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 @4f83c065 Unlike many who refuse to even read them, I do read them. My attitude is, an intriguing prologue hints at a good book, a boring prologue warns of a bad book. I've read a handful that were outstanding, where they provided insight before the reader knew they needed it. They then linked to later in the story as a twist. 
 @7b682b86 Agree totally. If you write a bad, boring prologue it does not suggest a great book will follow. It can be hard to judge how it will land though 
 @4f83c065 This is just my own theory, but I like to think of a strong prologue that's untethered from the rest of the story by time or space as existing as a short story. Does it hold up on its own, even if it ends with a cliffhanger that requires the main story to resolve (AND the main story also needs)? Does it provide background that's critical to the main story on PAGE ONE?