Annoying - finally learn book is part 1

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by kennyc

That happened to me with Dan Simmons Hyperion. I've refused to read anything by him since then.

In fairness, most SF fans are probably aware that "Hyperion" and "The Fall of Hyperion" are a single novel published in two parts for reasons of practicality (it was too long to publish as a single book). It did win both the Hugo and Nebula awards, after all!

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For me, the real annoyance is when the book does not do that well and ends up being orphaned. I've read part 1 and then learned part 2 and further will never exist. And no chance to visit the Unseen University's library or the Library of Lost Books from Hell on High.

I first ran into this with Roland Green's Wandor series, which basically died unfinished. Given that I was a college student spending my lunch money on books, I was pretty hacked off. I've mellowed over the years. I'll occasionally buy a Roland Green book now when he co-writes something with an author I really like.

[Krazykiwi]

I remember reading a Tor author blog post about the author's confusion when all mention of her books being series was intentionally hidden from readers, taken off the covers etc (by another publisher, not by Tor). I really wish I could find that post. They had taken a partially complete series to a new publisher, at book 2 or 3, and the new art didn't mention the series nature at all, leading to readers starting there, and not realising until too late there were earlier book(s), which is kind of the opposite of the problem the OP had here, but still annoying from a reader point of view.

I recall it being one of the big trad pubs too, possibly S&S, and the author being really quite mad about it. Hence, I guess, why they were now with Tor.

[HarryT]

There's nothing wrong with a series. In a series, each book can (or at least should) be able to be read as a standalone work. E.g. The "Poirot" novels of Agatha Christie are a series. The problem comes when a single novel is split across multiple books, and the reader is not informed of the fact.

[JSWolf]

One way to maybe find out if a book is part of a series is to look up the book on Fantastic Fiction.

[petercreasey]

I just read 300+ pages of another book that stopped abruptly without being completed.

It's not convenient to research books before reading them.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

I just read 300+ pages of another book that stopped abruptly without being completed.

It's not convenient to research books before reading them.

Then, unfortunately, you will keep having problems like this.

Shari

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

I just read 300+ pages of another book that stopped abruptly without being completed.

It's not convenient to research books before reading them.

How long does it take to find out if a book is part of a series? 30s tops? For me, it's worth it, because I strongly prefer to read the books in a series in order.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

I just read 300+ pages of another book that stopped abruptly without being completed.

It's not convenient to research books before reading them.

Are we talking about a series here (in the traditional sense) or a serial?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Are we talking about a series here (in the traditional sense) or a serial?

Yes, that's the point I made a few posts back. A series has books that can be read independently; a serial does not.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, that's the point I made a few posts back. A series has books that can be read independently; a serial does not.

Well in theory anyway. Some series' not so much. I'm just curious what Peter is running in to.




Personally I have to always read a series in order no matter whether the author claims the books stand alone or not.

[petercreasey]

This goes back to my original question which I believe received discouraging info.

Is there an easy way to tell if a book is a Part 1 so that subsequent books have to be read to resolve the plot?

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

This goes back to my original question which I believe received discouraging info.

Is there an easy way to tell if a book is a Part 1 so that subsequent books have to be read to resolve the plot?

Read the reviews on Amazon or Goodreads.

Sorry no easy way unless part of the title is part 1.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

I just read 300+ pages of another book that stopped abruptly without being completed.

It's not convenient to research books before reading them.

Originally Posted by petercreasey

This goes back to my original question which I believe received discouraging info.

Is there an easy way to tell if a book is a Part 1 so that subsequent books have to be read to resolve the plot?

I would have said to do some research on the book, but, as it isn't convenient, then ...

Sorry, but your statements are inconsistent. You need to do some research to find out about the book. If the place you got the book from doesn't show the information you need, or the metadata in the book, or other books pages inside the book, then you need to look at something like goodreads or one of the other sources suggested here.

[HarryT]

If the book is commercially published, as Jon suggested earlier, look on https://www.fantasticfiction.com/. This is my "goto" source for series information and takes literally a few seconds.