15.2 - Out with the Old, In with the New

[SRC Moderator, Moderator]

15.2 Out with the Old, In with the New

"Celebrate endings—for they precede new beginnings" - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

This is a 2 book task, read one book for each option:
a) Read the latest* published book in a series which has at least 3 published works.
b) Read the first book (#1) in a series

Your books may be by the same author, but must be from different series.
*Latest in this context means the latest book at the end of the series, not a prequel or other book inserted elsewhere in a timeline (this is a Ending & Beginning task after all!). If a new book in the series is published on or after Dec 1st 2023, you may count this or the previous one as the "latest in the series".
If there is only one book listed in the series, you may count it for option b.
In both cases, the series name and number must be indicated in the GR title listing in grayscale parentheses following the title or grayscale italics above the title.

[SRC Moderator, Moderator]

Reserved for Moderator

[Trish]

Would it be okay to use a short story collection linked to a series, if that short story collection is the most recently published work set in that particular universe?

I'm thinking of Before, After, Alone: A Planetfall Universe short story collection, which was published in 2023. The formal series finished in 2019: https://www.goodreads.com/series/1828...

Thanks.

[Julia]

Can you please verify that Cassiel's Servant works for the first book? It's the most recently published (August 2023) but is #1.5 in the series due to internal chronology.

[Emurphy]

Can the first book in the series (option 2) be part of a series with only two books or does that have to be from a series with 3 or more books as well?

[Lucy-Bookworm, Moderator]

Emurphy wrote: "Can the first book in the series (option 2) be part of a series with only two books or does that have to be from a series with 3 or more books as well?"

The first in a series can have just two, or even just one published book as long as the series is listed.

[Lucy-Bookworm, Moderator]

Julia wrote: "Can you please verify that Cassiel's Servant works for the first book? It's the most recently published (August 2023) but is #1.5 in the series due to internal chronology."

The latest in a series would generally be a book added to the end of the series not one that fits in between books 1&2.
As this is what the task intends, I will amend the wording to clarify this.

[Lucy-Bookworm, Moderator]

Trish wrote: "Would it be okay to use a short story collection linked to a series, if that short story collection is the most recently published work set in that particular universe?

I'm thinking of [book:Befor..."

In this example, I'd have to say no as the collection of short stories do not have a number that indicates how they fit into the series & it seems that they fit in various places rather than adding to the end of a series (Though it sounds like a fabulous idea to flesh out a series with some short stories!)

[Trish]

No problem. I'll look for something else.

[Meg]

will Amongst Our Weapons work? It is book 9, but a #9.5 novella has also been published.

[Lucy-Bookworm, Moderator]

Meg wrote: "will Amongst Our Weapons work? It is book 9, but a #9.5 novella has also been published."

No, we did not specify that it needed to be a whole-numbered book so in this instance book 9.5 would be counted as the latest in the series

[Karen Michele]

For option b, this book is listed first of the three books, but doesn't appear to be numbered. Cold Comfort Farm. Does it work here?

[Lucy-Bookworm, Moderator]

Karen Michele wrote: "For option b, this book is listed first of the three books, but doesn't appear to be numbered. Cold Comfort Farm. Does it work here?"

In order to work for the task, the series name and number must be indicated in the GR title listing - you can ask in the librarian thread for the series numbers to be added if you can find a reference indicating the order of the books.

[Karen Michele]

Lucy-Bookworm wrote: "Karen Michele wrote: "For option b, this book is listed first of the three books, but doesn't appear to be numbered. Cold Comfort Farm. Does it work here?"

In order to work for the ta..."

Thanks --- I'm going to go with something else as I don't think it fits the spirit of the task now that I've read the book listed second, Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm, a book of short stories.