Fantasy Book Club discussion

How does everyone feel about fantasy series that are unfinished? I know some people won't even touch a book if the series isn't finished. Personally I think they are missing out. One of the best fantasy writers I ever came across was Hugh Cook who's series starts with The Wizards And The Warriors. He died before ever completing the series but that doesn't stop the books from being fantastic.

For me, it depends on how many books are finished, and how long the series is. I read Eye of the World by Robert Jordan before finding out how long and unfinished (at the time I read the series) the series was. I've not been tempted to pick it up again, despite it being completed. It's just a bit too long for me.
On the other hand, I read A Song of Ice and Fire knowing it was unfinished and had at that point, four books to it. Who knows how long I'll have to wait for the next (and how many books long the series will end up being), but it was definitely worth reading, for me.
I've also loved Sanderson's Stormlight Archive despite it being predicted as ten books long, with about a thousand pages per book (so far).
It also depends on my motivation, and how many people tell me about the series/how interesting the series sounds.

I usually take a break from a series that is longer than 3 books. Not too long that I'll forget the main theme but sometimes I want it to last longer.

With Sword of Truth I did that and when I went back to it I found the remaining books didn't hold my attention. The story line had changed and I wasn't that interested, I was OK with that and never finished the series.
Same with the Dark Tower by Stephen King. I thought this is his best work but I was satisfied with what I had read and left it.

I read all of Sword of Truth and found I really didn't enjoy the story as the books progressed. I need to read Dark Tower at some point.

unfinished series are fine imo once the author doesnt take overly long with the sequels, the demon cycle, lightbringer, malazan book of the fallen are examples of this, book out at least every 2 years, but waiting for the new kingskiller and a song of ice and fire, for example which have taken an age and still no real end in site can be annoyin to say the least, depends on how fast the author is really,

I think you're right. I put off reading Kingkiller because the blurb just didn't grab me. When I finally read NoTW I LOVED it and moved straight on to WMF. I understand why it's taking Rothfuss so long to finish DoS, my own trilogy is going to take some serious wrapping up, but I do wish I could pick up a copy tomorrow!

I'm at the complete opposite end of the spectrum, compared to people who wait for the whole series to be finished. I've read dozens and dozens of first books without ever continuing their series, so I never care whether the whole thing has been written or not! Even if there are cliffhangers, I can go years before I decide to read the second book - I think I just prefer variety! Although I do sometimes regret that, because trying to remember what happened in a previous volume is much harder that way.

I went through a phase after getting burned by the WoT series - I started it when the first book came out, got to the end and realized it wasn't stand alone, grr. I got to the end of the third book and realized it wasn't a trilogy GRR! Then at some point (5 or 6) the books were taking more than a year between and they were boring on top of that, RAWR!

So I stopped reading series that weren't finished for a while.

But nowadays I start them all the time. I have so many series I'm following that now there always seems to be a new book popping up that I can grab and so I'm not just sitting around waiting on one book.

And if an author slides off my radar and then I finally remember them - bonus! Multiple new entries.

I will say I'm not holding my breath for the Song of Ice and Fire books, both because the last couple irritated me and I don't feel the series is going to wrap up any time in the foreseeable future.

Well, one of my goals this year is to read more series that are already completed. I have a bad habit of starting too many series in general and leaving them unfinished. I find it easier to complete series on my Kindle because I can always get the next book instantly and not be tempted by other books.

It's always disappointing when an author can't finish a series for whatever reason. I won't be happy if that happens to ASOIAF. I don't know which author could fill Mr. Martin's shoes. If worst comes to worst though, I could say it was a good run.

ASOIAF is so complex with so many plot threads I can't imagine anyone else being able to do it justice.

Amy wrote: "I'm at the complete opposite end of the spectrum, compared to people who wait for the whole series to be finished. I've read dozens and dozens of first books without ever continuing their series, s..."

I'm, sort of, like you here. But not completely.

I don't really like series in general so I just treat every book as a stand alone. Sometimes I read the 1st book and then the 2nd (years can pass before I actually pick the book 2, if at all), sometimes I just read the last book or the book in the middle of the series. To be honest, I can't really remember even one series I've ever completely finished, their status being that of a finished or unfinished.

Since I've bought both The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies last month (the exact linked editions), I decided to read them and not just shelf them unread, as I have a habbit of doing and I don't even know how many books there's supposed to be.. and don't really want to know either

I'm on book 2 and so far its like a different story completely, which I like, so I might buy the 3rd book (and read it, maybe) when done :)

edit: my thoughts about unfinished series; I don't care at all. Maybe its going to change in the future

I don't mind reading unfinished series. It's just the way it is with fantasy. You read and you wait for the next book to come out. And I only read paperbacks so I have to wait longer, but I don't mind.

Like many others here, I also start many series and keep forgetting about them. So now I keep track by noting them down in a page in my blog (and hope I don't forget to update them, haha).

I'm one of those people. I call it the Jordan Rule (yes I got burned on WoT) and now refuse to start a series until it's complete UNLESS the author has a good track record of releasing books on a schedule and I know how many books are coming (e.g. I just read Leviathan Wakes last year because Corey cranks out one book a year, he already has 5 published, there are only 4 more to go).
There are at least 20-25 series that I want to read that have already been finished (which is more than I have time to read in the next 'x' number of years) so I have no lack of good books to read.
But...everyone is different...this is what works for me.

Scott wrote: "I'm one of those people. I call it the Jordan Rule (yes I got burned on WoT) and now refuse to start a series until it's complete UNLESS the author has a good track record of releasing books on a ..."

This is why I'm kinda baffled that people endlessly complain about certain series not being finished (like ASOIAF). As you pointed out, Scott, there are so many other finished series out there, and more books than anyone could ever hope to read! If one series isn't finished, why not just choose a different one and read that instead?

Amy wrote: "This is why I'm kinda baffled that people endlessly complain about certain series not being finished (like ASOIAF). As you pointed out, Scott, there are so many other finished series out there, and more books than anyone could ever hope to read! If one series isn't finished, why not just choose a different one and read that instead? "

Plenty of possible reasons. Because they caught your eye, because they seem new, interesting and exciting, etc. Yes, there are many finished series out there already, but by that logic - why read anything written after 1900? There are plenty of books written before that - much more than you and I can read in a lifetime. New things can be exciting.
Yes, I too am suspicious towards unfinished series, and I too can't wait for the end of ASOIAF, but I don't regret starting it (and don't complain), because it was something new and never-seen-before (at least from me) at the time and completely changed my view on the genre. So I might be suspicious towards new series and filter them through an extra fine sieve but if they manage to get my attention, then I'll gladly take the chance. :)

Yordan wrote: "Amy wrote: "This is why I'm kinda baffled that people endlessly complain about certain series not being finished (like ASOIAF). As you pointed out, Scott, there are so many other finished series ou..."

I'm with you on this one.

Yordan wrote: "Plenty of possible reasons. Because they caught your eye, because they seem new, interesting and exciting..."

New things can be exciting, certainly - which is part of the reason I so rarely make it to the end of series and instead read so many first books! I tend to feel that most readers, though, regardless of genre, prefer to read more of what they already like, which is why series are so popular in the first place. Apart from the occasional break-out success, 'more of the same' is what sells, which is why we get long series of books, and remakes of films, and long-running TV shows.

Depends on the series. Series that are actually one long book are a problem. Series that are episodes in the life of N, not so much.

Like others have said, it depends on the series. If its by an author I like, I will more than likely read the first book (even if the following books are not written yet), because I know that even if I have to wait it will be worth it.
It does sometimes frustrate me, especially if the book is really good.
I started reading ASOIAF so long ago, and when 4 books were already published! I didn't anticipate that it would take so long for the 5th and who knows when we will get the 6th...I'm too invested to give up now.