Prequels

Should prequels written later be read later? Those who read works as they are published have no choice in the matter. Some prequels begin by addressing readers on the assumption that they have already read the previously published work. Sometimes we appreciate reading about characters in their prime before learning about their earlier days on a "So that's how it all started!" basis. Bart Simpson reading Radioactive Man, no. 1, p. 1, exclaims, "So that's how it happened!" If we read a series that has been collected to be read in chronological order of fictional events, then the publisher has made the choice for us unless we carefully check publication dates and reorganize our reading order accordingly but who does that?

Poul Anderson's Captain Flandry series and its prequel, the Young Flandry Trilogy;

Anderson's trader team stories and their prequel, "How To Be Ethnic In One Easy Lesson";

Anderson's The Peregrine and its prequel, "The Pirate";

Heinlein's "Requiem" and its prequel, "The Man Who Sold The Moon";

Asimov did it with Foundation;

Blish's Earthman, Come Home and its prequel, They Shall Have Stars;

CS Lewis's Narnia books and their prequel, The Magician's Nephew;

Rider Haggard's She and its crossover prequel, She And Allan;

in the Holmes canon, the order in which Watson presents the narratives exactly corresponds to the order of publication but that order includes some later-presented prequels;

in Susan Howatch's Starbridge series, Volume VI chronologically precedes Volume V to powerful dramatic effect.