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Serieses! > Need help with series

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message 1: by Tony (new)

Tony Faggioli (tonyfaggioli) | 9 comments Hello! I had two series:

- The Millionth Trilogy https://www.goodreads.com/series/1928...

- The Parker Trilogy https://www.goodreads.com/series/2924...

I decided to combine these into one series since the stories follow the same characters and timeline. The new series is called
Beyond the Veil Supernatural Thriller

Can this be fixed in Goodreads? Here is the new order:
One In A Million Beyond the Veil Supernatural Thriller #1
A Million to One Beyond the Veil Supernatural Thriller #2
One Plus One Beyond the Veil Supernatural Thriller #3
Another One Beyond the Veil Supernatural Thriller #4
One Way or Another Beyond the Veil Supernatural Thriller #5
One Gray Day Beyond the Veil Supernatural Thriller #6
Chalk Man Beyond the Veil Supernatural Thriller #7
Widow's Kiss Beyond the Veil Supernatural Thriller #8


message 2: by Nick (last edited Jun 15, 2022 04:45AM) (new)

Nick (minoshiro) | 46 comments Done. https://www.goodreads.com/series/3451...

Should the previous trilogies remain as their own series? If so, what should the first series be called - Millionth or Fasano?


message 3: by rivka, Former Moderator (new)

rivka | 45177 comments Mod
Nick wrote: "Should the previous trilogies remain as their own series?"

Yes.


message 4: by Nick (new)

Nick (minoshiro) | 46 comments rivka wrote: "Nick wrote: "Should the previous trilogies remain as their own series?"

Yes."

Handling of sub-series / intersecting series names has been bugging me for a while. Would you please clarify some points regarding series names in title?

1. In this example, we have an 8 book series, containing 2 sub-trilogies. I understand that the larger series should be set as primary and added to the title.

2. Sometimes sub-series are loosely connected to each other (for example, don't share a plot line with other books in the main series), frequently happens in sci-fi with vast universes. For example, Enderverse has many pronounced sub-series, like First Formic War (books 1-3) and The Shadow (7-10, 15-16).

In this case it feels right to set the smaller, tighter connected series (that tells its own distinct story) as primary, which is how it's currently set up.

3. I've also come across double series in book titles in Polity Universe book 3. While it's very informative for a new reader, adopting it as a new standard would be a mess. Should it always be limited to 1 series per title?

4. Series name in the title allows it to be visible in search and author's profile. I suppose it's recommended to add it at least to the top one-two editions of each book of the series?


message 5: by rivka, Former Moderator (new)

rivka | 45177 comments Mod
In general, a smaller sub series would be primary on the books it comprises. The OSC books are a good example of this. See also the Pern books, e.g. https://www.goodreads.com/work/246742...

In the specific case this thread is about, I agree with setting the larger series as primary, because it is the newer arrangement for these books. As far as what goes on the title line, that partly depends on what is on the individual book covers. If no series information is there (as I believe is the case here), then having them reflect the primary series makes sense.

Individual books can be part of multiple series, when that is appropriate. For example, some anthologies are parts of several series.


message 6: by Nick (new)

Nick (minoshiro) | 46 comments Thank you for the answer.

rivka wrote: "Individual books can be part of multiple series, when that is appropriate."

My question #3 was whether multiple series in the book title is allowed.
See book 3 here: https://www.goodreads.com/series/4912...

Only visible in web browsers. Mobile app clears series names from titles, and instead displays all attached series for all listed books, which is better I guess. Here I made some screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/938OoEJ


message 7: by rivka, Former Moderator (new)

rivka | 45177 comments Mod
Yes, multiple series in the title is not uncommon, although separating them with semicolons is better than with commas. (One of the two acceptable ways to punctuate series name and number has commas, so the semicolon to separate two series is less confusing.)

It is visible in some places on the desktop version of the site, and not in others.


message 8: by Tony (new)

Tony Faggioli (tonyfaggioli) | 9 comments If it helps, the boxed sets of the two trilogies are no longer in publication and we have new covers with the new series name. I planned to upload those as alternate cover editions and make them primary as that is how we are branding the books


message 9: by rivka, Former Moderator (new)

rivka | 45177 comments Mod
Tony wrote: "I planned to upload those as alternate cover editions and make them primary as that is how we are branding the books"

Assuming they are using the same ISBN or ASIN, that is the correct practice. If they have new new ISBN or ASINs, new editions should be added -- but not alternate cover ones. Either way, setting the new editions as primary makes perfect sense.


message 10: by Tony (new)

Tony Faggioli (tonyfaggioli) | 9 comments Same ISBNs since we didn't change the content of the books, only the series name and numbering :)


message 11: by Tony (new)

Tony Faggioli (tonyfaggioli) | 9 comments Would it be possible to remove the old series as they are no longer in use? I don't want to confuse readers


message 12: by rivka, Former Moderator (new)

rivka | 45177 comments Mod
We do not remove valid book data, including old series. The new series has been set as the first-listed series.


message 13: by Tony (new)

Tony Faggioli (tonyfaggioli) | 9 comments Okay, thank you for letting me know!


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