MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Poll: Do you LOVE or HATE serialized ebooks?

JLYates · 06-12-2010, 02:47 PM

I had not considered that concept, and that was "stupid" of me. When I read the world "serial" I was thinking another word for series.

I honestly admit that I read on the first two pages; and just finished all of them. (teaches me to read all the posts before I give a response

)

First, the poll is definitely skewed, the questions poorly written, and there is no allowance for "it depends ____________" (please note that depends in your response for clarification). That would give better insight as to how readers feel about serials. This poll reminds me of my sadistic class (statistics) where my instructor said "you can have apples or oranges, but there are no such things as orples". In this situation, there can be no "yes or no" there are too many variables. The area is too grey.

I would not like to read a serial that has no ending, that leaves me hanging to the point that if the author would give up I was left with not knowing of what would happen. So, no I would not like serials. However, if there was a guarrentee that there was an ending and a set timeline for each block to come out, even if I was left with a cliff hanger at the end of each block, then I would go yes.

Thas was a strong possiblity with Dean Koontz (forgive me if I have spelled his name wrong). The Frankenstein series, that he was co-writing, stopped at the second book due to problems with the two authors being able to work together.
I was left wondering would I ever find the ending. So, yes, that can/was be VERY frustrating.

If the author has the serial planned out, and wants to send it out in blocks and there is a guarrenteed time line (every two weeks, once a month, other); I would have no problem with it.

To me, it would not be so much as that I had to wait for the next chapter, or block, but that I knew there would be one and when it would be there.

Karen M. Moning started what I see as a serial although many others see it as a series (her Fever "series"). It leaves you hanging and there is no set timeline as to when the next book will be releasesd. There are to be five books in the "series"; readers have to wait wondering what has happened to so and so, in such and such situation.
J.R. Ward has a series, (Black Dagger Brotherhood) that is a year between each book; it is a series. If, however it was a serial, as long as I KNEW there was an ending, that she had already written the rest of the "series" and she had a cliff hanger (which she sorta does) I will wait for the books and continue to buy them, even though they are now in hardback.
So, it depends on different factors as to whether or not I would buy a serial. (truthfully though, with Ward, I would probably buy them anyhow, some others, nope).

Set up a separate area, category or whatever where serials can be offered, let the readers make the choice.

Janette

06-12-2010, 02:47 PM	#80
JLYates Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 44 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Sony 900BC	I had not considered that concept, and that was "stupid" of me. When I read the world "serial" I was thinking another word for series. I honestly admit that I read on the first two pages; and just finished all of them. (teaches me to read all the posts before I give a response ) First, the poll is definitely skewed, the questions poorly written, and there is no allowance for "it depends ____________" (please note that depends in your response for clarification). That would give better insight as to how readers feel about serials. This poll reminds me of my sadistic class (statistics) where my instructor said "you can have apples or oranges, but there are no such things as orples". In this situation, there can be no "yes or no" there are too many variables. The area is too grey. I would not like to read a serial that has no ending, that leaves me hanging to the point that if the author would give up I was left with not knowing of what would happen. So, no I would not like serials. However, if there was a guarrentee that there was an ending and a set timeline for each block to come out, even if I was left with a cliff hanger at the end of each block, then I would go yes. Thas was a strong possiblity with Dean Koontz (forgive me if I have spelled his name wrong). The Frankenstein series, that he was co-writing, stopped at the second book due to problems with the two authors being able to work together. I was left wondering would I ever find the ending. So, yes, that can/was be VERY frustrating. If the author has the serial planned out, and wants to send it out in blocks and there is a guarrenteed time line (every two weeks, once a month, other); I would have no problem with it. To me, it would not be so much as that I had to wait for the next chapter, or block, but that I knew there would be one and when it would be there. Karen M. Moning started what I see as a serial although many others see it as a series (her Fever "series"). It leaves you hanging and there is no set timeline as to when the next book will be releasesd. There are to be five books in the "series"; readers have to wait wondering what has happened to so and so, in such and such situation. J.R. Ward has a series, (Black Dagger Brotherhood) that is a year between each book; it is a series. If, however it was a serial, as long as I KNEW there was an ending, that she had already written the rest of the "series" and she had a cliff hanger (which she sorta does) I will wait for the books and continue to buy them, even though they are now in hardback. So, it depends on different factors as to whether or not I would buy a serial. (truthfully though, with Ward, I would probably buy them anyhow, some others, nope). Set up a separate area, category or whatever where serials can be offered, let the readers make the choice. Janette Last edited by JLYates; 06-12-2010 at 02:56 PM.