Here are two devices that have become very popular in recent years: the prologue and the epilogue. These are little pieces of text, generally only a few pages long, that precede the opening of a book (to set up the story) or after its “The End” (to explain what happens subsequently). Some people like them; some—me included—do not. But in response to the will of the people, I face inserting a prologue into a novel I’m working on. So let’s take a look at the pros and cons in an unbiased way, and maybe my inner debate can be of some use to you.
To Pro or Not to Pro
One thing prologues are often used for is to jump into the midst of the action, hence to grab the reader’s attention. Then the introduction of the characters, setting, and context falls in afterwards. That’s the reasoning I’m facing. In the nineteenth century, no one would have had a problem with a murder taking place a hundred pages into a novel. It would be assumed that all the introductions would open the book. But that assumption no longer holds.
Corrupted by the lightning pace of modern entertainment, many readers now don’t want to waste a breathless minute before hitting the action, yet the crime doesn’t make any sense without a buildup. What to do? Pro-Pro people would say give ‘em a prologue that begins in media res. Save the boring but necessary stuff for Chapter One. What’s your take on this? Anti-Pro me is tempted to say that anything that doesn’t fit into the main text doesn’t need to be in the book.
Another reason for inserting a prologue is to provide historical backstory. I’ve seen this used a lot in fantasy. It begins “long, long ago” and explains why there’s a curse on the Valley or how the Elves came to leave Middle Earth. Sometimes it’s presented in the POV of the antagonist, so (presumably) we know why he’s so mad at everybody. I’m almost OK with this argument, although the same material can be inserted bit at a time in the main text in a more natural way.
Happily Ever Epi
If one can find excuses for a prologue, I want to say “Epilogues must go. If this information is important, include it in another chapter and end the book later. If it isn’t, write another book on the subject.” The classic example is the Epilogue to the Harry Potter series, in which we see who marries whom and what the children of our favorite Hogwartians are like twenty years after the seven-volume story we’ve just read. Do you, as a reader, feel the need for this sort of appendage?
Just no. I’ve been told that the secret of good writing is knowing when to stop, and this epilogue thing violates that bigly. If you must, write a “Further Adventures of…” But you may have a different take—Rowlings did, and she sure has sold more books than I have.
I hope these reflections get you thinking before you launch into your next novel. Give the readers everything they need to know but nothing more. Then sit on your logue and receive the accolades.
Don Massenzio
I have used prologues to set up the story, but not serve as an introduction per se. In a crime-mystery novel, I might open with a scene that focuses on the victim or victims and shows what they see from their POV as the crime unfolds. This might be the opening of the story, where my detective character deals with the aftermath of the crime, or it might be something that happens in the middle of the book, serving as foreshadowing to engage the reader. I’m not a fan of epilogues, since most of my books are part of a series. I would rather post the first chapter of the next book as a teaser instead of something that ties up loose ends. Loose ends are good in a series.
Niki Kantzios
I agree with you on both points, Dan. The setup in another POV makes good sense.
Don Fox
Both the prologue and epilogue are valuable literary devices when used skillfully by the writer. A universal dismissal of their utility is only a matter of personal preference.
Niki Kantzios
Of course not. That would be to deprive oneself of a useful tool. I always say a writer can do anything if they do it well.
Marie Q Rogers
Sometimes you need a prologue to introduce a person or event that the main characters are ignorant of until later in the story, but that the reader needs to know about up front. In my novel Season of the Dove, the POV alternates between two main characters. I wanted to introduce the criminal nature of a third character without giving him central stage, so I used a short prologue. This fit the general plan of the book better than an orphan first chapter in a different POV. As for epilogues, if readers want to know what happens after the end of the story, they should use their imaginations.
Niki Kantzios
Good idea for the p-logue. I’m intrigued!