Spoiler Alert!: (It's a Book about the Philosophy of Spoilers)

Spoilers have a long history, but they are now strongly despised due to the Golden Age of television and the ubiquity of DVR/Netflix/Hulu. A spoiler is revealing any information about a work of fiction to someone who has not encountered it, but it must be unexpected or unpredictable and important to the content of the work. Timing and other matters of context can make the difference between a spoiler and a non-spoiler. Personal spoilers are spoilers for some particular individual, while impersonal spoilers are spoilers for some particular individual. Spoilers can be vague and can be caused by mentioning things that are common knowledge. People have some obligation to keep up with the news, so they cannot be blamed for spoilers about stories that are old. However, some spoilers never expire, such as "Darth Vader is Lukes father," "Norman Bates is Mother," "Dorothys trip to Oz was all a dream," "All the passengers on the Orient Express collaborated in the murder," "in The Murder of Roger Akroyd, the narrator did it," "Soylent Green is people," "To Serve Man is a cookbook," and "The Planet of the Apes is really Earth." Some famous "spoilers" are not true spoilers, such as "Rosebud is his sled." Spoilers can be enjoyable, but people often exaggerate the dreadfulness of spoiling. There are occasions when it is morally required to spoil, such as to dissuade someone from watching or reading something that might harm them or to save the world from a terrorist attack. A more doubtful case is deliberate spoiling as a protest, as occurred with Basic Instinct. The book ends with three spoiler lists: the Most Outrageous Spoiler "Horror Stories"; the Greatest Spoilers of All Time; and the Greatest Spoilers in Philosophy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 06 June 2019
Publisher: Cricket Books, a division of Carus Publishing Co

Spoilers have a long and complex history, dating back to the days of ancient Greek theater when a spectator shouted, "That's Oedipus's mom!" However, the modern-day disdain for spoilers is a relatively recent phenomenon, largely associated with the Golden Age of television and the widespread availability of DVR/Netflix/Hulu, among other streaming services. Nowadays, it seems that most people have their own personal "horror story" about encountering a spoiler, whether it be in the form of a book, TV show, or movie.

A first definition of a spoiler might be simply revealing any information about a work of fiction to someone who has not yet encountered it. However, this definition is not sufficient. To qualify as a spoiler, the information must be unexpected or unpredictable and must be significant to the content of the work. For example, it would not be considered a spoiler to reveal that "The next Star Trek movie will include a Vulcan" or that "The story of Shawshank Redemption comes from a short story by Stephen King." These statements are not unexpected or unpredictable, and they do not significantly impact the plot or themes of the respective works.

On the other hand, revealing details of a sports game to someone who has recorded it but has not yet watched it could be considered a spoiler. This is because the information is unexpected and unpredictable, and it has the potential to alter the way the person experiences the game. Additionally, the timing and context of the revelation can play a significant role in determining whether something is a spoiler or not. For instance, it may not be considered a spoiler to reveal that "The Avengers" will end with a giant battle between superheroes if the person is already aware of the basic plot of the movie. However, it could be considered a spoiler if the person is only casually interested in the movie and has not yet seen it.

In conclusion, spoilers have a long and complex history, and their perception and significance have evolved over time. While some may argue that spoilers are an essential part of the storytelling process, others believe that they can ruin the enjoyment of a work of fiction for those who have not yet encountered it. It is important to approach spoilers with caution and respect, considering the potential impact they can have on individuals and the context in which they are revealed.

Weight: 370g
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780812694697