Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

I was wondering how to numerate the books of a certain series that is not oficially a series, though it is mostly regarded as such. The problem is whether to determine the number-in-series of a book by its publicaiton date or the timeline in which it set, all relatively with the other books in the series.

What do you say?

Can you give us the specific example of the series you're referring to, please?

Carolyn wrote: "Can you give us the specific example of the series you're referring to, please?"

Avalon series by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diana L. Paxson.

That is the sequence of books GR features:

1. The Mists of Avalon.
2. Ancestors of Avalon.
3. Ravens of Avalon.
4. The Forest House.
5. Lady of Avalon.
6. Priestess of Avalon.

This order is in all ways incorrect. Both by publication chronologiacal order and by the timeline of the plot.

I have only read the first 3 published (Mists, Forest House, and Lady), but if you were going to number them, I would do it by publication date. I can't even imagine starting the series anywhere except with Mists. It would be like reading Dune's prequels before reading Dune.

Brooke wrote: "I have only read the first 3 published (Mists, Forest House, and Lady), but if you were going to number them, I would do it by publication date. I can't even imagine starting the series anywhere ex..."

Yeah, I thought that would be the best solution, since more books are constantly published and require updating. The books might come in between other books in timeline so the whole things gets much more confused.

I don't know these books, but if they're in a series that isn't numbered you might want to just indicate the series in parentheses after the title instead of trying to number them....

Yes, that is a confusing series, I've read the first 5 or so myself and I agree that while Mists is the #1 book - putting a number on it at all will be confusing to some, since the chronology of the books is all over the place.

How about, instead of putting an arbitrary number on them, just put (Avalon series) on them - thus showing that they are a part of a group, but not trying to map the timeline at all.

Carolyn and Cait, putting the series without the number might be best, especially since 2 different authors have written books in this series.

Brooke wrote: "Carolyn and Cait, putting the series without the number might be best, especially since 2 different authors have written books in this series. "

Well, in that case I'll do as you suggested and just put Avalon series in the title, without numbering.
Thanks for everyone who helped!