I want to add that I don’t think that’s a reason *not* to get into something, just a sorrow I feel often.

Okay, I agree with that; I guess it just depends on the genre. There’s an element of extra fun involved in theorizing and figuring out puzzles that is diminished (for me) if people already know the answer.

This reminds me of some of the work of Galina Herndon in GA, USA.

While I agree that the words on the page don't have an expiration date, sometimes I feel like the story is much enhanced by showing up "on time" to interact with other fans in the moment, as it all develops. Not a book, but the first example to come to my mind would be something like Gravity Falls.