Comments on: Book series http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/ Still powered by a contradiction in terms Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:06:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Ronaldo http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-281 Ronaldo Tue, 12 Oct 2004 19:04:45 +0000 http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-281 I see you point, and I believe it may well be true. But I can't help but think that Jordan doesn't know where he is going. It's much like the Matrix movies. The interest generated by the first one was so big that anything the writers could come up with later wouldn't be as satisfying as the magic shown before. But they went and did the movies anyway because the money was there to be earned. Anyway, as you said, stories tend to grow big. But as Jim MacDonald said, any word that doesn't support plot or doesn't advance the theme or doesn't reveal character should be left out of the story. It's a hard thing to do (and I know it, being an aspiring writer myself -- in Portuguese, my native language, of course) but Jordan seems to have forgotten this a long way back in the series. I see you point, and I believe it may well be true. But I can’t help but think that Jordan doesn’t know where he is going. It’s much like the Matrix movies. The interest generated by the first one was so big that anything the writers could come up with later wouldn’t be as satisfying as the magic shown before. But they went and did the movies anyway because the money was there to be earned.

Anyway, as you said, stories tend to grow big. But as Jim MacDonald said, any word that doesn’t support plot or doesn’t advance the theme or doesn’t reveal character should be left out of the story. It’s a hard thing to do (and I know it, being an aspiring writer myself — in Portuguese, my native language, of course) but Jordan seems to have forgotten this a long way back in the series.

]]> By: Dave Limon http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-280 Dave Limon Tue, 12 Oct 2004 13:36:07 +0000 http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-280 I frequently find myself in two minds over The Wheel of Time - Jordan's writing gets more detailed as the series goes on, his charaterisation gets richer, the books are more of a joy to read, but on the other hand less and less happens. I don't think the later WOT books are necessarily worse, it's just that they are in a very different style to the early books. I think that's the problem, Jordan started writing one thing, then switched to writing another mid-series. As an aspiring fantasy writer, I'm in the middle of writing my first proper fantasy novel. It's turning out to be a lot longer than I originally intended, and I'm wondering whether I would be best served by ploughing on and committing to a trilogy, or re-writing what I have already written and "strip it down to the bone" to get it into a single volume. Some single volume fantasy is very good - The Barbed Coil by JV Jones springs to mind, but there is always the risk that it will seem sketchy and rushed - The Redemption of Athelus by Leigh and David Eddings is a pattern I wouldn't want to repeat. I frequently find myself in two minds over The Wheel of Time - Jordan’s writing gets more detailed as the series goes on, his charaterisation gets richer, the books are more of a joy to read, but on the other hand less and less happens. I don’t think the later WOT books are necessarily worse, it’s just that they are in a very different style to the early books. I think that’s the problem, Jordan started writing one thing, then switched to writing another mid-series.

As an aspiring fantasy writer, I’m in the middle of writing my first proper fantasy novel. It’s turning out to be a lot longer than I originally intended, and I’m wondering whether I would be best served by ploughing on and committing to a trilogy, or re-writing what I have already written and “strip it down to the bone” to get it into a single volume. Some single volume fantasy is very good - The Barbed Coil by JV Jones springs to mind, but there is always the risk that it will seem sketchy and rushed - The Redemption of Athelus by Leigh and David Eddings is a pattern I wouldn’t want to repeat.

]]> By: Derek http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-279 Derek Thu, 12 Aug 2004 22:39:53 +0000 http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-279 I am currently reading the WOT series (on book 5) and I am wondering where to jump off. I guess you really appreciate series like LOR and Foundation (original trilogy) as there is no wasted words, concise with each book holding together. I also liked the Vorkosigan series as Lois Mcmaster Bujold treats each book as a separate story even after 10 or so books the series really holds together. When I think she had felt that the series had come to a natural end she simply moved on to another theme. Surely Robert Jordan is qualified to do the same. Thanks for the essay I am currently reading the WOT series (on book 5) and I am wondering where to jump off. I guess you really appreciate series like LOR and Foundation (original trilogy) as there is no wasted words, concise with each book holding together. I also liked the Vorkosigan series as Lois Mcmaster Bujold treats each book as a separate story even after 10 or so books the series really holds together. When I think she had felt that the series had come to a natural end she simply moved on to another theme. Surely Robert Jordan is qualified to do the same. Thanks for the essay

]]> By: Annika http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-278 Annika Fri, 16 Jul 2004 23:18:23 +0000 http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-278 I agree wholeheartedly. I am tired of waiting for long series to end before I can find out the big picture, which is usually anticlimatic anyways. I also dislike books that have too many story plots going along at one time. And I am probably the only person in the world who didn't like Lord of the Rings, books and movies. Both were boring and utterly too complicated. I agree wholeheartedly. I am tired of waiting for long series to end before I can find out the big picture, which is usually anticlimatic anyways. I also dislike books that have too many story plots going along at one time. And I am probably the only person in the world who didn’t like Lord of the Rings, books and movies. Both were boring and utterly too complicated.

]]> By: Eduardo Schmidt http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-277 Eduardo Schmidt Fri, 02 Jul 2004 02:34:55 +0000 http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-277 I really like Stephen Donaldson's stuff. I know what you mean about the series. I am really leery any more with any series that seems too long, don't usually trust 'em any more. I really like Stephen Donaldson’s stuff. I know what you mean about the series. I am really leery any more with any series that seems too long, don’t usually trust ‘em any more.

]]> By: Rodney http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-276 Rodney Mon, 21 Jun 2004 14:52:22 +0000 http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-276 I wholeheartly agree on your assesement of the wheel of time series. I gave up on book 6. My opinion of good series is that as long as the quality of the series is high the series doesn't have to end.I think Martin's Song of Ice and Fire is probably the best fantasy series in print. I also highly recommend Erikson's Malazan empire series as well for intelligent fantasy of a really epic scale. Here is a list of fantasy authors who write either single-volume fantasies or just trilogies: 1. ROBIN HOBB 2. MARK ANTHONY 3. DAVID GEMMELL 4. JAMES CLEMENS 5. DAVID COE 6. DEBORAH CHESTER 7. RL SALVATORE 8. JOHN MARCO 9. JV JONES 10.ANGUS WELLS 11. PAULA VOLSKY 12. MARTHA WELLS 13. TAD WILLIAMS 14. SARA DOUGLASS 15. MODESITT 16. MICHAEL STACKPOLE I wholeheartly agree on your assesement of the wheel of time series. I gave up on book 6. My opinion of good series is that as long as the quality of the series is high the series doesn’t have to end.I think Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire is probably the best fantasy series in print. I also highly recommend Erikson’s Malazan empire series as well for intelligent fantasy of a really epic scale. Here is a list of fantasy authors who write either single-volume fantasies or just trilogies:
1. ROBIN HOBB
2. MARK ANTHONY
3. DAVID GEMMELL
4. JAMES CLEMENS
5. DAVID COE
6. DEBORAH CHESTER
7. RL SALVATORE
8. JOHN MARCO
9. JV JONES
10.ANGUS WELLS
11. PAULA VOLSKY
12. MARTHA WELLS
13. TAD WILLIAMS
14. SARA DOUGLASS
15. MODESITT
16. MICHAEL STACKPOLE

]]> By: A.R. Yngve http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-275 A.R. Yngve Tue, 08 Jun 2004 20:22:50 +0000 http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-275 The subject inspired to me to write this MAD-style poem: See the hack writer. Hack, hack, hack. See him write a new book. Type, type, type. He writes one book a month. He makes enough money to live as long as he can write a book per month. On his table is his medicine to help him write faster. It is called "alcohol." Glug, glug, glug. The hack writer has to take his medicine twenty times a day! So what is his new book about? Same as the book he wrote before. It's about a boy who must save the world by finding a lost magic sword which is hidden inside a castle which can only be reached through a magic portal which has been split into six magic shards which must be taken from six evil wizards whose castles are guarded by dragons who can only be slain with a magic wand which is hidden in a cave which is guarded by trolls... but you get the idea. The hack writer has a problem with his "trilogy." It was supposed to be three books. But now it has grown to seven books in a series and he can't stop writing new ones. What are the two words that fantasy writers and fantasy fans hate the most? "The" and "End." The subject inspired to me to write this MAD-style poem:

See the hack writer.
Hack, hack, hack.
See him write a new book.
Type, type, type.
He writes one book a month.
He makes enough money to live
as long as he can write a book per month.
On his table is his medicine
to help him write faster.
It is called “alcohol.”
Glug, glug, glug.
The hack writer has to take his medicine
twenty times a day!
So what is his new book about?
Same as the book he wrote before.
It’s about a boy who must save the world
by finding a lost magic sword
which is hidden inside a castle
which can only be reached through a magic portal
which has been split into six magic shards
which must be taken from six evil wizards
whose castles are guarded by dragons
who can only be slain with a magic wand
which is hidden in a cave
which is guarded by trolls… but you get the idea.
The hack writer has a problem with his “trilogy.”
It was supposed to be three books.
But now it has grown to seven books in a series
and he can’t stop writing new ones.
What are the two words
that fantasy writers
and fantasy fans
hate the most?
“The” and “End.”

]]> By: SFSignal http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-282 SFSignal Mon, 07 Jun 2004 05:51:58 +0000 http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-282 <strong>Book Series</strong> This rant on SF/F Book series got me thinking, which in and of itself is a formidable feat. I have mixed feelings about book series and wanted to hear what others have to say...... Book Series

This rant on SF/F Book series got me thinking, which in and of itself is a formidable feat. I have mixed feelings about book series and wanted to hear what others have to say……

]]> By: Ronaldo http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-274 Ronaldo Fri, 28 May 2004 02:07:35 +0000 http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-274 I never read anything by Eddings, but I always heard good things about those series before. If they're finished, I might very well consider them for my next book purchases. Thanks for the suggestions. :-) I never read anything by Eddings, but I always heard good things about those series before. If they’re finished, I might very well consider them for my next book purchases. Thanks for the suggestions. :-)

]]> By: Jedidja http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-273 Jedidja Thu, 27 May 2004 12:56:22 +0000 http://log.reflectivesurface.com/2004/05/24/book-series/#comment-273 I totally agree with your Wheel of Time synopsis; I myself stopped in a similar vein. 'Sword of Truth' was a refreshing change :) Have you tried David & Leigh Eddings? The Belgariad, the Mallorean, and the three accompanying novels are a truly great series (that has completely finished, unfortunately). The first two (Belgariad and Mallorean) are sets of five books each. I totally agree with your Wheel of Time synopsis; I myself stopped in a similar vein. ‘Sword of Truth’ was a refreshing change :)
Have you tried David & Leigh Eddings? The Belgariad, the Mallorean, and the three accompanying novels are a truly great series (that has completely finished, unfortunately). The first two (Belgariad and Mallorean) are sets of five books each.

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