Beyond Reality discussion

Another QotW idea from Kateblue (thank you!):
Which series (singular or plural) are you really sorry you abandoned because TMBTLT (Too Many Books, Too Little Time) and/or because you couldn't remember the preceding books well enough?

All genres welcome in this discussion.

October Daye and Wayward Children and Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter

Elemental Assassin by Jennifer Estep. I have only read the first, and that was when it was new, so it won't be bad to start again.

And many more

There are a few series where I read the first book but never got around to reading the rest of the series, usually because there was a good sized wait for the next one to come out.

Legion - seriously, this has been just laziness on my part. I have the third book (novella) I just need to sit down and read it.

Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne - Enjoyed the first book and really loved a short story that took place around the time of the first book. By the time the next book came out, I had wandered off into other things and looking at new shinies.

There are more I am sure, but these are the ones I can remember off hand.

I think this might be why I tend to prefer to wait until a series is completely out and then marathon the entire thing. Momentum keeps me going and I don't have to worry about whether or not I can remember the details.

Hey, maybe we can use this list to come up with ideas for the next group series read. :)

Ok, this is weird. When I put my previous post together the first series I listed was Divine Cities and now its not there.

I may be going insane. :D

Anyway, Divine Cities is another where I read the first book but didn't continue on after the next book came out.

Random wrote: "I think this might be why I tend to prefer to wait until a series is completely out and then marathon the entire thing. Momentum keeps me going and I don't have to worry about whether or not I can remember the details."

This is my preference as well.

However, I did start the Wars of Light and Shadow series by Janny Wurts when it was a group read in another Goodreads group. At that time, the series was unfinished (so why did we choose it? Ugh!). I read all the books that had been released and then decided that by the time the rest of the series was published, I would have forgotten everything. I have acquired the rest of the book (the series is now complete) but haven’t gotten around to rereading the previously read books so I can then read the “new” ones. But I will, since I loved the ones I had read!

The same thing has happened with the Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust.

Kathi wrote: "I did start the Wars of Light and Shadow series by Janny Wurts.."
Good news, the final book was published in 2024

As for the Vlad Taltos books is they are written in such a way as they feel stand alone, out of order the internal time line and not as a series you need to read all the books

Right now, I have The Dark Tower on hold,
I really want to finish this but who knows

These series mostly just end up on my 'series in progress' shelf, which is about 40 series big at the moment. But there are a few....

I recently restarted the Recluse books by L.E. Modesitt Jr.. There are so many of them now, I kinda wish I'd kept up over the years.

I should have finished the Aelric series by Richard Blake all at the same time. I keep trying to go back but it doesn't appeal to me anymore and I might have to abandon it.

I also wish I'd kept up with Melanie Rawn, I could definitely restart a couple of her series but first I would have to track them down.

Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts would also be good ones to restart. They were just victim of being unread for 20 years and I moved on.

Ken wrote: "As for the Vlad Taltos books is they are written in such a way as they feel stand alone, out of order the internal time line and not as a series you need to read all the books"

I know, but there still are connections that I’d miss since it’s been so long now since I read any of them (2013!). I will do a whole reread at some point, when the series is done (maybe, or maybe sooner).

I’ve been waiting for the last Taltos book to be published and fully intend on nominating it for a group series read!

Kathi wrote: "However, I did start the Wars of Light and Shadow series by Janny Wurts when it was a group read in another Goodreads group. At that time, the series was unfinished (so why did we choose it? Ugh!).”

I went back & looked at the list of series this group has read as a group & discovered that Beyond Reality also read & discussed this series before it was completed—which kind of makes it hard for me to nominate it sometime as a group fantasy read/discussion. Ah well…

Shel wrote: "I’ve been waiting for the last Taltos book to be published and fully intend on nominating it for a group series read!"

Are you sure it will be the last? 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

I think there are two more planned, he’s always been clear about when the series will end!

Also, I’m in the same boat with Wars of Light and Shadow. I didn’t want to read the later books without rereading the rest - I don’t remember it well enough to go on otherwise - and that reread is going to be a big undertaking! One I’m looking forward to because I LOVED what I read. Maybe next summer.

Ken wrote: "Right now, I have The Dark Tower on hold,
I really want to finish this but who knows"

I just read Wizard and Glass and really hated it. My review will tell you which parts to skip, which is probably about 2/3 of the book. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... We can discuss further if you want