Question of the Week: Previously On…

It’s time for Question of the Week, which is designed to inspire interesting discussion of enjoyable topics.

This week’s question: should a book in a long-running series start with a little summary of what’s happened in previous books?

Like, you know how a streaming series will often have a “Previously On…” section at the start of the show? It’s usually a little 30 second montage of key scenes and whatnot from the previous episodes.

I got to wondering about this because I was talking with someone who was reading CLOAK OF TITANS, and the reader in question couldn’t remember when the character of “Dr. Spencer” had first appeared in the series and wished the book had included a little “Previously On…” summary.

For myself, I suppose it depends on how well-written and concise a “previously” summary at the start of the book would be.

-JM