The Sword and Laser discussion
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The Einstein Intersection
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EI: Do you read introductions/forewords?
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It matters...If it's a book, like Dracula, where I already know the premise, then yes I read the introduction first. (You know, start on page one and move forward.) If not, I'll skip it and if I found the book interesting read it at the end.
I rarely read them at first. If I think it will be interesting (like this one, by NG), I do try to remember to read them later.If it's an audiobook, I quite often find myself listening (half-listening, at times). On my recent read (listen to) of Herland, the intro gave me some useful background info on the author, really helped put the book into perspective.
Yes, I usually read them
I don't read intros/forwards until after I've read the main attraction. They too often contain spoilers.
I usually read them, unless partway in I realize it's mindless stuff or that the foreword writer is talking more about him/herself than the book/author. I like spoilers, so that's usually not a problem. Some reviews/forewords give you the idea you're about to read something completely different from what you're actually about to read; I get annoyed by those.
If it's short, I might read it. But usually I just skip ahead. I'm not really interested in hearing someone else's opinion on a book I haven't even read yet. But if it's by someone I respect (like the lovely Mr. Gaiman), I will go back and read it when I'm done.That said, I always read the first few paragraphs just to make sure it's not one of those introductions that are actually part of the story, a la World War Z. Tricksy authors.
Most books I read with forwards tend to be pre-20th century classics, and sometimes those forwards are useful for establishing a historical or cultural context outside of my own experience. So I always read them, unless it ends up being too long and pointless.With more recent--say, post WWII--works, there is the danger of the forward biasing my read of the book, but I generally read them automatically. Ah well.
Yes I always read them. I feel it is part of the book myself. The author has put them there for a reason. I am not an author, however I think if I were I would hope that the reader of my book would read them.
Almost always - although there are the odd occasions, if it seems particularly dry or self-indulgent, I find myself skimming it.
If written by the author, then yes. If not, then I start reading but if it goes into too much detail about the story then I stop and read it after I finish the book.
Usually yes, often they are interesting and mention the research, or other related material.
I always read intros, forwards, and prefaces as well afterwards and acknowledgements. To me they're part of the whole experience.I also always watch all the special features on a DVD and read the liner notes on a CD. Yes, I still buy DVDs and CDs.
I love reading forwards and afterwards. To me it's like talking to other people about the book, good to hear other ideas and opinions and makes the whole reading experience much deeper for me. A little disappointed my kindle version of this book doesn't include the neil gaiman intro. But as much as I love intros and forwards, the main text is the bit we've all come to read.
I always read the introductions and always enjoy them EXCEPT
Stephen Kings introduction for the Running Man where he tells you the end of the story - ruined the whole book for me.
See, that's another reason why I don't read them - I hate spoilers. I don't care if the book was published in 1812 or 2012, I want to be as surprised as possible.Also, checked for the intro that convinced me to avoid them - Neil Gaiman's introduction to the New Annotated Dracula.
Most of the time I read them, but I'm more likely to read them if they're written by the author since I like to see them talk a bit about their process when writing the book, or just what the story meant to them personally.
Sometimes I read them first, more often that not I read them afterwards. Interestingly, when you open a Kindle book for the first time it usually starts on page 1 and skips the introduction.
If Neil Gaiman writes it, I read it.Actually, I'm pretty compulsive about reading things in order, so I almost always read introductions and forwards. They might prime my opinions a little bit, but I find they usually set the stage and get me excited about reading the story.
I was on the fence about reading The Einstein Intersection until I read the introduction in the Kindle sample of this book. I may not have read this book at all if the introduction had not been there.
/puts pedantic hat on/It's Foreword, as in it comes be*fore* the *word*s.
It's Afterword, as in it comes *after* the *word*s.
Or at least that's how I remember it...
If I do, only at the end. I hate for books to be spoiled by something in the intro, and I want to come at it with my own eyes.
I started reading this one and it spoiled part of the story so I skipped the rest and didn't read it until I finished. I usually don't even read the blurb on the book cover for fear of spoilers though (same reason why I don't watch trailers for movies if I can avoid it).
Serendi wrote: "/puts pedantic hat on/It's Foreword, as in it comes be*fore* the *word*s.
It's Afterword, as in it comes *after* the *word*s.
Or at least that's how I remember it..."
Ah, you're right. My bad. Fixed.
To my credit, I at least know how to use 'they're', 'their', and 'there' correctly.
I like to read forwards or afterwards in order to learn background materials from the author or other people's point of view on the author and book.
Sean: No prob. Everybody does that. I've spent most of my adult life proofreading (and other things involved in document production), and I suspect it's one of those distinctions that's going to disappear someday. As I said, I was being pedantic.
I'll generally read a foreword by the author of the book first. Unless it is an anniversary edition where the author is discussing the book 25 years after they wrote it. In that case and if it is written by someone else I'll want to approach the work without someone else's opinions in the back of my mind.
In many cases the foreword is part of the work, an introduction by a character who is recording the events or setting the stage. So, it depends.
In many cases the foreword is part of the work, an introduction by a character who is recording the events or setting the stage. So, it depends.
I do read them. They're part of the bookThis one was interesting for me as it put the book in context of its time.
I'm not worried about a foreword/introduction influencing my opinion. If I like the book it might help me realize why, and if I don't, no introduction is going to make me feel like I do. I don't really get why that's an issue.
I tend to read the introductions because they often give valuable background information. Sometimes they do have spoilers,though, and that bothers me.
I skim the foreword to see if it looks interesting. If it does, I will read it. Usually I'm more interested to just get to the story already. I'm afraid I don't think of forewords and introductions as truly "part of the book;" to me, they are more like extras. Potentially interesting and informative, but not necessary to the story.
I actually prefer forewords written by someone other than the author than those written by the author herself. I kind of feel like everything the author has to say should be contained within the text, but the interpretations of a third party can reveal things that neither the author nor the reader would otherwise have been aware of.
I usually enjoy all the front material (preface, introduction, foreword). If it's obvious that previous knowledge of the book is expected, I'll stop and return once I've finished. It's usually obvious to me before I get to any big spoilers.With anthologies, I love the little story/author intros before each selection.
I think I liked Harlan Ellison's intros to the Dangerous Visions stories more than the stories themselves, lol.
I always read them. I think to me it "sets the stage" so to speak, getting me ready for what I am about to read. Perhaps that means it's influencing my opinion, but I think of it more like priming the pump, getting me in the mood for the story.
Personally, I don't, or at least not any more. Because I read an introduction (I think it was for Dracula, and also from Neil Gaiman, ironically enough), and the point was argued that stuff like that influences your reading experience - you're going into the rest of the book already having heard someone else's thoughts and opinions, rather than completely blank.
So yeah, that's why I tend to avoid reading introductions/forwards.