SF/fantasy books that turned into series, and shouldn't have

DMcCunney · 11-03-2009, 07:55 PM

This got touched off by Dr. Drib's threads in this area on Sf and Fantasy authors you should and shouldn't read.

One bit of discussion involved series, and got me to wondering: what series have you read that really never should have been turned into a series, and would have been far better as a stand alone novel?
______
Dennis

GJN · 11-03-2009, 08:59 PM

Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...

Great book poorly served by each successive sequel/prequel/whateverquel

DMcCunney · 11-03-2009, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJN

Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...

Great book poorly served by each successive sequel/prequel/whateverquel

I'll concur, but have a question: would you consider Dune Messiah and Children of Dune part of Dune, and stop after those? Or would you have just stopped after the original Dune?

(Herbert wrote the first three as one long book, split in three for publications, which is why I ask.)
______
Dennis

JSWolf · 11-03-2009, 09:08 PM

Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series should never have been published even starting with the first book.

Greg Anos · 11-03-2009, 09:10 PM

All the extra Asimov Foundation stores after the first 1940's trilogy...

Darqref · 11-04-2009, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

All the extra Asimov Foundation stores after the first 1940's trilogy...

Ya know, I remember reading some years ago that Isaac's publisher finally reached the point where they said "write another Foundation, or we're not going to publish anything else...." (because he had refused to write new ones...)

And Piers Anthony gets puns *sent to him by readers* to include in future Xanth stuff.

There really are authors who get told "we'll publish your other stuff as long as every other book is in the series."

wayspooled · 11-05-2009, 05:31 AM

Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth after the first two. Third was okay but I thought it seriously went downhill after that. I thought the first book was pretty good and the second was just excellent.

Margrete · 11-05-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayspooled

Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth after the first two. Third was okay but I thought it seriously went downhill after that. I thought the first book was pretty good and the second was just excellent.

agree, although I still ended up buying the hardback version of the last 5 books wanting to know what happened and hoping they'd be better.

Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake books should have stopped somewhere around book 8. From that point on they have only gone more and more downhill

Slite · 11-05-2009, 09:23 AM

Oh goodie!

Another thread I can say Wheel of Time in

He really, REALLY should have made that one book only and then gone on and done something else!

gollu · 11-05-2009, 09:39 AM

Ursula leGuin's Earthsea is a fine example for such. 2nd and 3rd books are OK and after that the series is just ... nevermind what.

JSWolf · 11-05-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gollu

Ursula leGuin's Earthsea is a fine example for such. 2nd and 3rd books are OK and after that the series is just ... nevermind what.

I'll do you one better and say that the first book should never have been written.

DojoPat · 11-05-2009, 10:35 AM

Anne Rice: "Interview with the Vampire"

One "soulful tortured vampire" novel was all we needed, thank you.

Riles · 11-05-2009, 10:35 AM

I'll toss Ender's Game into the ring. Right after Speaker for the Dead that should have been nipped in the bud.

Slite · 11-05-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DojoPat

Anne Rice: "Interview with the Vampire"

One "soulful tortured vampire" novel was all we needed, thank you.

That goes for all the "copy-cats" as well.

Vampires are NOT sexy, they are evil, blodsucking buttholes that should be staked, have their heads chopped off and dragged into the sunlight, every last anemic one! So there!

Latinandgreek · 11-05-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayspooled

Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth after the first two. Third was okay but I thought it seriously went downhill after that. I thought the first book was pretty good and the second was just excellent.

I agree. I find myself forcing myself to read the rest of the series (I am on book 8) because I like the world that Terry Goodkind created, and a few of the books. I like the t.v. series as well, that is actually what got me reading the books; I can't seem to finish book 8, however, I am a quarter of the way through and NOTHING has happened. I wonder what happens with these writers when their books go downhill like that? Is it the pressure to make a series out of any good fantasy book, even though the good ideas aren't coming? I actually respect George R.R. Martin for taking his time with Song of Ice and Fire's fifth book (even though many of his fans are angry about the looooonnng wait between books), because it means that he wants to take his time to write a good book, as opposed to churning out moneymakers (I hope).

11-03-2009, 07:55 PM	#1
DMcCunney New York Editor Posts: 6,384 Karma: 16540415 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: PalmTX, Pocket eDGe, Alcatel Fierce 4, RCA Viking Pro 10, Nexus 7	SF/fantasy books that turned into series, and shouldn't have This got touched off by Dr. Drib's threads in this area on Sf and Fantasy authors you should and shouldn't read. One bit of discussion involved series, and got me to wondering: what series have you read that really never should have been turned into a series, and would have been far better as a stand alone novel? ______ Dennis

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11-03-2009, 08:59 PM	#2
GJN Guilty Bystander Posts: 104 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Device: MacBook Pro, Kindle, iPad, and other gadgets	Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune...Dune... Great book poorly served by each successive sequel/prequel/whateverquel

11-03-2009, 09:08 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series should never have been published even starting with the first book.

11-03-2009, 09:10 PM	#5
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,546 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	All the extra Asimov Foundation stores after the first 1940's trilogy...

11-05-2009, 05:31 AM	#7
wayspooled Crab In The Dark Posts: 486 Karma: 2328180 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Tablet PC until a 10" comes out that I like	Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth after the first two. Third was okay but I thought it seriously went downhill after that. I thought the first book was pretty good and the second was just excellent.

11-05-2009, 09:23 AM	#9
Slite Icanhasdonuts? Posts: 2,837 Karma: 532407 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mölnbo, Sweden Device: Kobo Aura 2nd edition, Kobo Clara HD	Oh goodie! Another thread I can say Wheel of Time in He really, REALLY should have made that one book only and then gone on and done something else!

11-05-2009, 09:39 AM	#10
gollu Unsullied Posts: 249 Karma: 759693 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Israel Device: Kindle 2i	Ursula leGuin's Earthsea is a fine example for such. 2nd and 3rd books are OK and after that the series is just ... nevermind what.

11-05-2009, 10:35 AM	#12
DojoPat literature lover Posts: 62 Karma: 82 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New York Device: Sony Ereader PRS-505 & PRS-300	Anne Rice: "Interview with the Vampire" One "soulful tortured vampire" novel was all we needed, thank you.

11-05-2009, 10:35 AM	#13
Riles Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Nook	I'll toss Ender's Game into the ring. Right after Speaker for the Dead that should have been nipped in the bud.