In which order should I read The Chronicles of Narnia?

[Benson Shays]

I'm contemplating re-reading this classic series. But I'm hearing different suggestions about which order to read the books in. Does anybody have a suggestion? Is there an "official" order to the series?

And this was little help.

[Raphael]

I always enjoy reading them in chronilogical order. (so Magicians Nephew first)

If memory serves correct Lewis preferred them to be read in the order he wrote them.

[Ben Zwycky]

I have always found the publication order to be more powerful and enjoyable than the chronological order, it's also the order in which I read them to my children.

[Hamster]

Publication order is better. You encounter more mysteries. Wouldn't you rather wonder why there's a random lamp post sticking out of the ground out in the middle of nowhere? Wouldn't you rather wonder how a seemingly ordinary wardrobe is so significant that it can take people to Narnia? Or where the witch came from? Or why her skin is chalk white? I think it was intended to remain a mystery for a while. However, If you read the books in chronological order you know right off the bat how these things happen and they just become part of the scenery. Even if you've read the whole thing before it feels more "natural" in the publication order. I also think the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe reads much better if you are introduced to Aslan at the same time as the four Pevensies. When Mr. Beaver says "Aslan" for the first time there's a great passage about how each of the children feel when they hear His name.

And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken [his name] everyone felt quite different.... At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.

[Benson Shays]

Refresh my memory. Which is the publication order and which the chronological order?

[Teluog]

If memory serves correct Lewis preferred them to be read in the order he wrote them.

...which is...the publication order? The set that i have has this order:

1. Mag's Nephew
2. Lion Witch Wardrobe
3. Horse and His Boy
4. Caspian
5. Dawn Treader
6. Silver Chair
7. Last Battle

[Raphael]

...which is...the publication order? The set that i have has this order:

1. Mag's Nephew
2. Lion Witch Wardrobe
3. Horse and His Boy
4. Caspian
5. Dawn Treader
6. Silver Chair
7. Last Battle

That's the Chronilogical order.

Publication order is:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (1951)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
The Silver Chair (1953) ***** happens to be the first one that was read to me when I was in Primary school ***
The Horse and His Boy (1954)
The Magician's Nephew (1955)
The Last Battle (1956)


The problem really is where to read the Magicians Nephew and The Horse and His Boy.
I prefer the Chronological order, I understand Lewis wanted them read in Publication order for pretty much the reasons Hamster gives.


ETA: I am wrong, Lewis preferred Chronological order: "I think I agree with your [chronological] order for reading the books more than with your mother's. The series was not planned beforehand as she thinks. When I wrote The Lion I did not know I was going to write any more. Then I wrote P. Caspian as a sequel and still didn't think there would be any more, and when I had done The Voyage I felt quite sure it would be the last, but I found I was wrong. So perhaps it does not matter very much in which order anyone read them. I’m not even sure that all the others were written in the same order in which they were published."

[Pilgrim]

I'm contemplating re-reading this classic series. But I'm hearing different suggestions about which order to read the books in. Does anybody have a suggestion? Is there an "official" order to the series?

And this was little help.

Always read them in the published order. C.S. Lewis intended it that way. The idea that he endorsed reading them in chronological order was based on a conversation he or his son had with an apparently annoying little guy at some gathering who kept insisting that, "wouldn't it really be better to read them in chronological order, huh, wouldn't it, huh, Mr. Lewis, right, right..." And eventually Lewis relented more out of exhaustion than any real agreement. At least that's the way it's been related to me by one Lewis scholar.

[Pilgrim]

I have always found the publication order to be more powerful and enjoyable than the chronological order, it's also the order in which I read them to my children.

Indeed. The mystery is created and sustained better in this way.

[Manwë Súlimo]

Just finished the series. "The Last Battle" blew my pantaloons away.

[Benson Shays]

Indeed. The mystery is created and sustained better in this way.

I just finished The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - what a fantastic book. And it's even better than I remember as a kid. I'm starting Prince Caspian tomorrow. Thank you all for the input.