SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

So, i just finished Skin Gamethe last published of The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, which i love.
So, no release date for the next installment and i'm feeling like an orphan!
Another book that got me raging in solitude was The Name of the Wind By Patrick Rothfuss subsequently The Wise Man's Fear and Pat's last years Twitter about Doors of Stone not to be published this year!
I'm not having the same problem with George R.R. Martin though... I don't know if its because i'm secure that HBO will deliver some GOT fix every year for me or i'm a little bit tired of winter taking it's sweet time to come.

Well, i don't mean for this to be a post about urban fantasy only, just wanted to share my eagerness for beloved series and discuss new books to tackle while waiting.

Ps: Excuse my english, have not practiced for a while.

At least with the Dresden files, there are stories within the bigger story. So, you can get some sort of closure each book.

GOT's is driving me batty because he takes so friggin' long to write these books that I have to go back and start them over again to get into the flow. The HBO show is good, but it doesn't follow the books so that doesn't cut it for me.

I was that way with the Wheel of Time series. I finally stopped reading them until the last 2 were published. Then, last year, I went through the whole series and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Man, i've meaning to read WOT for a while now, is it worth my time? I read the first two books when i was younger and i fear that the series will seam outdated, old u know?

I agree with you about GOT, i think i gave up on Martin because the 6 year span between books.

Have you read Gardens of the Moon ?

I feel your pain, Xetws. I hate the waits in between installments as well. (One of the reasons I'm glad that I never got into reading King's Dark Tower series until they were all available.)

I started reading Harry Potter when book 5 was out, so I only had to wait for books 6 & 7 - but I still couldn't wait.

And I'm right there with all of the ASOIAF readers (though I started reading that one the spring/summer before ADWD came out, so I guess I can't complain too much. But I don't watch the show, so it's just all wait for me.

I've definitely got some open-ended series on my reading list right now though, and I am OK with it.

Brandon Sanderson takes up a couple slots with his Stormlight series, Mistborn series(es), and Reckoners series.

Waiting on the new Dresden feels like forever, but again I came to them late so I shouldn't complain too much. I've only had to wait for 2 books so far.

I'm about mid-way through the Expanse series by James S. A. Corey.

There are a few more, but those ones are my main on-going series that aren't yet finished. It's painful to wait, but I enjoy the books so much that I feel like I'd be missing out if I didn't read them.

I have no interest in reading any more of the Kingkiller series.

Well. Glad I didn't intend to read the Honor Harrington books. A spoiler warning might've been nice.

Remember that publishers keep a close eye on sales numbers. You refuse to buy #1 because you want to wait until all three volumes are out. Fine -- but if the sales numbers aren't there, numbers 2 and 3 may never see the light of day. The publisher will say, "Look, nobody's buying the thing, why throw good money after bad?" And there you have it, the orphaned series. The author may have #2 and #3 in manuscript, ready to go. But no other publisher will push them out, not with #1 in the hands of the first publisher. It is a dead end for everybody.

Becky wrote: "I feel your pain, Xetws. I hate the waits in between installments as well. (One of the reasons I'm glad that I never got into reading King's Dark Tower series until they were all available.)

I st..."

Hi Becky! Good to have you here!
About ASOIAF, in my country, books 1-4 were published at the same time because the Tv show was becoming a major hit. So i got that going to me.
Now, i know that Mistborn have more books than the first. Still, that doesn't count as a finished series?

Why you are not interested in the Kingkiller series anymore?

John wrote: "This gets back to the question of series vs. serial from a discussion a long time ago. You can have a series in which each book is pretty much stand-alone, conflicts get resolved, issues get wrappe..."

Hey John, its a honor to have an author here.
Maybe you can tell us more about how hard it is, not doing this with your readers!

Do you think that cliffhangers are just to sell the next book, episode, season, whatever ?

John wrote: "This gets back to the question of series vs. serial from a discussion a long time ago. You can have a series in which each book is pretty much stand-alone, conflicts get resolved, issues get wrappe..."

Spoiler tags would be really important here.

I haven't gotten to this series yet.

:<

Brenda wrote: "Remember that publishers keep a close eye on sales numbers. You refuse to buy #1 because you want to wait until all three volumes are out. Fine -- but if the sales numbers aren't there, numbers 2 a..."

Hy Brenda, that's way, way too good point...

Brenda wrote: "Remember that publishers keep a close eye on sales numbers. You refuse to buy #1 because you want to wait until all three volumes are out. Fine -- but if the sales numbers aren't there, numbers 2 a..."

That's a publishing/author issue.

The reader issue is the way the stories end.

If a writer/publisher puts out a book/series in a way that makes me not purchase/read any more...what can I say? I'm not going out to buy a book just because I *hope* the purchase will get the rest of the series written/published. That's like fooling myself twice.

Yep, edit the post maybe John?

I think i'll change the topic to: I'm so damn sad I don't have what I want right now! heh

The Mistborn trilogy is finished, and can be read on its own and feel complete, but it is the start of a trilogy of trilogies. So it's the beginning of a larger series. Also, additional books (The Alloy of Law & Shadows of Self) are being added to the overall story arc. So, no, I wouldn't count it as finished myself.

Source:

SZABÓ DOMINIK
If I'm not mistaken, you have great plans with this universe and you intend to write more trilogies set in this world. Would you tell us about this conception in some detail?

BRANDON SANDERSON
Sure. I originally pitched the Mistborn series to my editor as a sequence of three trilogies. Past, present, and future—epic fantasy, urban fantasy, and science fiction; all with the running thread of the magic system.

Link: (#11) http://www.theoryland.com/intvmain.ph...

Xetws wrote: "Why you are not interested in the Kingkiller series anymore? "

Honestly, I never intended to read it anyway. It just didn't and doesn't call out to me the way that many other books do. Maybe it was the hype, maybe it was just the summary, I dunno. I ended up reading the first book only because one of my good friends begged me to. I liked it well enough, but I just have no desire to continue the series.

Becky wrote: "The Mistborn trilogy is finished, and can be read on its own and feel complete, but it is the start of a trilogy of trilogies. So it's the beginning of a larger series. Also, additional books ([boo..."

"three trilogies. Past, present, and future—epic fantasy, urban fantasy, and science fiction" Man... Sanderson is awesome! This is going to be crazy fun!

Thank you so much for the link.

Indeed he is!

Anything on The Way of Kings ?

haven't read so far

Xetws wrote: "Anything on The Way of Kings ?

haven't read so far"

That's the Stormlight Archive series. And it's amazing. I haven't read the second book yet (I want to re-read #1 when I do, and that's like a thousand pages before I read a thousand more pages, lol) but I'm pretty sure it will amazing, too.

Great! Now i'm instigated to read one more unfinished series ! :-))
!!!!!!!!

Heh, sorry! :D

Just like to point out on Mistborn that it's more then just 3 trilogies.

The first trilogy is done. Alloy of Law is stand alone. The next 2 coming out are books 1 and 2 in the next trilogy. He has mentioned possibly having 4 trilogies as well.

When you say that they are the first books in the 'next' trilogy, do you mean the MIDDLE trilogy - the one set in the present? Or is this a new interim trilogy that has been added on? Because from the interview I linked, it seems that he wasn't going to be working on the next Mistborn trilogy for a few years yet.

I'm happy either way, more Sanderson books in the world makes me a happy girl, but I'm curious. :)

I can't remember I don't think this is the current time one yet though so it's a new interim trilogy I believe. But he finished writing 1 and 2 in the trilogy already.

Gotcha. Thanks!

OK... I really really have to do work now. *sigh* Why can't I just be paid to read and talk about books?? The world is unfair. :(

Talk to you later!

Oh man... Been very disapointed on "already written" trilogies This is exciting anyway!
He did a recent AMA on reddit if i'm not wrong...

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comment...

Well, more time to read unfinished series! heh
Love my life.
I have bought quite a few books the last 3 months, just finished reading Dresden Files as mentioned.
Care to comment on what to read next?

The Way of Kings
The Blade Itself
Gardens of the Moon
Fated
Assassin's Apprentice

And some more that i can't remember now.

Oh, and excited about this one too:

The Aeronaut's Windlass

I sort of hate the "sets of trilogies" thing. I feel like it's a cheat.

Like, I might not want to start a series that's 12 books, for instance... but then I get sold on the "it's only a triogy", but then, it's not.

Or it sort of it, but not really.

4 trilogies is still a freaking series of 12 as far as I'm concerned. The jerks.

I Agree with you Colleen!!!
(Though Dresden files is going to be 20+ books long)
I'm TRYING to focus on shorter 5- series :-)

Xetws wrote: "Oh man... Been very disapointed on "already written" trilogies This is exciting anyway!
He did a recent AMA on reddit if i'm not wrong...

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comment......"

What do you mean? Did you not like them? Which ones?

(Gah. Who am I kidding with the work? *SMH*)

Hah!!! Knew it! :-)

Didn't understand your question...

What do you mean? Did you not like them? Which ones?

Hehe... You said you been very disappointed on the already written trilogies. What did you mean by that?

colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "I sort of hate the "sets of trilogies" thing. I feel like it's a cheat.

Like, I might not want to start a series that's 12 books, for instance... but then I get sold on the "it's only a triogy", ..."

Well when Sanderson says multiple trilogies. He means
*same world
*massive time skip
*completely different characters
The main time it's a sham is when it's like Drizzt or something where it's multiple trilogies but it's the same main character so it's kind of :/.

I'm enjoying this thread as it hits close to home. I'll answer as a reader, then author.

Reader: I rarely start a series until multiple books have been published. Harry Potter pulled me in after the first movie hit the screen. But I haven't started GOT yet due to the large span of time between books, and I can only think of one other series which I started before the last book was published.

Author: When I started writing my series, I was writing for me, not to publish. But as it developed, the story (with very little fluff) became much too long for one book. Genre is epic fantasy (with some sci-fi influence). Each book will wrap-up the primary points for that part of the story, but questions will be left open, as well.

Since I understand the reader's point of view, I'm writing as quickly as I can without compromising quality. If sales picked up and I could make it my primary job, the writing would be faster. However, I completely understand a reader's hesitation to buy so early in the series. Something of a conundrum, indeed.

Xetws wrote: "Well, more time to read unfinished series! heh
Love my life.
I have bought quite a few books the last 3 months, just finished reading Dresden Files as mentioned.
Care to comment on what to read nex..."

I really liked Gardens of the Moon.

Hello Rebecca, glad to have another author here, especially one that can honestly relate to the reader point of view.
Do you think that authors should update frequently or give at least a signal of life that the project in which the reader is interested, is still in progress?

Success for you and your publications.

... but then there's books by authors who are already dead and are part of a series that COULD have had more books but just doesn't but the books are really, really great.

Xetws wrote: "Hello Rebecca, glad to have another author here, especially one that can honestly relate to the reader point of view.
Do you think that authors should update frequently or give at least a signal of..."

I think updates are helpful for the reader. Actually, I posted an update to my Facebook page last night with page count for the draft. The only downside is there's still editing and such to do, but I try to make that clear.

Also, since mine is an epic series, the story includes a large number of species and characters. As a way to help the reader remember, I designed my webpage to include short blogs (both posted as a blog and as a permanent posting) with background, descriptions, etc. about them. My hope is that it prevents readers from feeling the need to re-read the first book.

The point being that authors of a dependent series can find ways to help readers.

I don't mind when books are part of a series, and I don't even mind when a book that I read is part of a surprise series - but I do hate the trend of using cliffhanger hooks to get people to buy the next book in a series. If your book is good and I want to spend more time in the world you've created, then I'll buy more. If it's not, then I won't. A cliffhanger isn't going to change my mind. If I don't care about your characters in the first place, then I don't care if they are left stranded somewhere on the edge of death...

Becky wrote: "I don't mind when books are part of a series, and I don't even mind when a book that I read is part of a surprise series - but I do hate the trend of using cliffhanger hooks to get people to buy th..."

lol

I have to admit to loathing cliffhanger endings. Even if I enjoy a book, that ending can cause me to hate it.

Yup. I can appreciate that. It feels... cheap!

I suppose that it depends on how fast the author of a series of books is writing his novels. If he publishes at a regular and reasonable interval, then I will jump in that series without problems. Also, if each book could have some sort of a notable achievement or conclusion that serves to prepare for a sequel but is not a cliffhanger, even better.

Becky wrote: "Yup. I can appreciate that. It feels... cheap!"

It does! And makes me less likely to read the next book because all my suggly book feels were replaced with RAGE. lol


But if the book is well written and well plotted. Oh, man. I'll buy every single one and not complain (too much) about (decent) wait times. Even if a surprise series. As long as the main arc of the book itself is complete.

There are series and there are series.

The ones that can be annoying if not finished are the "long story told over several volumes" type. Bored of the Rings is a prime example.

However, you can deal with a "series" that is nothing more than a collection of books held together by a common "world". Al Philipson is creating one that starts 200 years from now (the Holy Christian Empire series) and has planned installments over 1000 years or so (I don't remember what he told me). BUT each book will be complete unto itself with a beginning, middle, and end. He may even throw it open to other writers after he creates a timeline designed to hold "history" together.

Anne McCaffrey's Chrystal Singer books are another example.

Lord of The Rings was originally written as one volume with 3 parts. It was a publisher decision to split it into three individual books.

Becky wrote: "Lord of The Rings was originally written as one volume with 3 parts. It was a publisher decision to split it into three individual books."

Interesting info. The same thing happened to "The Fighter Queen" by John Bowers. It got split into two volumes by the publisher. It became "A Vow to Sophia" and "The Fighter Queen". Then 3 other books got written into the same "world". Fortunately, all of the books have a beginning, middle, and end (even the split set.

"Lord" became one of the type of series that had to be read completely to get the whole story and not be left "hanging". If it had been left as one volume, I suspect it would have rivaled War and Peace for size.

Al wrote: ""Lord" became one of the type of series that had to be read completely to get the whole story and not be left "hanging". If it had been left as one volume, I suspect it would have rivaled War and Peace for size. "

Hehe, it's a little shorter, I think, but I love long books, so I don't mind it. I have the omnibus edition, and it's still a doorstopper, for sure. I love it though, and I've read it numerous times.

John wrote: "This gets back to the question of series vs. serial from a discussion a long time ago. You can have a series in which each book is pretty much stand-alone, conflicts get resolved, issues get wrappe..."

Ouch. I just began the audiobook of In Enemy Hands a few days ago.

That stinks, David. Sorry you had the ending ruined for you like that. =\

(Shrugs) Well it's not ruined, not enough info to do that, but I am one of those people that hates spoilers. What are the odds of someone revealing the end of the book you're reading?