This isn't an issue limited to the Kindle edition. I have the Tor mass market edition, first printing, ISBN 978-0-7653-6157-8, and all the chapter-opening italicized sections are missing. I only learned from reading this thread that they're also missing from the USA Kindle edition, and was surprised. I could imagine a plausible motive for removing content from a physical version if it reduced printing costs, but why would it be removed from a digital edition? Censorship?
I'm curious which other editions might be missing the italicized sections. If everyone posted which edition they own and whether the italicized sections and afterword are included, we could put together a list of which editions are complete and which aren't. We know two of the Tor (USA) editions are incomplete - the mass market paperback, and the Kindle e-book. What about the Tor hardcover?