A literary work that precedes a previously released narrative, detailing events chronologically before the original story, is a narrative expansion on existing fictional universes. As an example, consider a novel published to explain the origins of a beloved character introduced in a later-written series. This preceding tale provides context and history, deepening the reader’s understanding of the established world.
Such a literary approach offers numerous advantages. It allows authors to explore uncharted territories within familiar settings, revealing unseen dimensions of characters and plot lines. It provides opportunities to enrich the core narrative by addressing unanswered questions or filling in gaps in the original storyline. Moreover, these preceding stories can capitalize on the popularity of an existing franchise, attracting both dedicated fans and new readers eager to delve into the lore. Its use can be traced back to various forms of storytelling, evolving from simple expansions of existing tales to intricate and planned components of larger fictional universes.
