Do series tend to go on for too long?

[Schnaucl]

Vanessa wrote: "One of the recent Sookie books relied on a huuuuge plot point that had been revealed in a short story and I read half the book wondering how I had gotten the series out of order."

It really irritates me when authors do that. Especially if there's no note that you really need to read something else first.

Jim Butcher does that, too. He's had at least one major thing resolved in a short story. It's given a line or two in the next novel but that's about it and if I hadn't read the short story I'd have been very annoyed.

[Rhianon]

Vanessa wrote: "(and I loved the one scene a few books back where he explains to Rachel that vamps evolved from demons)"

Wait a second... I thought the witches evolved from the demons or something. Which is why Rachel can do demon magic, because her father tinkered with her genes when treating her.

I'm not certain I'm entirely correct though. I'd have to go digging. But I do recall something about there not being any demon children for so long because someone had tampered with the "witches" and made it so that the demons couldn't breed another generation out of them or something. Wasn't it the elves who'd done this, centuries prior?

[Schnaucl]

Rhianon wrote: "Vanessa wrote: "(and I loved the one scene a few books back where he explains to Rachel that vamps evolved from demons)"

Wait a second... I thought the witches evolved from the demons or something..."

Rhianon, that sounds right, but I must admit it's been a while since I've read the book where that's covered.

[Elvia]

Vanessa wrote: "Thank you Theresa. Now I remember him. Obviously he made an impression. Is it wrong to want to see Rachel and Al together? Yeah, that's gotta be wrong.

There is another Harrison short story tha..."

I would LOVE to see Rachel and Al together! Who cares if he's a demon...he obviously likes her in some way or another.

[Starling]

I think Al is Rachel's "dad" or older brother. They will not end up together.

However, like it or not, Rachel is the only future that the demons have in that universe. She is literally the only fertile female they have. And that arc does need to be addressed. We also need to know what happened to the other fertile females, because we can guess, but we do not know.

[Vanessa]

Rhianon wrote: Wait a second... I thought the witches evolved from the demons or something. Which is why Rachel can do demon magic, because her father tinkered with her genes when treating her.

Ok, yes I misspoke there. But Al said there was some connection between vampires and demons. He was messing with Rachel's scar while dancing with her at Trent's wedding. That is the scene I was thinking of.

Starling, you think Al is Rachel's relative? Ok, that definitely makes me think again. I'm still not over Charlaine Harris setting Tolliver and Harper up.

[Elvia]

Starling...that's a very good theory!

[Starling]

No, I don't think they are biologically related. I think that he will end up having fatherly or older brotherly feelings for her.

The witches were evolved from the demons at the same time the demons lost all of their females. Witches are demon-lite. If a witch can birth a child with full demon potential, they generally die in childhood. That is why Rachel is unique. She got "fixed" and did not die.

[Rhianon]

Starling wrote: "However, like it or not, Rachel is the only future that the demons have in that universe. She is literally the only fertile female..."

Tsk, tsk! :) No she's not... but the other is stark raving mad.... Forget her name.

[mostunexpected]

Theresa wrote: "*SPOILER*

Elvia, yep, that is the guy.

Mostunexpected, what is this thing that might or might not resolved? I'm confused now. The only short story I've read by Harrison is the one that intro..."

Whoops. I meant to say 'thing with Rachel and Ivy'.

Rachel and Al! Ick. He's evil you know. :-)

[mostunexpected]

They have implied that Newt is somehow biologically related to Rachel.

As for vampires, they are humans with some sort of magic virus. I think Al implied that demons created vampires by creating the virus. He did infect Rachel in the first place, so you know they can do it.

Maybe we should take this conversation over to: goodreads.com/topic/show/93418-kim-ha...

[Elvia]

That's funny mostunexpected...I was thinking the same thing although I didn't realize there was already a thread for her! lol

[Starling]

I've moved over there.

[Starling]

Back to the question of whether series go on too long.

The decades long series is normal in the mystery genre. The paranormal genres (if there really is more than one) is newer, so having very long open ended series is a new thing.

Since I've just read the last in a decades long mystery series, I'm pretty sure I know how they should end.

The original question was had the Merry series actually ended with the last published book. I didn't think the arc was finished myself. Too many threads that had not been wrapped up and/or answered. And some of them need answering if the series is going to be finished.

Charlaine Harris did just that when she wrapped up the Aurora Teagarden series. Not that life didn't go on for the characters, they did. But all of the major questions in Aurora's life were dealt with. I haven't read the last book in the Harper series, but from reviews I gather she did the same with that series leaving enough that if she wants to pick it up again in a few years she will have the option to do so.

[♥Tricia♥]

As far as the Rachel Morgan series goes.. it cant be long enough for me.

I am absolutely in love with it and want to read as much as I can about that world.

As far as other series goes.. I have never really come across one that made me think *god this has gone on long enough already*. So I really havent had that apply to me personally.

Usually I end up wanting more lol

[Starling]

Tricia, you obviously haven't read the Wheel of Time series (SF, not paranormal, and a "save the universe" series which has been one long cliffhanger for the last 10 to 15 years.) It went on so long that the author died without finishing it. That is too long in my opinion.

[♥Tricia♥]

Wow.. indeed!!

I would be so upset! I mean sad that the author died of course but wow to be left hanging..

[Starling]

They have hired someone else to write the last book, which is now THREE last books. I'm not even sure I'm interested and I was buying that series in hard cover when I finally realized I couldn't continue doing that. I'm not even sure I read the last hard cover I bought.