That's interesting! I was sort of wondering if that might be the case, actually; that, or if it started as a short story (as McIntyre's Dreamsnake did, with similar editorial treatment), and (bits of?) the short story were included as a prologue.
I wonder if there's any way to verify that, either with Cherryh directly, or via someone who knows her? I can ask around on the forum...
But that still leaves the question, albeit shaped a bit differently: why did the publisher want it in there?
I think I mentioned in my rec that I had trouble getting into the book, the first time round, because of the dual prologue -- was afraid to develop any interest in Bren until 100+ pages, because I feared he was going to disappear on me the way Taylor and Ian and Manadgi did.
no subject
I wonder if there's any way to verify that, either with Cherryh directly, or via someone who knows her? I can ask around on the forum...
But that still leaves the question, albeit shaped a bit differently: why did the publisher want it in there?
I think I mentioned in my rec that I had trouble getting into the book, the first time round, because of the dual prologue -- was afraid to develop any interest in Bren until 100+ pages, because I feared he was going to disappear on me the way Taylor and Ian and Manadgi did.