~Opinions~ discussion

So, recently, every single book I've picked up has been the first in a series. It's not that I don't like series (because I kinda love them), but I sometimes wonder if a series is really necessary for the story as a whole, or if the authors just like stretching things out.

So, my question is: Which do you prefer; series or stand-alone?

I think it depends on the book. Some books i think should just be a single book because of the story line, but others i preffer as a series, especialy if i really like the characters and the story.

Series!
I like stand-alones too, but I just hate when you put them down, you know there wont be another to pick up. Ever.
- As for the waiting time with series, I think it sometimes makes the book even better when you read it :) As long as it's less than two years anyway.

Well, I have a love-hate relationship with series. I love them. I adore them. But I hate waiting for the next book :P. I'm too impatient.

Oh, me too. Impatient is my middlename. But still though, the feeling you get when you hold the book in your hand, and you flip to the first page, knowing it'll be absolutely amazing *Sighs wistfully*... I love that feeling.

Me too :). Which is why I have two copies of Clockwork Angel.

For the most part I like stand-alones. Start a story, tell a story and end a story and move on. But I'm not saying series are bad and since they're writing them and I'm not who am I to criticize them?! The one thing though that really bugs me about series is when a guy like George R.R. Martin stops writing midway through his series and leaves his fans up in the air.

Ooh, that would annoy me to no end, having a writer just stop writing their series.

I like a series if it's well developed. I've read a few series where it seems like the author just wanted to stretch the story further than it ever should have gone.

Candace (Amare Infinitum) wrote: "Ooh, that would annoy me to no end, having a writer just stop writing their series."

Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series was the best fantasy story I've ever read, but, yeah, he stalled after book three and we waited five years for book four which was supposed to be the end. It turned out book four was so big that he split it and released only half and supposedly went back to work to finish the new book five and announced the series would now be seven books total. That was 2005 and he's done nothing since but go on tours (he's going to be here in Minnesota next month) and sell the story to HBO.

That would be so annoying to get interested in a series and have it just end like that.

On a slightly different note (still series, but not books). Every time I get interested in a series with Mandy Patinkin, he leaves the show after two seasons (Dead Like Me, Criminal Minds).

Candace (Amare Infinitum) wrote: "That would be so annoying to get interested in a series and have it just end like that.

On a slightly different note (still series, but not books). Every time I get interested in a series with Ma..."

He did the same thing with "Chicago Hope" which I really liked.

I enjoy a series when it contains a main character I find fascinating enough to keep following through different adventures. I have stopped reading some series because I lost interest in the protaganist and when it seems the author is just trying to make a buck by prolonging the character's "life".

However, I also enjoy stand-alones when the story is compelling enough that I don't feel the need to read more about the character. I guess it all depends on the book and character that is being prolonged in the series.

It depends really... if the story needs another book, then ofcourse I wldn't like it to be crammed into a singls book. But, as Gatorman said, authors jut prolonging the characters life just makes me dizzy :P

i agree with you, candace, I miss stand-alones. now all i see are series and sometimes *cough houseofnight cough* its just the author stretching things a bit too much you know?

I completely agree. I didn't like the beginning of that series, but it got better as the books progressed and the characters started to grow up. But, then bam, everyone reverted back to their Book One personalities in this last book. I was very disappointed. But don't get me wrong; I do enjoy a series, but I typically enjoy the planned out ones (The Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices--so far, The Hunger Games). There wasn't any stretching of the story with those. The author had an idea for a story and went with it. She didn't try to stretch it out, which is what I love.

agreed

I like series when the author plans out what each book is going to be about. The 39 Clues is different authors and it doesn't even have a story line,really.

I could have just had remarkable luck with series (besides Evermore and whatever series it belongs to), but I tend to to like series much more than stand alone books. That's not to say that that's always the case, but it usually is. I love series so much, including that dreadful period in between books. (I NEED The Son of Neptune...RIGHT. NOW.) That's just me, though.

The wait is excruciating. Series can be amazing as long as they aren't stretching out the story just to stretch it out. I like tightly plotted storylines. And the Immortals Series (Ever and Damen)...eh, it's not my favorite, but I've read them.

Candace (Amare Infinitum) wrote: "The Hunger Games"

I just picked up these three books at Costco. I had heard they were good.

Rachel (aka. Kaiserin Sisi) wrote: "I could have just had remarkable luck with series (besides Evermore and whatever series it belongs to), but I tend to to like series much more than stand alone books. That's not to say that that's..."

(ugh, me too, i want to know what happens to percy!)

@ Michael: They are very good. I can't wait for you to read them so we can discuss them :).

I prefer series since it has more characters, much complicated plot but I think it depends on the book since some series deteriorates while others progresses, I think I prefer series that are trilogies or has four books.

I like series where the overall story is plotted. I don't like it when the authors just stretch out the story. But I'm addicted to series . . . so :P.

I enjoy series because plots usually become more complex because the characters become more complete and interact and grow...and I like catching up with my favorite series : I love Anita Blake, Merry Gentry, and Eve Dallas. I love series with strong female principal characters.

Definitely depends on the book. But I've noticed that if I'm reading a fantasy book I prefer it to be a series. Where as, when I'm reading a realistic fiction book, I tend to like it to be a stand alone.

I am waiting for mercedes lackey's new book about the collegium (I presume the one in valdemar). I've missed that series a lot..I know she's probably tired of valdemar..but please continue the series...please.

Candace (Amare Infinitum) wrote: "Well, I have a love-hate relationship with series. I love them. I adore them. But I hate waiting for the next book :P. I'm too impatient."

hear hear!! :P

For me it depends on if i like it or not. I'm a Shadowhunter fan and I don't mind at all that CC is writing a shitload more of books that involve shadowhunter. I don't mind at all that they are all series because I loooove the world so much and I can't get enough of it.

But on the other hand, I read some stand alones that are so great and they just didn't need any more words at the end. The end was good and if you added even more it wouldn't be as good. So yeah.

It's not that I avoid stand alones or series (except when the series is like 20 books long or something). If the story is fun i'll read it :p