Foiling "last page first" readers

[Montero]

I think precious is a little harsh, but beyond your control - yes.
Though I too don't want to invest in a book where the ending lets me down, I don't tend to reading the endings first.

 

[The Big Peat]

I've read the ending first very occasionally. I far more often skip to the ending if I'm stalling out on a book to see if it's worth pursuing, or just read a synopsis first.

If you wanted to trick such a reader first, I'd simply offer a spoiler chapter of another book at the end. Of course, that doesn't work if they're prepared to put in a little work finding the right spot, or aim for about 10 pages before the end. If that's not enough, write a... I've no idea to be honest. Any ending that'd confuse such a person would probably just confuse everyone else too.

Besides, nothing to stop the synopsis reading.

In any case, I'd also come down on the side of it not being a good idea. There's no way to prevent every madness some readers will do, and attempting often only alienates them.

 

[tinkerdan]

I was just thinking:
But instead:
Thought it might be rather appropriate to,
put the dedication in the back.

I dedicate this book to all those who read the endings first.

 

[msstice]

My ending page, read out of context, is going to be mighty puzzling. The reader might not even get the genre correct.