I always forget what happens in a series! - Page 4

Lazybones · 10-19-2011, 04:30 PM

As I get older I find myself often forgetting details from my own books. Therefore it's not really an option but more of a requirement that I reread the past installments when starting a new one, so I don't end up changing a minor character's hair color or other feature. At this rate I'm going to have to transition to short fiction by the time I hit my next decade.

Apache · 10-19-2011, 05:44 PM

Would it not be easier to keep a file with each character's info listed for easy reference? You could also list all major events.
Apache

speakingtohe · 10-19-2011, 11:42 PM

Or just change them Willy Nilly and keep your readers on their toes

I kind of admire Tim Dorsey's (Serge Storms series) approach of killing them and bring them back and offer no excuses or explanations. I was rather taken aback at first then I thought, what the heck it is fiction and time I realized that none of these characters are bound by reality.

Helen

Lazybones · 10-20-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

Would it not be easier to keep a file with each character's info listed for easy reference? You could also list all major events.
Apache

I do that for my major characters, but it's maybe a good idea to do a spreadsheet for everybody who gets mentioned by name in the novel, even the "bit players". I'd rather keep my readers on my toes with my plot twists rather than looking for errors.

Alexthegreat · 10-20-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Does this ever happen to you? You read the first book of a series, then when the second book comes out, you have forgotten everything in the first book!

Yes! In the Warhammer 40000 series "Horus Heresy", I had the same problem.

vxf · 10-21-2011, 12:05 AM

I have the same problem. I wonder if Amazon's touted "X-ray" feature on the new Kindles will offer some solace...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbzOLua2baw

maybe I can finally figure out which Andreyi is which next time I read War and Peace... or figure out who the heck the next chapter by Martin is about....

I am not sure how good the info will be - but the idea is neat. I hope they implement it properly.

ilovepurple2234 · 10-21-2011, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

I often forget what happened immediately after finishing a book, any book. Because of this, I do try to only read a series that is complete, so I can read all of the books in a row. I've been avoiding Fall of Giants for just this reason.

I also have a tough time remember what happened in movies and shows that I have watched. My husband has a far better memory for these things than I do, and he manages to fill in the blanks.

When I started out with reading (like back in second grade), I remembered almost any book I read and I was good with remembering stuff out of books. Now, if I look/hear about a book and realize that I've read it, I consider it a success. I mostly remember nothing out of the books I read. Except for a few I read over and over again (eg, LoTR). Funnily enough, I remember stuff I read in textbooks way better. This is probably because I've not as many textbooks as fiction or whatever.

Nyssa · 10-23-2011, 02:12 AM

Not sure this is worth its own thread so I'll start the discussion here:

Do you prefer:

Series Reading order (suggested by the author), Publication Date order, or Storyline Chronological order?

I was rereading The Hollows/Rachel Morgan series, and adding in the bonus stories, which are new to me. I found two lists with two different orders. The first one has the Reading order by Kim Harrison (which is the one I'm following) and the second list has the chronological time line order. After reading the first bonus story and starting a second (both of which are prequels for specific characters), I think I would have liked the chronological order better.

Thoughts?

speakingtohe · 10-23-2011, 02:31 AM

I have seen series with I think 4 different series orders, chronological, suggested reading order, Uk publication date and first published date.
I went to the authors home page and found another, slightly different reading order. By then I was a bit miffed.

I read books in series order whenever possible but my favorite authors, with a few exceptions, produce books that can be read in any order without spoiling the plot or story line.

One of the great pleasures with an ereader is when I stumble upon an unread (by me) book by an author I have enjoyed in the past.

Helen

FizzyWater · 10-23-2011, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Do you prefer:

Series Reading order (suggested by the author), Publication Date order, or Storyline Chronological order?

My thought is, unless the publisher does something odd like publish them out of order (which seems to be more true of television than of books), I prefer publication date. It always seems to me there are issues or themes or characters that seem oddly placed if you read them chronologically, rather than when published. Of course, that could just mean the author was sloppy when writing those out-of-sequence stories...but that's been my experience.

Nyssa · 10-23-2011, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

My thought is, unless the publisher does something odd like publish them out of order (which seems to be more true of television than of books), I prefer publication date. It always seems to me there are issues or themes or characters that seem oddly placed if you read them chronologically, rather than when published. Of course, that could just mean the author was sloppy when writing those out-of-sequence stories...but that's been my experience.

You make a very good point. If I remember correctly the suggested reading order does match the publication order...I think.

Keryl Raist · 10-23-2011, 07:15 PM

I read them by publication date. If I really like a series I may go to the author's site and see if there are other recommended ways of reading them.

Back in the dark ages (mid-80's) a company called TSR published some books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. These six books became the heart of the DragonLance series. There are also something like 10 books now in that original story arc, and I would suggest absolutely no one read the latter four, let alone add them into the storyline in chronological order.

Hickman and Weis changed, grew, and became different writers over twenty-five plus years. This is to be expected. But if you try to read the last three shoved into the chronological places they go, you'll get whiplash because of how radically the characters changed.

For me, that's the primary reason to stick with publication date, that way the changes are gradual, not jarring.

10-23-2011, 02:12 AM	#53
Nyssa Series Addict Posts: 6,180 Karma: 167189477 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Florida, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Gen)	Speaking of Series..... Not sure this is worth its own thread so I'll start the discussion here: Do you prefer: Series Reading order (suggested by the author), Publication Date order, or Storyline Chronological order? I was rereading The Hollows/Rachel Morgan series, and adding in the bonus stories, which are new to me. I found two lists with two different orders. The first one has the Reading order by Kim Harrison (which is the one I'm following) and the second list has the chronological time line order. After reading the first bonus story and starting a second (both of which are prequels for specific characters), I think I would have liked the chronological order better. Thoughts? Last edited by Nyssa; 10-23-2011 at 02:51 AM. Reason: I forgot a "t".

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10-19-2011, 04:30 PM	#46
Lazybones Groupie Posts: 162 Karma: 1719250 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento Device: Kindle	As I get older I find myself often forgetting details from my own books. Therefore it's not really an option but more of a requirement that I reread the past installments when starting a new one, so I don't end up changing a minor character's hair color or other feature. At this rate I'm going to have to transition to short fiction by the time I hit my next decade.

10-19-2011, 05:44 PM	#47
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Would it not be easier to keep a file with each character's info listed for easy reference? You could also list all major events. Apache

10-19-2011, 11:42 PM	#48
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	Or just change them Willy Nilly and keep your readers on their toes I kind of admire Tim Dorsey's (Serge Storms series) approach of killing them and bring them back and offer no excuses or explanations. I was rather taken aback at first then I thought, what the heck it is fiction and time I realized that none of these characters are bound by reality. Helen

10-21-2011, 12:05 AM	#51
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	I have the same problem. I wonder if Amazon's touted "X-ray" feature on the new Kindles will offer some solace... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbzOLua2baw maybe I can finally figure out which Andreyi is which next time I read War and Peace... or figure out who the heck the next chapter by Martin is about.... I am not sure how good the info will be - but the idea is neat. I hope they implement it properly.

10-23-2011, 02:31 AM	#54
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	I have seen series with I think 4 different series orders, chronological, suggested reading order, Uk publication date and first published date. I went to the authors home page and found another, slightly different reading order. By then I was a bit miffed. I read books in series order whenever possible but my favorite authors, with a few exceptions, produce books that can be read in any order without spoiling the plot or story line. One of the great pleasures with an ereader is when I stumble upon an unread (by me) book by an author I have enjoyed in the past. Helen

10-23-2011, 07:15 PM	#57
Keryl Raist Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 379182 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Device: Kindle for PC	I read them by publication date. If I really like a series I may go to the author's site and see if there are other recommended ways of reading them. Back in the dark ages (mid-80's) a company called TSR published some books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. These six books became the heart of the DragonLance series. There are also something like 10 books now in that original story arc, and I would suggest absolutely no one read the latter four, let alone add them into the storyline in chronological order. Hickman and Weis changed, grew, and became different writers over twenty-five plus years. This is to be expected. But if you try to read the last three shoved into the chronological places they go, you'll get whiplash because of how radically the characters changed. For me, that's the primary reason to stick with publication date, that way the changes are gradual, not jarring.