4 ms·

I've completely given up on reading multi-volume epics. Either stick to a defined 3 or 4 novel series (ie. call it a trilogy from the start), or go with a seri

by adwf 11y ago

I've completely given up on reading multi-volume epics. Either stick to a defined 3 or 4 novel series (ie. call it a trilogy from the start), or go with a series of interconnected, but standalone, novels like Iain M Banks Culture books. The major problem I find is that I just can't be bothered to re-read the previous books. Yet inevitably, I will have forgotten a lot of characters and plot (particularly with character dense fantasy), and must re-read or be completely lost when reading the new book. This isn't really a problem with trilogies, usually I don't need to re-read at all for the final book, or even if I do it's relatively quick. But the moment you start writing huge, 5-6+ novel series I get very annoyed with authors. Take George RR Martin for example. I still haven't read the latest book, simply because there was a 5 year gap, then a 6 year gap between publications of the last two. During that time, I've nearly completely forgotten what went on in the books. I re-read after the first gap, but I'll be damned if I'm doing it again... There are successful authors who manage to write large, interesting worlds/stories without needing to descend down into the muck that is the mega-novel series. Like Iain M Banks with his standalone Culture novels that form a coherent world over time. Or Terry Pratchett, with the Discworld.

dkersten 11y ago
The major problem I find is that I just can't be bothered to re-read the previous books. Agreed. I've found this happen a few times. For example, in one series, I read about 6 books and then didn't have time or for some other reason didn't continue. I thought about going back and finishing the series maybe a year and a half later, but didn't feel like rereading the previous 6 books but felt too lost without doing so. This happens to me with TV programs too.
Eridrus 11y ago
I love myself some big epic fantasy, The Malazan Book of the Fallen series was a huge favourite of mine, followed closely by A Song of Ice and Fire, but this is a pretty real logistical problem even for me. I have gone and read the Ian Esslemont books in the Malazan universe though, precisely because they are disconnected from the main plot. Maybe I'll go back and re-read these series after they're complete.
- adwf 11y ago
  Yeah, waiting til the series is complete and then reading them all in one go is the approach I've taken towards things. I'm making an exception for the new Brandon Sanderson series, but I think I'll regret that eventually!
gaius 11y ago
The sad thing is that this very real phenomenon "punishes" those who start series early, the very people that validate the business model or writing sequels at all. I don't expect I'll bother with book 6 of GoT for the very same reason you state. And the TV series will be in syndication by then most likely!
- adwf 11y ago
  Yeah, the TV series has put me off reading them too. I'd rather just experience the one version of the story. I've been waiting for it to catch up to where I remember in the books. Having said that, I have bought the latest book and will probably buy the rest, I'm just not sure if I'll get round to reading them until the series is finished. Which given the overall slowness so far, could be another 10-15 years! That's why even though I highly enjoy a good epic, I really can't stand reading them anymore. It's a love/hate thing now.
  - itsybitsycoder 11y ago
    I haven't read the books but it's my understanding that the show has caught up with the books & that you may be confused if you try to jump straight from the middle of the books to the middle of the show, since they've changed many of the characters' storylines.
    - dragonwriter 11y ago
      > I haven't read the books but it's my understanding that the show has caught up with the books & that you may be confused if you try to jump straight from the middle of the books to the middle of the show, since they've changed many of the characters' storylines. It likely will have caught up to or passed the books by the end of this season (assuming that, given the divergence in storylines, the comparison is even meaningful anymore; but there are some signs that at least some of the divergence is just keeping the number of independent threads down and may converge back somewhat), but all of the existing storylines in the show that can reasonably be compared to the book remain behind the parallel storylines in the book.
ars 11y ago
After this happened to me too many times, now I simply wait until the series is completely finished before starting it. Which is tough on the authors I'm sure. But unless you can put out a new book at least yearly, I'm going to continue to wait. And probably even then. It doesn't always work though, I finished the Mistborn series after he was done - and now I hear he's got some new books planned for it. Ooops :)

by adwf 11y ago

dkersten 11y ago

The major problem I find is that I just can't be bothered to re-read the previous books. Agreed. I've found this happen a few times. For example, in one series, I read about 6 books and then didn't have time or for some other reason didn't continue. I thought about going back and finishing the series maybe a year and a half later, but didn't feel like rereading the previous 6 books but felt too lost without doing so. This happens to me with TV programs too.

Eridrus 11y ago

I love myself some big epic fantasy, The Malazan Book of the Fallen series was a huge favourite of mine, followed closely by A Song of Ice and Fire, but this is a pretty real logistical problem even for me. I have gone and read the Ian Esslemont books in the Malazan universe though, precisely because they are disconnected from the main plot. Maybe I'll go back and re-read these series after they're complete.

adwf 11y ago
Yeah, waiting til the series is complete and then reading them all in one go is the approach I've taken towards things. I'm making an exception for the new Brandon Sanderson series, but I think I'll regret that eventually!

gaius 11y ago

The sad thing is that this very real phenomenon "punishes" those who start series early, the very people that validate the business model or writing sequels at all. I don't expect I'll bother with book 6 of GoT for the very same reason you state. And the TV series will be in syndication by then most likely!

adwf 11y ago
Yeah, the TV series has put me off reading them too. I'd rather just experience the one version of the story. I've been waiting for it to catch up to where I remember in the books. Having said that, I have bought the latest book and will probably buy the rest, I'm just not sure if I'll get round to reading them until the series is finished. Which given the overall slowness so far, could be another 10-15 years! That's why even though I highly enjoy a good epic, I really can't stand reading them anymore. It's a love/hate thing now.
- itsybitsycoder 11y ago
  I haven't read the books but it's my understanding that the show has caught up with the books & that you may be confused if you try to jump straight from the middle of the books to the middle of the show, since they've changed many of the characters' storylines.
  - dragonwriter 11y ago
    > I haven't read the books but it's my understanding that the show has caught up with the books & that you may be confused if you try to jump straight from the middle of the books to the middle of the show, since they've changed many of the characters' storylines. It likely will have caught up to or passed the books by the end of this season (assuming that, given the divergence in storylines, the comparison is even meaningful anymore; but there are some signs that at least some of the divergence is just keeping the number of independent threads down and may converge back somewhat), but all of the existing storylines in the show that can reasonably be compared to the book remain behind the parallel storylines in the book.

ars 11y ago

After this happened to me too many times, now I simply wait until the series is completely finished before starting it. Which is tough on the authors I'm sure. But unless you can put out a new book at least yearly, I'm going to continue to wait. And probably even then. It doesn't always work though, I finished the Mistborn series after he was done - and now I hear he's got some new books planned for it. Ooops :)