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Long series that DON'T get annoying?
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I moved this to series discussions as it seems more appropriate here.Janny Wurts' Wars of Light and Shadow currently consists of 9 books, with a total of 11 planned. It has in no way gotten annoying, only getting more rich and layered as it progresses. I'm an avid fan.
There are series in other genres that I've continued to enjoy. The Lucas Davenport series by John Sandford has been consistently enjoyable to me and it has many books by now. 20? I'm not sure.
Also, in the historical genre, The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett is my all time favorite series. It has 6 books.
I read The Deathgate Cycle (7 books) by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman a long time ago, but I remember enjoying every book.
Harry Potter seems to fit your criteria.
I enjoyed Orson Scott Card's "Alvin Maker" series (6 books), which didn't have any of the bad points mentioned, although each book is relatively short.I also enjoyed the "sword of truth" series, despite its shortcomings. If you really enjoy something, perhaps some repetition becomes a good thing.
Robin Hobb's Realms of the Elderlings is currently 14 books long with three more on the way. That's broken up into 3 trilogies, a quadrilogy, a standalone, and another upcoming trilogy. IMO it fits the "long series" definition but may not be what you're looking for. I have yet to be disappointed but admittedly, I've only read through book 9.Witches of Eileanan by Kate Forsyth is another possibility. The author's early flaws diminished and I thought it actually got better as the series went on. It's 6 books with a follow-on trilogy that was also good.
(Personally, I really prefer this format for series. It gives me a natural release point if it does get shoddy and I want to give it up, as well as a good place to take a break.)
I'm really hoping Sanderson's Mistborn and Stormlight Archives series stay consistently good.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen By Steven Erikson. I've only read through book eight. Currently rereading it so what I've got all the nuances again before heading into books nine and ten. I have to say, I'm filled with excitement that I get to experience these again...quiet unlike the sinking dread I get at the thought of trying to tackle WoT or ASoIaF.The Black Company By Glen Cook
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
M Todd wrote: "The Malazan Book of the Fallen By Steven Erikson. I've only read through book eight. Currently rereading it so what I've got all the nuances again before heading into books nine and ten. I have to ..."
Tastes differ. Malazan became annoying to me during the time I read book 8: show, do not tell idea taken by Erikson to the extreme became really old by that point.
Tastes differ. Malazan became annoying to me during the time I read book 8: show, do not tell idea taken by Erikson to the extreme became really old by that point.
Of course tastes differ. That's part of the joy of books. If we all had the same taste in literature, our discussions wouldn't be nearly so lively.For example, I thought Toll the Hounds was one of the stronger entries in the series.
M Todd wrote: "Of course tastes differ. That's part of the joy of books. If we all had the same taste in literature, our discussions wouldn't be nearly so lively.
For example, I thought [book:Toll the Hounds|938..."
I have exactly opposite reaction: Toll of the Hounds completely poisoned my perception of the series (I rated some of the early books with 5 stars, but not the later ones).
For example, I thought [book:Toll the Hounds|938..."
I have exactly opposite reaction: Toll of the Hounds completely poisoned my perception of the series (I rated some of the early books with 5 stars, but not the later ones).
I'd say the Deryni books by Katherine Kurtz, Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar (does get formulaic after a while), Anne McCaffery's Pern, Feist's Midkemia, The Black Company, and Dresden Files.All of these have a few duds mixed in, but the overall story arcs make sense, each book or trilogy within the series have satisfying endings, and they don't seem to devolve into "filler" or preaching.
I haven't read the Shannara stuff in a long time, and never got into Discworld, but I believe those also are good long series.
Dresden for sure! Also enjoyed Anne Bishop's Black Jewels books and I'm still loving SM Stirling's novels of The Change. Never got tired of Jack Whyte' Camulod series either.
I'd maybe nominate Terry Pratchett's Discworld books and Niven/Pournelle's The Magic Goes Away series, because both of them keep the series fresh by not focusing on the same characters in every book. Thus they look at their worlds through different eyes each time.
How about The Chronicles of Amber series by Roger Zelazny?
You know, people are probably tired to death of me talking about it, but I really thought the Recluse series was great and far too underrated.
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
I was a fan of The Runelords series by David Farland. U have yet to read the last book and the 7th book felt a bit lacking to me. However the rest of the series has been good, IMO, especially the first four books.
Anish wrote: "How about The Chronicles of Amber series by Roger Zelazny?" I couldn't get into that one back in the day or the Thomas Covenant thing. Might give Amber a try now
Its hard to find a series where commercial interest doesn't kick in once the series/author becomes popular. It could be to milk the commercial potential, or it may be because editors are reluctant to touch a popular author's words.Either way, too many series go downhill after the first one or two books. Quality seems to suffer and books seems to bloat up. That, to me, makes a series annoying.
I would have to support the mention of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. While each book builds on those that go before, each book has a complete story. So no endless cliffhangers, just a few more blocks that the next book uses to build the next story.
Actually, I think the Dresden Files jumped the shark with the events of Changes. Since then, Butcher has made a mess of the characters from what I can see and I've lost interest. It's lost the fun, and I'm sick to death of faeries.
Stephanie wrote: "Actually, I think the Dresden Files jumped the shark with the events of Changes. Since then, Butcher has made a mess of the characters from what I can see and I've lost interest. It's lost the fun,..."I have faith he'll pull it back together. At least, he'd better.
Rumm wrote: "Its hard to find a series where commercial interest doesn't kick in once the series/author becomes popular. It could be to milk the commercial potential, or it may be because editors are reluctant ..."You know what I LOVE about Carol Berg? She writes duologies and trilogies but sometimes she'll write another in the same world from another viewpoint which gives you a deeper understanding of what went before. And her characters are so alive you can almost hold a conversation with them in your head after you've read the book.
The Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. Started out as a bunch of standalone, semi-comic capers, but really got good when the hero, Miles, became more interested in family matters. I haven't read the last book mainly because I was satisfied with the way the second-to-last ended the series, and I thought she should have left it there, continuing on with someone else as the MC.
She has Ivan as an MC in the latest I think
Martha wrote: "She has Ivan as an MC in the latest I think"That was what I thought should happen after A Civil Campaign and Cetaganda. Let Miles retire to his estates with the family, and continue the series with Ivan as MC, trying his best to be like Miles. I have no desire to see Miles become Count Vorkosigan. That's the best thing about ensemble series, the MC in one can have an HEA, then the series can continue with someone else.
Malazan book of Fallen for sure :D...only gets better and better as the book go further :D
Leonnel wrote: "Malazan book of Fallen for sure :D...only gets better and better as the book go further :D"
I would argue that the last book was a huge letdown.
I would argue that the last book was a huge letdown.
Leonnel wrote: "Malazan book of Fallen for sure :D...only gets better and better as the book go further :D"Evgeny wrote: "Leonnel wrote: "Malazan book of Fallen for sure :D...only gets better and better as the book go further :D"
I would argue that the last book was a huge letdown."
I just started book one.
I see this is going to be a slow read. I need to read with a dictionary and a notebook.
Good luck; you are going to need it. I might be in minority, but I was underwhelmed by the series despite all of the hype. The good indication would be whether you like The Black Company: Erikson was heavily inspired by it. The difference is, Cook used a good editor; Erikson did not (the average page count for a BC book is ~200; while in Malazan only the first book is less than 1000 pages).
Evgeny wrote: "Good luck; you are going to need it. I might be in minority, but I was underwhelmed by the series despite all of the hype. The good indication would be whether you like The Black Company: Erikson w..."Ummm, I read book 1 of the Black Company...
It was "meh."
MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "Evgeny wrote: "Good luck; you are going to need it. I might be in minority, but I was underwhelmed by the series despite all of the hype. The good indication would be whether you like The Black Com..."
One piece of advice: finish first two books if you can: the rest of the series is much closer to the second book in style than the first one.
One piece of advice: finish first two books if you can: the rest of the series is much closer to the second book in style than the first one.
Evgeny wrote: "One piece of advice: finish first two books if you can: the rest of the series is much closer to the second book in style than the first one. "Which first two? BC or Malazan?
Cause I own book 2 for neither. (I own every BC book but the 2 & 3).
I only own Memories of Ice for Malazan - the rest will be library loans.
Malazan; if you do not like the first BC book, you can stop right there: the style remains the same, no so with Malazan.
Evgeny wrote: "Malazan; if you do not like the first BC book, you can stop right there: the style remains the same, no so with Malazan."Ooooh, ok. That makes sense.
Define series.The problem is worst for those series that are actually multi-volume novels, because it's really hard to maintain a structure that big.
Second worst for those that stick to the same main characters.
Easiest when the series is actually a common setting.
Try Janny Wurts' "The Wars of Light and Shadow" -- 10 volumes, but zero repetition, deep, deep characters, fascinating plot line.
The Pern books of Anne McCaffrey were good. As mentioned, there were a few duds. I disliked All the Weyrs of Pern because it destroyed the mystique in my opinion and went way too fast. Hmm. I should write a review.
Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series has got to be one of the best! Can't wait for the next one.Outlander, which is published as Cross Stitch in the U.K.
Dragonfly In Amber
Voyager
Drums of Autumn
The Fiery Cross
A Breath of Snow and Ashes
An Echo In The Bone
Written In My Own Heart’s Blood: Nicknamed “MOBY,” the new eighth book in the series has a publication release date of June 10, 2014!
Check out The Last Wish! The Witcher series is definitely one of my all time favorites. It's made of seven books, but it's such a light read that it doesn't feel like it. The first two you can read as stand alone novels and each chapter is a different short story (sometimes they aren't even chronological!). It's super original and very different than any other fantasy read but at the same time it has that familiar medieval feel and comfort.
Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Last Wish (other topics)All the Weyrs of Pern (other topics)
The Towers of the Sunset (other topics)
The Magic Engineer (other topics)
The Order War (other topics)
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Are there any series out there of more than 5 or 6 books that are generally adored that have not also attracted a consistent criticism around some emergent flaw? Or do long series merely amplify the weaknesses of any writer, and guarantee that some common complaint will arise?