Series Compulsion - Page 4

Pinecone · 10-09-2011, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgillette.rm

I think the poll results as of when I write this (41 respondents and 33 always start with book 1) show the wisdom of Baen publishing. They used to go back and sell the first book for $1.00. I started on Honor Harrington that way. Now the first book goes into their free library after a couple have been published. Read book one with little to no risk. If you like it, they got return on their investment.

Sony store did that with the first of the Star Fist books. Made it free to get people started in reading it.

HarryT · 10-09-2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

I always start with #1 and only finished series.

But how do you know if it's finished or not? The author might decide to write another one 20 years later. Even the death of the author doesn't necessarily mean that there won't be more books...

Pinecone · 10-09-2011, 09:16 AM

I try to read books in series, even though a number of authors do a good job of resetting the characters in case you haven't read the earlier books. But a futher along book can give away the end of a previous book.

But I do think some authors over do the recap of previous books in the series. It almost seems like they are padding the book, without having to write so much.

SensualPoet · 10-09-2011, 09:48 AM

I'm not fussed over the need to read starting from number one -- but I don't go out of my way to avoid it.

I started Sue Grafton at P is for Peril, enjoyed it and went on to A is for Alibi ... which is altogether a stronger book and made me see why Grafton has such a strong following. But then there are time constraints ... I've made it through B is for Burglar ... don't know when I'll hit C is for Corpse. And she's well ahead of me ... U is for Undertow is already out!

I am reading Agatha Christie in published order and, while I'd wanted to do that with Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, that didn't happen. I'd love to read (or re-read) the entire Erle Stanley Gardner Perry Mason novels in order but, alas, virtually none of them are in print.

I made a concious decision to read Louise Penny's Inspector Armand Gamache in order (she is up to seven novels) because I figured I'd be able to catch up with her over time.

But I started Laurie R King's terrific Mrs Sherlock Holmes series about eight books in, loved it, and am consciously working through from number one. As it turns out, I adored reading number one second because so many loose ends planted in it happened to be resolved in book eight (which I'd already read); I was impressed on how well planned the series truly is.

And by a fluke I read Elizabeth George's A Great Deliverance (Inspector Lynely #1) and will attempt to tackle others in order; but went out of my way to start Ruth Rendell at From Doon With Death (Inspector Wexford # 1) and am glad of it.

It's impossible to read Georges Simenon's Maigret in order so I'm focussed on what's actually available (which, in English, is depressingly little).

Having said this, I noticed that of the 70 novels I have reviewed over at Goodreads, 27 are first novels and many part of a series.

What's actively on my ereader right now? Erle Derr Biggers' The House Wiithout a Key (Charlie Chan # 1) and Charles Todd's A Test of Wills (Inspector Rutledge #1) so, I guess, it's more one than not.

Asawi · 10-09-2011, 10:34 AM

And then there are those series where they make a big change somewhere along the way. Like the one written by Norwegian Unni Lindell where a new main character was introduced in book 6 of the 9 now published. I much prefer the series with this strong female character alongside her obnoxious male partner. So I consider book 6 the first book in the series I'm truly interested in, and will read the ones after that in order.

(And I'll speed read through book 1-5 to see what's made the male main character such an idiot...)

sabredog · 10-09-2011, 10:44 AM

Nothing worse in picking up a paperback at a sale and realising it is book 2 or 3 and there are no others available in the series in-store to buy.

At least with ebooks, I can go back and buy the full series if I like the description of one of the ebooks in that series.

theducks · 10-09-2011, 11:50 AM

It all depends on the series (and Authors skill

)

I have discovered some really good series books from reading a middle book found at a used bookstore or Public Library.

It was not a series when I started reading in Analog SF&F

(McCaffery, Herbert, Asaro, Bujold...)

The publisher never printed Book3 (I had the first 2) in paper

(poor sales, change of management)

I no longer buy books that are now written in the Authors original series

(There are exceptions: A universe that was designed from the start to be contributed to )

Apache · 10-09-2011, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

I am reading Agatha Christie in published order and, while I'd wanted to do that with Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, that didn't happen. I'd love to read (or re-read) the entire Erle Stanley Gardner Perry Mason novels in order but, alas, virtually none of them are in print.

You can get them used online.

Apache

Sydney's Mom · 10-09-2011, 01:15 PM

Well, I have now read book 16 and book 1 of this series (Cynster series by Stephanie Laurence). If I had started with book 1, I wouldn't have bothered. Like a lot of series, it appears she got more comfortable with her characters as the series went on.

Odd Thomas is the opposite. The first book was unbelievable - 10 stars. The second book was so, so, and would have been even worse if you hadn't read the first book.

I guess some series, like Harry Potter, need character back story. But an historical romance series, being a romance, has to develope the story between the two main characters, so the back story is not as important.

sabredog · 10-09-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

The publisher never printed Book3 (I had the first 2) in paper

(poor sales, change of management)

Yep

I had to wait twenty years until Michael McCollum self published the third Antares book.

Worth the wait though....

xg4bx · 10-10-2011, 12:06 AM

david gerrold's war against the chtorr series has become a joke. its been almost 20 years since the last one but theres supposedly 3 books still to go. i was a freshman in high school when the last book came out, i'm now almost 34.

HappyMartin · 10-10-2011, 02:09 AM

A few years back I was very irritated when book 3 of a series was not available due to geographic restrictions but books 1, 2, 4 and 5 were. I now make sure all the books are available to me before I even start a series.

Pinecone · 10-10-2011, 04:03 AM

At least now, you can ask for help from those on this forum.

afa · 10-10-2011, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I would never, EVER, start a series anywhere other than at the first book, personally

.

Ditto

sabredog · 10-10-2011, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

A few years back I was very irritated when book 3 of a series was not available due to geographic restrictions but books 1, 2, 4 and 5 were. I now make sure all the books are available to me before I even start a series.

I hear you!

View Poll Results: Are you compelled to fill out a series you started in the middle?
I always start with #1 in a series	122	77.22%
Yes, if I can afford to	24	15.19%
No, my TBR list is too long as it is	7	4.43%
Your OCD is showing	5	3.16%
Voters: 158. You may not vote on this poll

10-09-2011, 01:15 PM	#54
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	Well, I have now read book 16 and book 1 of this series (Cynster series by Stephanie Laurence). If I had started with book 1, I wouldn't have bothered. Like a lot of series, it appears she got more comfortable with her characters as the series went on. Odd Thomas is the opposite. The first book was unbelievable - 10 stars. The second book was so, so, and would have been even worse if you hadn't read the first book. I guess some series, like Harry Potter, need character back story. But an historical romance series, being a romance, has to develope the story between the two main characters, so the back story is not as important. Last edited by Sydney's Mom; 10-10-2011 at 09:30 PM.

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10-09-2011, 09:16 AM	#48
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	I try to read books in series, even though a number of authors do a good job of resetting the characters in case you haven't read the earlier books. But a futher along book can give away the end of a previous book. But I do think some authors over do the recap of previous books in the series. It almost seems like they are padding the book, without having to write so much.

10-09-2011, 09:48 AM	#49
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	I'm not fussed over the need to read starting from number one -- but I don't go out of my way to avoid it. I started Sue Grafton at P is for Peril, enjoyed it and went on to A is for Alibi ... which is altogether a stronger book and made me see why Grafton has such a strong following. But then there are time constraints ... I've made it through B is for Burglar ... don't know when I'll hit C is for Corpse. And she's well ahead of me ... U is for Undertow is already out! I am reading Agatha Christie in published order and, while I'd wanted to do that with Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, that didn't happen. I'd love to read (or re-read) the entire Erle Stanley Gardner Perry Mason novels in order but, alas, virtually none of them are in print. I made a concious decision to read Louise Penny's Inspector Armand Gamache in order (she is up to seven novels) because I figured I'd be able to catch up with her over time. But I started Laurie R King's terrific Mrs Sherlock Holmes series about eight books in, loved it, and am consciously working through from number one. As it turns out, I adored reading number one second because so many loose ends planted in it happened to be resolved in book eight (which I'd already read); I was impressed on how well planned the series truly is. And by a fluke I read Elizabeth George's A Great Deliverance (Inspector Lynely #1) and will attempt to tackle others in order; but went out of my way to start Ruth Rendell at From Doon With Death (Inspector Wexford # 1) and am glad of it. It's impossible to read Georges Simenon's Maigret in order so I'm focussed on what's actually available (which, in English, is depressingly little). Having said this, I noticed that of the 70 novels I have reviewed over at Goodreads, 27 are first novels and many part of a series. What's actively on my ereader right now? Erle Derr Biggers' The House Wiithout a Key (Charlie Chan # 1) and Charles Todd's A Test of Wills (Inspector Rutledge #1) so, I guess, it's more one than not.

10-09-2011, 10:34 AM	#50
Asawi Gadgetoholic Posts: 1,467 Karma: 3865860 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Libra2, Tolino Vision 6	And then there are those series where they make a big change somewhere along the way. Like the one written by Norwegian Unni Lindell where a new main character was introduced in book 6 of the 9 now published. I much prefer the series with this strong female character alongside her obnoxious male partner. So I consider book 6 the first book in the series I'm truly interested in, and will read the ones after that in order. (And I'll speed read through book 1-5 to see what's made the male main character such an idiot...)

10-09-2011, 10:44 AM	#51
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Nothing worse in picking up a paperback at a sale and realising it is book 2 or 3 and there are no others available in the series in-store to buy. At least with ebooks, I can go back and buy the full series if I like the description of one of the ebooks in that series.

10-09-2011, 11:50 AM	#52
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,086 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	It all depends on the series (and Authors skill ) I have discovered some really good series books from reading a middle book found at a used bookstore or Public Library. It was not a series when I started reading in Analog SF&F (McCaffery, Herbert, Asaro, Bujold...) The publisher never printed Book3 (I had the first 2) in paper (poor sales, change of management) I no longer buy books that are now written in the Authors original series (There are exceptions: A universe that was designed from the start to be contributed to )

10-10-2011, 12:06 AM	#56
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	david gerrold's war against the chtorr series has become a joke. its been almost 20 years since the last one but theres supposedly 3 books still to go. i was a freshman in high school when the last book came out, i'm now almost 34.

10-10-2011, 02:09 AM	#57
HappyMartin Martin Kristiansen Posts: 1,546 Karma: 8480958 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Johannesburg Device: Kindle International Ipad 2	A few years back I was very irritated when book 3 of a series was not available due to geographic restrictions but books 1, 2, 4 and 5 were. I now make sure all the books are available to me before I even start a series.

10-10-2011, 04:03 AM	#58
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	At least now, you can ask for help from those on this forum.

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