So last time my colleagues gave me the pulpit, I got you all going about those fantasy series that went on well past their expiration date. The ones where you pull book 4 or 5 or 8 off the shelf and go “Honey, does this smell bad to you? Could you smell this?” And then your significant other goes, “Why would I smell that? Do you think it’s bad?” And you go, “Yeah.” And they’re all, “So what would possess you to think I want to smell it? What world do you live in where anyone… ” Well, anyway, you know, those kinds of series.
So this week, let’s flip that question over. Which are the series that you thought ended too soon? Either too abruptly or, perhaps more likely, the ones where there are still stories to tell and you wish the author would return to those characters, or at least that world. What series do you want to see expanded with another book, or two, or four, either as sequels or prequels? Let’s not count tragically unfinished ones here; stick to series that the author has, apparently, resolved, brought to a close, moved on from (dragging you hanging from his/her leg and soaking his/her trousers in tears).
So c’mon, whaddya got? The Road Still Goes Ever On: The Adventures of Bilbo and Frodo in the Undying Isles? How I Gave Up Boys and Make-Up and Thus Found Myself Once Again in Narnia, by Susan Pevensie? Memory, Sorrow, Thorn, and Blood? The Dark is Still Rising?
Mostly, I like short series. But I would really have liked another book in the “Unicorns on Speed Dial” by Jeanette Cottrell. Was quite bummed when she said there would be no further installments.
I’d have read another book in Chris Strange’s world: Man who Crossed Worlds too. But so far, none have been forthcoming.
I’d have liked more books in Charlaine Harris’s Grave series
I’d love to see more of Sharon Shinn’s Samaria series — perhaps a book with more detail about the very first angels.
Oh yes, the Unicorn on Speed Dial book definitely needs at least one sequel. All The Paths of Shadow by Frank Tuttle is currently on its own and needs a sequel but I believe the author may be self publishing a sequel at some point – I’ll be there for that one.
Other than that, I can’t think of any finished series that I would definitely say “gimme more”. That being said, so far I’d like to tell Lois McMaster Bujold to continue the Vorkosigan series as long as possible and I’d love for Terry Pratchett to be healed and continue on with the Discworld for decades to come.
I’ve been thinking about this for a few hours now and haven’t come up with anything. It’s so much more common for authors to beat a series to death rather than leave it underexplored that it’s hard to come up with anything where I really feel like there was so much more it could have offered.
I also think there’s a problem where subsequent books tend to get worse, rather than better, as a series progresses, depressing a bit the desire for more of the same. I had a long discussion with my wife about this a few years ago, but it is extremely rare for the best book in a series to be the last one. The best book is sometimes the first book and sometimes a middle book, but rarely the final one (I’m sure there must be exceptions, but we had a really hard time coming up with any). A number of arguments for why this may be can be made (not the least of which is people continuing to publish in a series past its prime…if they just quit while they were ahead…), but it does mean there I really can’t think of any examples where the author decided to just move on and I really wanted more.
I’m having a problem with this, too, Michael. I can’t think of anything. But I will say that I’m glad that the Vorkosigan series and the Dresden Files are still going on after all these years.
For me it’s not really a sieres that ended too soon, but one that hasn’t been written at all (yet). I’m a big fan of Jacqueline Carey’s Phedre and Imriel trilogies, but I didn’t like Moirin’s books. I’d have much prefered another series about someone who lived during Phedre’s and Imriel’s lifetime or maybe a prequel instead. Maybe Barquiel’s story (he’s my favorite) or Maslin or Mavros or Amarante or some Casseline (a real one, not like Joscelin who left the order)… ah, so many great characters, so many possiblities. Perhaps she’ll write about one of them at some point. I certainly hope so.
(Don’t put me in the mix for the book – I don’t live in the U.S.)
I haven’t read the final book yet, but I’m sure I’ll still want more from The Tales of the Ketty Jay by Chris Wooding.
Even though it’s complete, I wish there had been more Joe Pitt Casebooks by Charlie Huston.
I would also like to read more in S.A. Swann’s Wolf Series.
I would like to see L J Smith’s “Night World” series actually end. She stopped before the final book of the series was due to be published, and that was well over a decade ago. Last I heard she was still working on it, but since the series plot had a big push towards the millennium, I can’t imagine how the last book would even be at this point. But I want to know, just so that I can say I read the whole thing. It was a good series then and I wish I didn’t have to wait for nigh-on 15 years to see the conclusion.
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment.
I do believe that you need to publish more about this subject matter, it may not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t speak about
these subjects. To the next! All the best!!
Bibliotropic, you win a book of your choice from our stacks.
Please contact me (Marion) with your choice and a US address. Happy reading!