The Third Book In A Series

[Paul]

I don't know why it is but by the time I get to the third book in a trilogy I end up taking forever to get through it. It's as if I just can't bear to read anymore of this one storyline but I am compelled to finish what I started. This is mostly true of someone like Ray Feist whose overall universe I like but end up getting bogged down in the prose and plot. Invariably I start skimming the last half of his third books just to get to the end so I can start reading something else.

[DavidO]

I alternate between several books as I read so I don't get burned out like that. I find that reading only one book feels a lot like watching only one tv show. After about 20-30 minutes of reading/watching I want to watch something else.

[Traci]

For me it's the dreaded second book. With the third the end is in sight.

[S.J.]

I never have this problem as long as the story is engaging. I find I have more angst about it ending when I want to know more about the world or the characters!

[Peter]

If I continue with a series, I usually read each book faster than the last. Been meaning to write a blog post about this...

[Harrison]

Beginning, Middle, and End.

[Bookwraiths]

To me, it is all about the story, and how well the author holds my attention. I have noticed that the second book in a trilogy can be tedious when nothing new is occurring. Actually, though I love the Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers always has been my least favorite, even though there is a lot of action.

I agree that self-contained books are good, but only if the author can make me see how it is all part of a grander story. Sometimes the author just doesn't pull that off.

[Jeff]

It is pretty weird but I will happily read anything up to five books but as soon as it is over I dread anything else the author does it the same universe. I know that often the books get better but I get tired of having to read descriptions and back story again and again.

[Harrison]

Jeff wrote: "It is pretty weird but I will happily read anything up to five books but as soon as it is over I dread anything else the author does it the same universe. I know that often the books get better bu..."

What if the author had several planets with different races on which to write about?

[Sandra]

Jeff wrote: "It is pretty weird but I will happily read anything up to five books but as soon as it is over I dread anything else the author does it the same universe. I know that often the books get better bu..."
I don't read that kind of series, as having to explain the back story again and again strikes me as poor writing. Series such as Foreigner, Raksura, Karavans, and Wars of Light and Shadow have authors that assume you are bright enough to start the series at the beginning.

[Marc]

Jeff wrote: "It is pretty weird but I will happily read anything up to five books but as soon as it is over I dread anything else the author does it the same universe."

I've read many series where the original is great, perfect and complete, and then the author goes back to it some time later, like it's a cash cow at that point. Asimov's later Foundation books, and Dave Duncan's Handful of Men series, weren't like this, since the original series had a flaw the authors were trying to address, but the later Well of Souls books by Chalker never appealed to me. I like it when an author ends a series with some foretelling of how the characters continue, so further books don't need to be written.

[David]

It doesn't happen to me after the first three, but you have to be very good to keep it going for more than five. Even the very good series - WoT for example - flag a bit from time to time; there are various points where you just want Jordan to hurry up and get on with it. Part of the problem is that you need a good number of interesting characters if you are going to sustain reader interest over a large number of volumes, and that's where a number of series - including the Wars of Light and Shadow for me - fall down; there's only one interesting character, and after the first five books he's not very interesting any more ...

[Anna-louise]

I'm the same as above if they go over 3 I tend get rather fed up if nothing is being let on and they keep repeating themselves. With a Trilogy I've never gotten bored I think I've been lucky with loving what I've read.