This is great! I’m with you on the opening paragraph especially in out of the silent planet. In one paragraph Lewis gives us a sense of foreboding (end of thunderstorm, violent sunset, getting dark, desolate remote area) and adventure (the pedestrian puts his map away). Really sets the tone!
Following your lead, I checked out the introductory paragraphs of a number of novels of merit: Manzoni's 'The Betrothed', Dostoevsky's 'The Brothers Karamazov', Mann's 'Doctor Faustus', Porter’s 'Ship of Fools', O'Connor's 'Wise Blood', Percy's The 'Moviegoer', and Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. A nice random sample, from which I conclude that opening paragraphs vary a whole lot: Some are first steps on the trail and some do suggest the whole tale. I think a clever person could come up with a board game with cards of opening paragraphs. Points for title and author and "best comment", such as A Tale of Two Cities is very memorable and sets a grand stage, and, on re-reading it, strikes a Biblical note.; Wise Blood announces its weirdness, but not where it’s going; Shio of Fools tells you snot is coming; etc.
And you have used first paragraphs well to give a brief exposition of the whole story.
This is great! I’m with you on the opening paragraph especially in out of the silent planet. In one paragraph Lewis gives us a sense of foreboding (end of thunderstorm, violent sunset, getting dark, desolate remote area) and adventure (the pedestrian puts his map away). Really sets the tone!
Following your lead, I checked out the introductory paragraphs of a number of novels of merit: Manzoni's 'The Betrothed', Dostoevsky's 'The Brothers Karamazov', Mann's 'Doctor Faustus', Porter’s 'Ship of Fools', O'Connor's 'Wise Blood', Percy's The 'Moviegoer', and Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. A nice random sample, from which I conclude that opening paragraphs vary a whole lot: Some are first steps on the trail and some do suggest the whole tale. I think a clever person could come up with a board game with cards of opening paragraphs. Points for title and author and "best comment", such as A Tale of Two Cities is very memorable and sets a grand stage, and, on re-reading it, strikes a Biblical note.; Wise Blood announces its weirdness, but not where it’s going; Shio of Fools tells you snot is coming; etc.
And you have used first paragraphs well to give a brief exposition of the whole story.