For book series, how do you generally read them? Chronologically, by published date?

For example, The Chronicles of Narnia was published with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe first, followed by Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I think (which is the order the movies are being made) but the first book chronologically is The Magician's Nephew. I'm planning on reading them by publishing order, but I haven't gotten too far into it yet.

As for the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell I may read them by publishing order as well though I'm already out of order, not that it matters for that particular series.

Series like Harry Potter, where they're published chronologically, I've read in order but I'll admit that I read The Lord of the Rings pretty much backwards (heh).

In episodic series, where books don't usually rely too much on the one before it and are semi-independant, do you have any particular order you like to read them in? Be that publishing or chronological order? Or do you just pick up whichever one seems most appealing at the time?

I don't read series very often but when I do I read them chronologically if that's how they were intended to be read. I never knew about the Narnia books. But I guess it would make sense to read them in publishing order.

I read the Chronicles of Narnia in both orders - by publishing dates when I was in grades 5 and 6 and then in chronological order in my late teens. I preferred them in chronological order.

eh...I think I read them chronologically in the series. They made more sense to me that way

Most of the time, I read a series chronologically. I too have read teh Narnia books both ways and would normally recomend The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe first as it represents the whole series better but Magicians Nephew really help answer a few of my nagging questions. And with some series i have had to go by publishing dates because they are still on going and sometimes it just makes more sense that way. I guess you just have to see what the author says on the matter.

I look on fantastic fiction for series see what order they are in and read them that way.I dont like reading books that arent in order of series

Theweebarrell wrote: "I look on fantastic fiction for series see what order they are in and read them that way.I dont like reading books that arent in order of series "

I'm the same as you. I prefer to know the order as well.

i read them chronologically mostly. The narnia books, i read 'the lion the witch and the wardrobe' when i was very young, but receiving the whole set years later i read them all chronologically, it seemed to flow better
harry potter i got the first 3 as a present on my 10th birthday, and accidently read them backwards, only realising when i got to 'the chamber of secrets' still enjoyed them though. (i think this was because they were ordered backwards in the boxset, grr)

with a new series i'll always read chronologically unless it says to do so otherwise because i'm worried it'll spoil one of the other books

I usually read series in order but one day I was shopping the bargain books and I found Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich. As I started reading it I realized that there were 10 books before it! I decided to read them backwards, it was kinda fun. I also realized that I liked the later ones better and if I would have started with One For the Money I dont think I would have continued reading the series.

Mostly in order, but don't stress if it is OUT of order. Fun is fun.