[John Jarrold]

Yes, absolutely right. No editor or agent expects to see your entire cast in the first three chapters. If you have a prologue, include it. Grabbing the reader with action is certainly a good way to start. The writing will come across in your chapters, and if someone is interested they'll ask to see the rest.

I did that with a new US fantasy writer, Robert Redick, last month - and last week I sold World Rights in three novels by him to Gollancz in the UK for a very good deal.