FREE/BARGAIN — Science Fiction & Fantasy

[GlennD]

I enjoy Recluce but they do tend to follow a formula; one that he follows pretty closely with the Imager series.

I picked up the bundle because I'd been actively watching prices on them, and had about half the Recluce books and none of the others. It's cleared off half a shelf of paperbacks.

Modesitt did publish a timeline at one point but he recommends publication order for anyone new to the Recluce series.

[Aleron Ives]

I just have a hard time believing any author is skilled enough to write 20 books in the same series and make them all interesting without repeating himself or relying on formulas that get old after book five.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

I just have a hard time believing any author is skilled enough to write 20 books in the same series and make them all interesting without repeating himself or relying on formulas that get old after book five.

Sometimes (read: most of the time, it seems, when it comes to mainstream fiction) the formula is what sells.

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

I just have a hard time believing any author is skilled enough to write 20 books in the same series and make them all interesting without repeating himself or relying on formulas that get old after book five.

You should read the Discworld novels. The underlying problems and solutions in each book are different, and diverge more-so as the series goes along and Pratchett finds his stride. Even the humor varies and isn't always predictable. Probably the only really consistent formula is the use of footnotes, but those are often some of the funniest things in the novels. Characters evolve over time as well, so their actions aren't always formulaic beyond basic character traits.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Manabi

You should read the Discworld novels. The underlying problems and solutions in each book are different, and diverge more-so as the series goes along and Pratchett finds his stride. Even the humor varies and isn't always predictable. Probably the only really consistent formula is the use of footnotes, but those are often some of the funniest things in the novels. Characters evolve over time as well, so their actions aren't always formulaic beyond basic character traits.

Very well said!

[andyh2000]

Originally Posted by Manabi

You should read the Discworld novels. The underlying problems and solutions in each book are different, and diverge more-so as the series goes along and Pratchett finds his stride. Even the humor varies and isn't always predictable. Probably the only really consistent formula is the use of footnotes, but those are often some of the funniest things in the novels. Characters evolve over time as well, so their actions aren't always formulaic beyond basic character traits.

I stopped after about fifteen or so as it felt like I'd internalised his voice so much I could tell what was coming next, what the jokes would be etc. They started to feel very 'same-y'. Maybe I should give them another go starting with some later ones.

Andrew

[SomeSteve]

The Mabinogion Tetralogy by Evangeline Walton is $2.99 at Amazon US and Kobo US.

I haven't read it, but when I saw it among the bargains, the author's name seemed familiar to me, so I thought I'd mention it here.

https://www.amazon.com/Mabinogion-Te...dp/B07MW982G1/

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the...on-tetralogy-5