Sequels should always be better

When I wrote the original long-form version of Rome's Revolution, I didn't know there would be a sequel at the time. So I was stuck with an origin story that had to both fill in the background of the main characters yet have a sufficiently compelling plot to keep people interested despite the info-dump.

Well, in the case of Rome's Revolution it was even harder because the main horror, the Stareaters, consumed the star Winfall 17 years earlier. It was more like a cold case detective show than one where the hero confronts the villain.

I think I got around it OK but, of course, that is for you to decide. But I will tell you that writing the sequel (now known as Rome's Revolution, Part 2) was sooo much easier because I didn't have to worry about back story. I could just get on with the action and adventure.

There have been many great books and many great movies where the sequel surpassed the original for the very same reason.

Many people consider The Empire Strikes Back the best Star Wars movie ever even though it was Part 2 of 3. I enjoyed Toy Story 2 more than the original but please don't think I didn't love Toy Story. I personally thought the second Tobey Maguire Spiderman movie with Doc Ock was better than the first.

My all-time favorite sequel that surpasses the original is Aliens, the sequel to Alien. When James Cameron took over, he turned it from a horror movie in space to a rock 'n' roll marine action flick with monsters. I mean Ripley versus the Alien Queen Mother? It was awesome!