Series, series and more damned series! - Page 4

Loosheesh · 12-03-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

But there seems to be a theme for me - I'm fine with series in certain genres. In these two cases, urban fantasy. Also in these two cases, written by men, but I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it. I do know I prefer their approach over LKH's fang-porn.

Being a relative newbie and all that, who is LKH?

(And, yes, you're very kind, but there's no need to define fang-porn

)

Belfaborac · 12-03-2011, 02:48 PM

I love series. And stand-alone books. And anything in between and outside. I certainly agree that too many writers jump straight into writing series though, for whatever reason. Or maybe it's the publishers who suggest or demand it?

In any case, I never start reading an incomplete series these days. I've been burnt too many times (by Robert Jordan, George R. R. Martin and more) to risk it again and there's really no reason to do so given the thousands up thousands of complete series and stand-alone books available which I've not yet read.

Oh, and I've no idea who LHK is either. And I hate acronyms. How hard can it be to write out the full name?

CWatkinsNash · 12-03-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

Being a relative newbie and all that, who is LKH?

(And, yes, you're very kind, but there's no need to define fang-porn

)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belfaborac

Oh, and I've no idea who LHK is either. And I hate acronyms. How hard can it be to write out the full name?

Laurell K. Hamilton. My apologies.

carpetmojo · 12-03-2011, 03:21 PM

[QUOTE=CWatkinsNash;1861740.....I'm also rather enmeshed in The Dresden Files. I'm on book #7 of the 13 already completed. Butcher's planning like 23 or 24, I can't recall the exact number. I just started the series this year, and I didn't know I'd get hooked, but I am and, again, I can't complain because I get a lot of enjoyment out of reading them.......[/QUOTE]

Ah, yes, I now realise that I was solely thinking about theme/story series, of course.
Which I do prefer not to go on for yonks and yonks...

But, the character-led series, yes, that's a separate thing, for me, altogether.
A good character/s, and I'll read as many as you can sling at me - I've just started Dresden.
I am a devotee of James Lee Burke - by now, I'll read anything of his, and indeed have read everything of his, but particularly Robicheaux. If you like crime, but above that, intelligent, powerful, meaningful, just damn good writing, he is your man. He defies stereotyping really. A good start is "Neon Rain", or his short stories.
Bosche, Parker, and, even I am surprised sometimes, Reacher - these are all series I can't get too much of. Oh, and Dresden now.
I had just the right amount of Potter, too.

BeccaPrice · 12-03-2011, 08:14 PM

I love series - I love to revisit old friends. But each book has to be a complete, stand-alone novel. I hate, loathe, and despise cliff-hanger endings. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller almost lost me with the ending of their latest, Ghost Ship. I'll continue, because I trust them that the story arc will end with the next book, which either is almost done or has been turned over to the publishers, I forget which.

I refuse to start the Outlander books, although I've been told I'll love them, until there is an *ending.* As someone upthread has said, I've been burned too many times. I'm collecting all the Dresden books, against the day when the series ends, because I don't trust Jim Butcher to end it well.

Nyssa · 12-03-2011, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I refuse to start the Outlander books, although I've been told I'll love them, until there is an *ending.* As someone upthread has said, I've been burned too many times. I'm collecting all the Dresden books, against the day when the series ends, because I don't trust Jim Butcher to end it well.

This confuses me.

Why spend the money to collect the books if you do not think the series will end well?

BeccaPrice · 12-03-2011, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyssa

This confuses me.

Why spend the money to collect the books if you do not think the series will end well?

I suppose because i started collecting the books in the first place - I tapped out around book 7, when things started getting really grim, and just never started back up again. I'm something of a completist, and hate to give up on something good - and I'm afraid that by the time the series ends, some of the earlier books will be out of print or otherwise unavailable.

Nyssa · 12-03-2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I suppose because i started collecting the books in the first place - I tapped out around book 7, when things started getting really grim, and just never started back up again. I'm something of a completist, and hate to give up on something good - and I'm afraid that by the time the series ends, some of the earlier books will be out of print or otherwise unavailable.

Ah. Okay, I understand being a completest.

MrsJoseph · 12-04-2011, 09:53 AM

Christa, it's my goal to get you into Andre Norton this year.

She doesn't do UF though.

CWatkinsNash · 12-04-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

Christa, it's my goal to get you into Andre Norton this year.

She doesn't do UF though.

Hm. Okay, if you insist. Where would you recommend I start?

MrsJoseph · 12-04-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Hm. Okay, if you insist. Where would you recommend I start?

Witch World, I sent you a rec on GR.

I love that series and I hope you like it, too.

CWatkinsNash · 12-04-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

Witch World, I sent you a rec on GR.

I love that series and I hope you like it, too.

Received and wishlisted. Thanks!

theducks · 12-04-2011, 02:07 PM

End Well?
Some series end with the Hero getting off'd

End well to me, is a tidy wrap so there are not big loose ends (at least for the main participants).

morriss003 · 12-04-2011, 02:46 PM

I understand the argument. Some of the Honor Harrington novels read like fillers, and I don't think that every book needs to have a sequel or a prequel. A lot of people have asked for a sequel to Surviving the Fog, but frankly, I don't think that I have anything more to say about that group of characters. On the other hand, Sarah's Spaceship Adventure is from a concept (Mackenzie's Rock) that just will not stop developing in my mind. Story after story keeps popping up. It's not about business at all, and I believe that I will write several more stories of the universe even if I never sell any of them.

BeccaPrice · 12-04-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

End Well?
Some series end with the Hero getting off'd

End well to me, is a tidy wrap so there are not big loose ends (at least for the main participants).

end well - at least a happy for now ending, not with the lead character being off'd. I don't want to spend that much psychic energy getting to know someone just to have them killed off at the end.

12-03-2011, 02:48 PM	#47
Belfaborac Wizard Posts: 1,498 Karma: 5199835 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norway Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-950	I love series. And stand-alone books. And anything in between and outside. I certainly agree that too many writers jump straight into writing series though, for whatever reason. Or maybe it's the publishers who suggest or demand it? In any case, I never start reading an incomplete series these days. I've been burnt too many times (by Robert Jordan, George R. R. Martin and more) to risk it again and there's really no reason to do so given the thousands up thousands of complete series and stand-alone books available which I've not yet read. Oh, and I've no idea who LHK is either. And I hate acronyms. How hard can it be to write out the full name? Last edited by Belfaborac; 12-03-2011 at 02:51 PM.

12-03-2011, 03:21 PM	#49
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	[QUOTE=CWatkinsNash;1861740.....I'm also rather enmeshed in The Dresden Files. I'm on book #7 of the 13 already completed. Butcher's planning like 23 or 24, I can't recall the exact number. I just started the series this year, and I didn't know I'd get hooked, but I am and, again, I can't complain because I get a lot of enjoyment out of reading them.......[/QUOTE] Ah, yes, I now realise that I was solely thinking about theme/story series, of course. Which I do prefer not to go on for yonks and yonks... But, the character-led series, yes, that's a separate thing, for me, altogether. A good character/s, and I'll read as many as you can sling at me - I've just started Dresden. I am a devotee of James Lee Burke - by now, I'll read anything of his, and indeed have read everything of his, but particularly Robicheaux. If you like crime, but above that, intelligent, powerful, meaningful, just damn good writing, he is your man. He defies stereotyping really. A good start is "Neon Rain", or his short stories. Bosche, Parker, and, even I am surprised sometimes, Reacher - these are all series I can't get too much of. Oh, and Dresden now. I had just the right amount of Potter, too. Last edited by carpetmojo; 12-03-2011 at 03:24 PM.

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12-03-2011, 08:14 PM	#50
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I love series - I love to revisit old friends. But each book has to be a complete, stand-alone novel. I hate, loathe, and despise cliff-hanger endings. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller almost lost me with the ending of their latest, Ghost Ship. I'll continue, because I trust them that the story arc will end with the next book, which either is almost done or has been turned over to the publishers, I forget which. I refuse to start the Outlander books, although I've been told I'll love them, until there is an ending. As someone upthread has said, I've been burned too many times. I'm collecting all the Dresden books, against the day when the series ends, because I don't trust Jim Butcher to end it well.

12-04-2011, 09:53 AM	#54
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	Christa, it's my goal to get you into Andre Norton this year. She doesn't do UF though.

12-04-2011, 02:07 PM	#58
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,058 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	End Well? Some series end with the Hero getting off'd End well to me, is a tidy wrap so there are not big loose ends (at least for the main participants).

12-04-2011, 02:46 PM	#59
morriss003 Evangelist Posts: 438 Karma: 3409790 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maui Device: kindle	I understand the argument. Some of the Honor Harrington novels read like fillers, and I don't think that every book needs to have a sequel or a prequel. A lot of people have asked for a sequel to Surviving the Fog, but frankly, I don't think that I have anything more to say about that group of characters. On the other hand, Sarah's Spaceship Adventure is from a concept (Mackenzie's Rock) that just will not stop developing in my mind. Story after story keeps popping up. It's not about business at all, and I believe that I will write several more stories of the universe even if I never sell any of them.

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