a hello and a question

[scumhorror]

Hello… I’m new here seeking some advice…I picked up the complete collection of the Chronicles of Narnia about a month ago and made the choice of reading them in the order they were published… I just started the Silver Chair this morning but now I am anxious to read the Last Battle. My question to you is…after reading the silver chair could I go right in to the last battle and not miss out on vital info from the magician’s nephew and the horse and his boy? I have intentions to read these two stories but are they essential to the plot of the last battle so that I would need to read these first?

I know very little about these two books…but what I do know about them doesn’t seem like it would effect my experience in reading the last battle…if I am mistaking please let me know…as I said I just started the silver chair and it will take me a couple of days to read it in my spare time…hopefully you guys can give me some input by then…thank you

ps...if this is not the right place to post this thread please tell me were to post it

[melbren]

I highly recommend reading in publication order. I think you will enjoy The Last Battle even more after reading MN and HHB. Welcome!

Also, I'm jealous of you because I wish I was reading all of the Chronicles for the first time again! I have read all 7 books at least 5 times since I was a little girl. You're in for a real treat!

[scumhorror]

Thank you for your input…I always wanted to read these books. When I was in grade school my teacher showed us the old movie of the LWW and I thought it was a great story of course I hated reading then and when I did begin to enjoy reading, I kept putting it off until this movie lit a fire under me…I refused to ruin the books by watching the movie first. Thanks again for you input

[Starkist]

It is not absolutely vital that you read Magician's Nephew and Horse and his Boy, but it is helpful. It is especially helpful to read Magician's Nephew, because it introduces several characters and concepts that are somewhat important to the narrative of Last Battle. Again, though, it is not absolutely necessary.

[Hope96]

I think you should at least read the Magicians Nephew before reading the Last Battle. As Starkist mentioned, there are characters that are introduced in MN that are brought up again in the LB. Without giving anything away, the LB wouldn't have had such an impact on me if I wasn't aware of all of the characters from previous stories. So I would suggest you read MN. The HHB doesn't really introduce any characters that come up later, so you could wait on that one I suppose.

[littlemanpoet]

There is also a very crucial place and theme carried over from The Magician's Nephew to The Last Battle.

I was going to add my "vote" to "it's not essential", but I really think it is, specifically for this one place and theme. It's too central to the whole series in my opinion. I'm not saying what it is so as not to "spoil" it for you.

"The Horse and his Boy" isn't so critical, though. Just a ripping good read, that's all.

It just so happens that "The Last Battle" is my least favorite of the 7, probably because it's the darkest.

[scumhorror]

Thanks for the info…I will definitely read MG before the last battle and will probably just end up continuing with the published order… I was just feeling the urge to jump the gun and see how it ended thanks again for the info

[Inklet]

You're doing the right thing.

The Last Battle is the most profound of the books, and was written (and meant to be read) last.

Even the new (grrr...) ordering has it last.

If you're reading in published order, all the better. The Magician's Nephew and The Last Battle are perfect read back-to-back.