like this:

1. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
2. Prince Caspian
3. The Voyage of The Dawn Treader
4. The Silver Chair
5. The Horse and His Boy
6. The Magician's Nephew
7. The Final Battle

I feel this makes for a better pace of reading. The Magician's Nephew and some of The Horse and His Boy have a lot of backstory that makes more sense after you've read the first few books.

**Expletive Deleted** · 12-27-2006, 09:18 PM

Maybe it's because my first exposure to the books was in the published order, but the chronological order just seems off.

Reading any book but TLTW&TW first seems to diminish that book's specialness. If you have already seen Aslan for who he "really" is, have already met Digory Kirke and his Wardrobe, and already know the origin of the White Witch, that just kills a large portion of the sense of mystery and wonder that makes the aforementioned book with the ugly and unwieldy acronym so fantastic.

Not to get all nerdy, here, but it'd be like watching the STAR WARS series starting with PHANTOM MENACE just because it's "first," even though it completely ruins the end of EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Once you've seen 'em all, sure. Watch in whichever order you prefer. But for the first time viewer, the original release order is far and away the best route.

**Winslow** · 12-28-2006, 06:37 AM

I read them in the order of publishing when I was a kid.

And I read them chronologically TO my kids.

I prefer chronologically. Reading the Magician's Nephew first seemed to make more sense to me.

**Frodo-X** · 12-28-2006, 11:42 PM

Thanks for the help, folks.

I think I'll probably go for published order first. Then, whenever I get around to reading them again, which I will, no doubt, I'll go chronological and see which I like better.

**Ite** · 12-30-2006, 03:01 PM

Read them in the way they were released, it is better that way and you get some nice suprises.

**Aaron Kashtan** · 12-30-2006, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Expletive Deleted

Not to get all nerdy, here, but it'd be like watching the STAR WARS series starting with PHANTOM MENACE just because it's "first," even though it completely ruins the end of EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

It does? How?

EDIT: Oh, duh. Never mind.

**redlantern2051** · 01-08-2007, 03:42 AM

For a first timer, I'd say read them in the order they are published. But on re-reads, I always start with "The Magicians Nephew", which I think is an excellent book in itself. I love the whole series!

**Gabriel** · 01-09-2007, 12:49 PM

I read them chronologically. There is one good thing I can say about doing it that way... The White Witch is much creepier after you know where she came from.

**Jade69/Legolaslady** · 01-09-2007, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Valmore

I'm partial to the classic "published" order, which as I recall, goes like this:

1. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
2. Prince Caspian
3. The Voyage of The Dawn Treader
4. The Silver Chair
5. The Horse and His Boy
6. The Magician's Nephew
7. The Final Battle

I feel this makes for a better pace of reading. The Magician's Nephew and some of The Horse and His Boy have a lot of backstory that makes more sense after you've read the first few books.

I have a copy of the books all in one binding *can't think of a proper word for what I'm trying to say* And I'm pretty sure that's the order they put them in. I know they had Wardrobe first.