Help identifying a 'trilogy'

[Paul]

Hi all.
Quite a while ago, I'd say about 25 years, I read what was either a 2 or 3 book series. I don't remember the tittle or the author. It was about a world that had very long Summers, then very long Winters, the seasons lasted for generations. In order to survive the change from one season to the other, the populace would get 'sick' and gain extra weight for the Winter, and lose it when the Summer came. Most did not survive the 'sickness', but those that did were adapted to the change of seasons.
That's pretty much all I actually remember about it, but I would love to get my hands on this story again as it does seem to have left a lasting impression.
Any ideas as to what it may be would be welcomed.
thanks for the help.

[Conal]

Maybe Helliconia by Brian W. Aldiss that starts with

[Trike]

Perhaps also The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge.

[Paul]

Conal wrote: "Maybe Helliconia by Brian W. Aldiss that starts with

"

From the description and the reviews, I believe this might be it. Gonna have to find a cheap used one though, as the prices on Amazon are pretty steep.
Thanks Conal

[Paul]

Trike wrote: "Perhaps also The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge."

Thanks, I may have to check this out as well.

[Conal]

Paul wrote: "Conal wrote: "Maybe Helliconia by Brian W. Aldiss that starts with

"

From the description and the reviews, I believe this might be it. Gonna have to find a che..."

I haven't read this in a long time so the not all the details are clear in my mind. Hope you enjoy it again... Kindle version looks pretty cheap or you could grab a cheap used copy at www.abebooks.com.

[Dana]

It's the Helliconia books by Brian Aldiss
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helliconia
The Great Year√
Bone Fever and Fat Death√
33 years since the first book was published...I remember reading them, but nothing about the stories.
Now I have to add these.
This gets back to the Do You Reread books and why...

[Dana]

The three Snow Queen books are worth reading. Snow Queen won the Hugo in 1980. There are three novels and a novella.
Loved Snow Queen, Summer Queen was okay, and I cannot remember the novella at all.
The last novel was written in 2000,(Tangled Up In Blue) and I have not read it.

[Paul]

Dana wrote: "It's the Helliconia books by Brian Aldiss
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helliconia
The Great Year√
Bone Fever and Fat Death√
33 years since the first book was published...I remember reading them, bu..."

After reading the Wikipedia synopsis, I realize I have completely forgotten these stories. Although I can see why it made such a lasting impression.
I'll be getting the books ASAP.

[Trike]

There was another book or trilogy that came out around that same time which featured a world with incredibly long seasons. I wonder what it was that inspired so many authors to come up with such similar plots.

[Trike]

Oh! Memory bank opened: it was Icerigger by Alan Dean Foster. Trilogy: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_D...

If I'm recalling correctly, Hogan's Giants' Star trilogy had a minor world with incredibly long seasons, too.

Maybe it was all the talk of global warming back then and the one article proclaiming the coming ice age that got them all thinking about it.