Quote:
Originally Posted by DrNefario
There are plenty of series I've discovered with a random out-of-order book. I will usually revert to a "proper" order once I've decided to read the whole lot, but even then it could be chronological or it could be publication order, if they're different. And then more books, might come out later at different points in the timeline (eg. Sharpe).
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There's no perfect solution to the Sharpe conundrum. Read them in publication order and you miss the sweep of the history of the Peninsular War; also the first published book, as with so many series, isn't all that good and best postponed until you're hooked. But read them in chronological order and too much that happens in the earlier books is conditioned by what has already happened and of course some of it is flatly contradictory.
Going back to Christie, a lot of golden age series are marked by dud first books. Much better to start Sayers with
Clouds of Witness and Allingham with
Mystery Mile.