You know those sprawling epic fantasy series? The ones with lots of intrigue, politics and character development? Those are the ones I mean. I love those kind of things, but there are things that annoy the H out of me. Here's some of them...
- There's usually a large time span between publication dates. At the start, they'll be reasonable, but move more and more apart as the series continues. Don't get me wrong, as a writer I totally understand. As a reader, however, it's inconvenient to say the least.
- With some of them, later in the series, there's no more hardback books. I like having all books in a series in the same kind of edition, so I'm not a fan of this.
- They require a lot of attention. There's so much detail in these books (I'm thinking Game of Thrones or Wheel of Time, or the Cheysuli Chronicles) - that's what makes them so fascinating - that the whole experience looses a lot if you can't read one book after another. I'm not talking publication this time, but pure reading time. I mean, who has the leisure to read 12 books in a row? Or the attention span?
- Halfway through the series, they bring out a new cover design. *sigh*
- Unless they're REALLY good, there's bits that the story could have done without. At least in my opinion. At some point, it has to end, right?
- Then there's the stories where the poor hero NEVER gets left in peace. One book ends, happy ending, but you just KNOW the poor guy's world will be shattered all over again in the next one. And the next. And the next. Leave him alone, already!
- When they DO end, these series, it's traumatic.
What about you? Any pet peeves with long series?
5 comments:
I gave up on Wheel of Time because it just wouldn't end... And too much politics eventually ruins the story for me.
Yes! Exactly my point! I keep re-reading the first few, coz I loved those, but I get bored around book five or six...
What timing! I just wrote a post for later in the week on kind of the same thing. The long lag between pub dates is what bothers me too.
I think the next Wheel of Time book is the last. I might have given up except two of my sons are in love with them so I have to read them too. One of my son can quote parts. He's nerdy for a high school football coach.
Have to admit I have a cut off at 3 books in series. Often I will buy them all, but rarely will I read past book 3 (except with The Dresden Fils, but that's just awesome and funny)
Look forward to seeing your creative writing exercise this week for the Imagination Sparks Blogfest!
Wagging Tales - Blog for Writers
I have all of the Wheel of Time books, but I never read them all. Kinda like Charmaine...I also agree with her on the Dresden Files. Jim Butcher knows how to do a series that keeps you interested.
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