The best example I can come up with was Michael McCollum's Antares series.
Waaaay back in 1988, a friend lent me the first book in the trilogy "Antares Dawn". I enjoyed the book so much, I sourced a second-hand copy of the second book "Antares Passage" and a copy of the first book I had just read.
I then started to source the last book in the trilogy and back before the internet, this was done by contacted bookstores and asking if it can be ordered.
Alas, nothing. I tried for 5 years before being told by an astute staff member at Angus and Robertson that Michael McCollum had never written the final book. It was a further 10 years before that same mate of mine found Mike's website and the fact he had just self published all his books including Antares Victory.
Sadly, though, my wife and I were down and out financially. Both second time arounders, we were struggling because her ex husband was not paying maintenance and I still was. Tough times and no purchases of books. Those years from 2001 - 2003 were hard.
I finally got an ebook copy in 2007, close to a 20 year wait for that third and final book.
It was worth it
