[In] the Narnia books it’s like that “main world” where it was just an infinite number of ponds and jumping into one shoots you out to some world … I think The Magicians kind of ripped off the idea.
Completely off-topic from symmetries and entropies, but I can’t pass up the opportunity to mention that the specific Narnia installment where we see this “main world” and branches is The Magician’s Nephew, the sixth out of seven books.
As with Isaac Asimov, I much prefer order of publication.
Woe the poor soul trying to get into Foundation and instead of getting the original trilogy, they start with Prelude To Foundation. I met a guy who did that, in college; he didn’t know where to start, at the bookstore thought “Hey… Prelude… sounds like a good place to start!”
For example, if one starts with Prelude To Foundation as the entry point, the reveal of Eto Demerzel being R. Daneel Olivaw in disguise all loses its’ punch, while if one reads the original Robot books first, it becomes an astounding reveal, a true “holy shit!” moment, on several levels, the delightful surprise of clearly seeing Asimov kneading together two separate series so intimately and right before your eyes, the narrative doubles in size and scope in the snap of a finger.
The power of that moment, that opportunity that Asimov seized, makes it worthwhile to follow Isaac’s mind instead of the plot in chronological order.
It doesn’t lose its punch, because he’s described all through Prelude To Foundation, it’s still a big reveal. And then you read the later books in that context.
Completely off-topic from symmetries and entropies, but I can’t pass up the opportunity to mention that the specific Narnia installment where we see this “main world” and branches is The Magician’s Nephew, the sixth out of seven books.
Its the first book, chronologically.
Lewis’ prequels > Lucas’s prequels
As with Isaac Asimov, I much prefer order of publication.
Woe the poor soul trying to get into Foundation and instead of getting the original trilogy, they start with Prelude To Foundation. I met a guy who did that, in college; he didn’t know where to start, at the bookstore thought “Hey… Prelude… sounds like a good place to start!”
I read Isaac Asimov in chronological order, including the robot books first, before foundation. Why woe to me?
For example, if one starts with Prelude To Foundation as the entry point, the reveal of Eto Demerzel being R. Daneel Olivaw in disguise all loses its’ punch, while if one reads the original Robot books first, it becomes an astounding reveal, a true “holy shit!” moment, on several levels, the delightful surprise of clearly seeing Asimov kneading together two separate series so intimately and right before your eyes, the narrative doubles in size and scope in the snap of a finger.
The power of that moment, that opportunity that Asimov seized, makes it worthwhile to follow Isaac’s mind instead of the plot in chronological order.
It doesn’t lose its punch, because he’s described all through Prelude To Foundation, it’s still a big reveal. And then you read the later books in that context.