Poll: Which novel method do you prefer?

[Layz92]

Which do you prefer in your novels. 1 shot self contained stories, a trilogy/tetralogy or long series that build a complex (though hopefully understandable) network of character backstories, far reaching consequences and in depth history and science of the land (how for example magic abilities are used and operate). By my description I clearly prefer the last and second for I am a massive fan of Raymond E Feist, David Eddings and Sergei Lukyanenko and to a lesser extent Margarette Weis (I love the depth but she can very often be TOO involved and complex). Also I have run out of books currently so some fantasy style series would be nice. Although a really great modern series like the watch series is fine too, just not sci-fi, I can't stand it outside of 1 shot movies.

BTW I am midway through the wheel of time series but am having trouble procuring the books. Also am partway through the lyoness series by Jack Vance but it is becoming a chore somewhat.

 

[the Dept of Science]

I don't read that much fantasy, so generally 1 shot novels for me.

Currently, I'm enjoying the variety of books that this affords me, I don't want to get bogged down spending months reading one series.

 

[Trivun]

I prefer a big series, or sometimes a smaller trilogy or tetralogy. For example, I'm a massive Discworld fan, and I also really like the Three Worlds Cycle by Ian Irvine, which consists of two seperate tetralogies set 200 years apart, and another trilogy set ten years after the second tetralogy. There's also another trilogy being written now set just after the first tetralogy, and it all comes together to explain a lot of the politics and the background history of the world the series is set in. And I do love Scott Pilgrim too, which counts as a short series...

Of course, I enjoy self-contained stories too, but short series are my favourite...

 

[Jazzyjazz2323]

I prefer series and trilogies myself,reading gaunts ghost right now.

 

[Shock and Awe]

It depends on the genre. For Sci-Fi books like the Halo Novels I like many series in one universe. For everything else though, I like one good novel.

 

[Vault101]

Anyone read the earths childrens series? as in clan of the cave bear?

Yeah sucks for you if you were really into it from the start...(1981 I think) I think the nest book is coming out somtimes...in the future if she dosn't die soon

 

[Berserker119]

I like books that have a universe, but they just take way too much time to read, so I also like single books.

 

[The Procrastinated End]

Depends on the genre and since I don't read that much sci-fi or fantasy I like the one shot because that makes the author not draw the story out for more greedy books

 

[Layz92]

I prefer series and trilogies myself,reading gaunts ghost right now.

Yeah I have read them, Eisenhone, Deus Encarmine and the sequel and am trying to procure the ravenor series. I generally Don't like sci-fi but 40k is one of my greatest weaknesses in that dislike. Read any of the Gotrek and Felix books out of curiosity?

 

[Sevre]

If we're talking general fiction I think a single novel works best, I mean look at 'Lolita'! If you want a fantasy series, well I think it's lots of fun when it's a 'Several Novels/One Setting' scheme like Discworld where you can pick up the references from other novels!

 

[DuplicateValue]

Well I love well-filled out backgrounds and lore, so I guess long series' are for me.
I'm a big Tolkien fan, and I've also started with Terry Pratchett's books.

I do like the odd one-shot here and there though - it's nice to know that you've got something finished completely and that there's not more you haven't read.

Edit: I never did finish the Alex Rider series, or the rest of the Artemis Fowl books.
I owe it to my childhood to go do so.

 

[Jazzyjazz2323]

I prefer series and trilogies myself,reading gaunts ghost right now.

Yeah I have read them, Eisenhone, Deus Encarmine and the sequel and am trying to procure the ravenor series. I generally Don't like sci-fi but 40k is one of my greatest weaknesses in that dislike. Read any of the Gotrek and Felix books out of curiosity?

Ya i dont read alot of sci-fi but i love 40k sooooo much its probably the only sci-fi universe i read about.And no i havent read gotrek and felix,thats fantasy right? oh is it any good?

 

[Layz92]

I prefer series and trilogies myself,reading gaunts ghost right now.

Yeah I have read them, Eisenhone, Deus Encarmine and the sequel and am trying to procure the ravenor series. I generally Don't like sci-fi but 40k is one of my greatest weaknesses in that dislike. Read any of the Gotrek and Felix books out of curiosity?

Ya i dont read alot of sci-fi but i love 40k sooooo much its probably the only sci-fi universe i read about.And no i havent read gotrek and felix,thats fantasy right? oh is it any good?

Yeah it is fantasy. And in reply to your second question it is awesome. Awesome characters, great writing and varied settings for each book. One in mines, one in sewers, one in icy wastes etc etc. Also the violence is very... emotive for lack of a better term. Strikes allow you to feel the anger and force behind them etc.

 

[Outright Villainy]

I think generally a trilogy or tetralogy is enough to cover everything I'd want from a story arc. I've never really gotten into any huge series with many books.

 

[Aux]

I don't mind one shot books, or small series. In my opinion both can be good for a series. Personally though I have never read a series past three books, might be interesting to tackle something bigger down the road though.

 

[Betancore]

Depends. Some novels work better as one-shots. Even if I'm sometimes left wanting more, the plot and resolution just doesn't allow for a sequel. And that's fine by me. I don't have a lot of time to read, though, so I find that nowadays, most of the books I read are just one-shot novels. If a series is any longer than a trilogy, I won't even bother starting it.

There have been longer series that I've enjoyed in the past, but I find them quite difficult. If all the books haven't come out yet, then I find it irritating that I have to read the latest book in preparation for the upcoming title. And if they have all come out, then I can either never find them all, or I'm not motivated to move onto the next book because I figure they're not going anywhere.

 

[Plurralbles]

one shots. Look at my favorite authors: King, Grisham, Dean Koontz.
And now my least favorite authors: Rowling, Meyers, Flanagan.

Pendragon and Artemis fowl are the only series I can think of that went longer than a trilogy, and I got tired of them.

 

[Tethalaki]

Well, my favourite series is the Wheel of Time, which is currently 12 books in the main series and a prologue book, with two more books in the main series being produced (one due out in November! Woot!).

I believe there's also a encyclopedia thing that was produced.

 

[Korenith]

Which do you prefer in your novels. 1 shot self contained stories, a trilogy/tetralogy or long series that build a complex (though hopefully understandable) network of character backstories, far reaching consequences and in depth history and science of the land (how for example magic abilities are used and operate). By my description I clearly prefer the last and second for I am a massive fan of Raymond E Feist, David Eddings and Sergei Lukyanenko and to a lesser extent Margarette Weis (I love the depth but she can very often be TOO involved and complex). Also I have run out of books currently so some fantasy style series would be nice. Although a really great modern series like the watch series is fine too, just not sci-fi, I can't stand it outside of 1 shot movies.

BTW I am midway through the wheel of time series but am having trouble procuring the books. Also am partway through the lyoness series by Jack Vance but it is becoming a chore somewhat.

Well for me it entirely depends on what the writer is trying to achieve with their novel. If a story needs to be spread over multiple books to be fully realised then it should be but some of the best books I have ever read have been stand alones like The Road by Cormac MacCarthy. The reason that book is so amazingly effective is because of how sparing he is with his words and it perfectly reflects the blasted, post-appocalyptic sparsity of the world he is trying to portray.

If you want some more Fantasy novels to read I really recommend Steven Erikson's "Malazan book of the Fallen" series and George R R Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series. A bit darker/grittier than the ones you mentioned but hopefully you'll still enjoy them.

 

[the Dept of Science]

If we're talking general fiction I think a single novel works best, I mean look at 'Lolita'!!

Lolita 2: Return of Humbert Humbert just wouldn't work