series quality decreasing?

[kyteflyer]

.... sorry... my comment became irrelevant.

[leebase]

Depends on the series. Dune is a book unequaled by any of the follow ones. Hunt for Red October was equaled by some but not all of the follow ones. All the Jack Reacher books are about the same

[Apache]

Originally Posted by theducks

That is probably because we each want something slightly different in our reading experience. The Author IS TRYING to chang tings up, and not become stale. Sometimes they miss. Sometimes their life changes (and it shows through).

One example is Steven Brust. His Vlad Taltos series was affected by his divorce.
Apache

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Apache

One example is Steven Brust. His Vlad Taltos series was affected by his divorce.
Apache

I wondered what happened with that series, it makes sense when you put it that way.

[JSWolf]

A really good series is the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

A really good series is the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.

Discworld is a little different from most other series, though. It seems to me that it is more like a bunch of stories that just all happen to take place in the same universe. There are some recurring characters, but they're not in all of the books.

Shari

[DiapDealer]

It's not always the author's fault. I get bored these days after about 3 books with the same characters. But I do feel that series-writing can become a bit of crutch for both authors and readers.

One thing is for sure: I don't give novel-length "mulligans" any more in a series. If you need to bore me with setup material and exposition (or seed-planting for later books) for a whole book, then you're not doing it right and you've lost me. Call me when you start an entirely fresh project. Lackluster installments means you planned/outlined too many books for your series.

My favorite writers these days impress me by being willing to leave obvious series money on the table and go off in entirely new directions. Often.

[Luffy]

As a fan of Harry Potter, I find the first 4 books to be the best, and the rest having a few bad ideas. But I rated all of them 5 stars on Goodreads.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by hobnail

Does anyone else often find that the quality or enjoyment of the books in a series decreases after the first book?

I prefer standalones and have real problems getting through series. Am I the only one?

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I prefer standalones and have real problems getting through series. Am I the only one?

I'm afraid so.

I frequently lose interest in series, especially open ended series, but enjoy a well written series. Of course, I also tend to lose interest in the vast majority of authors over time. Staying fresh and interesting is very hard to do. There is a reason that most authors tend to fizzle out after 10-20 years.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I prefer standalones and have real problems getting through series. Am I the only one?

What I like about series is revisiting favorite characters - it's like getting together with old friends.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I'm afraid so.

I frequently lose interest in series, especially open ended series, but enjoy a well written series. Of course, I also tend to lose interest in the vast majority of authors over time. Staying fresh and interesting is very hard to do. There is a reason that most authors tend to fizzle out after 10-20 years.

See, I have enjoyed Stephen King for decades. Was The Outsider as good as It or the Shining? No, but he's still a very good author. But I've only read the first three Dark tower books. After a while, I just want something else, you know?

I do enjoy something like Lovecraft's Cthulhu stories, where the stories are all standalone, though they make references to similar names and lore. King does that as well.

[issybird]

My own take: sometimes the first in a series is best; the interest of the world-building is never matched. Sometimes it takes a book or two for an author to hit his stride. But all series run their course, if they go on long enough. I think that’s mostly why I stopped reading mysteries. I got tired of the series I knew, and since I was no longer going to the public library, I wasn’t finding new ones in the new book display. But I also think the nature of series writing has changed with the surge in ereading and self-publishing. There are way too many series out there with books coming out far too frequently and the overall quality has tanked mightily as a result.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I prefer standalones and have real problems getting through series. Am I the only one?

I like standalones but most of my favorite books have been part of a series. Quite a few of the series I like tend to be the shared universe style where the main characters in one book are peripheral at best in another. Then I have my love for the Grantville Gazette's where the minor or non-existent characters in the main arc get their moment in type. After 87 ebooks, I still wait for the next one. Hmmm... soap operas anyone?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by shalym

Discworld is a little different from most other series, though. It seems to me that it is more like a bunch of stories that just all happen to take place in the same universe. There are some recurring characters, but they're not in all of the books.

Shari

But all the books are not standalone. You get different main characters, but you do get some of the same background characters. So it is a progression even if it doesn't look like it is. Another good thing is that the books are written in chronological order.