Fantasy Series - Endings & Beginnings

As I've never read a full fantasy novel I'm interested to know if, when a book is part of a series, do the books just end mid-story and you have to wait for the author to produce the next book in the series, or do the books typically end resolved but hint at a further problem which will be resumed in the next book.

Essentially, is it possible to pick up the second or third book in the series without having read the first or do the continuing tales assume you are au fait with the story of previous books?

There really is no general rule. Personally, I prefer series where each book is a whole story unto itself. There are plenty of series, however, where the book simply stops and is picked up in the next volume. This I find to be effective only if there is a cliffhanger scenario.

There isn't much to chose from in the way of stand-alone Fantasy novels. A new book Elantris by Brandon Sanderson (his 1st Novel) is out that is reputed to be stand-alone. But a little sales success has a way of breeding sequels.

Stewart, for you I'd recommend Guy Gavriel Kay. Yeah, I know I name drop him at every opportunity, but this you'd like, coz he bases his stories on certain periods in our history. And history is your cup of tea. In short, his is historical fantasy.

For instance, The Sarantium Mosaic duology is set like the Byzantium empire. The Last Light of the Sun takes Viking and English myths, A Song for Arbonne is based on medieval France and The Lions of Al-Rassan based on medieval Spain.

Plus, except for The Sarantium Mosaic (2 books) and the Fionavar Tapestry (3 books), his other works are self-contained single novels. Brilliant starting place.

Personally, I would say that a great majority of fantasy series should not be read out of order, unless the author says it's fine. There may be simply too much information in the preceeding books that your experience with the story will suffer if you start in the middle.

ds

DS, I am beginning to suspect that you are either Guy Gavriel Kay himself, or his publicist!

They sound rather interesting and not an author i've read.

He IS good and Tigana was a really wonderful novel. I can recommend him also

Wabbit said:

He IS good and Tigana was a really wonderful novel. I can recommend him also

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Couldn't agree more! Tigana is absolutely amazing and I'm collecting his other books as we speak!

I really want the Lions of Al Rassa ( sp? ) and I have "Song for Arbonne" already on my shelf

Wabbit said:

I really want the Lions of Al Rassa ( sp? ) and I have "Song for Arbonne" already on my shelf

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Lions of Al Rassan is the only book of his I've read, but it was very enjoyable. Slightly irrational and OTT at times, but generally refreshing.

Wabbit said:

I really want the Lions of Al Rassa ( sp? ) and I have "Song for Arbonne" already on my shelf

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Those are the two I've really been searching for too, although direstraits game me a rave review about The Sarantium Mosaic duology. Guess I'll have to get them all!

Halo said:

DS, I am beginning to suspect that you are either Guy Gavriel Kay himself, or his publicist!

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Yes, you've outed me. I'm Guy. Are all Yorkshire(wo)men so clever? Don't tell anyone - I'm doing a pretty terrific impersonation of a crazy banana at present.

Now don't clamour around me, I cannot always be available for autographs.

Wabbit, drop everything and read me now! I demand it. I will not stand for people to have my books sitting on shelves unread.

Maybe I'll head over to the Writer's Showcase and do my next masterpiece there...

ggk

Guy, can you include a wabbit in your next novel. I think that would make it a really wonderful novel and probably the best one you ever did write.

- Wabbit.

Actually I did. It was some time back now, but I remember it as vividly as if it has happened yesterday. The words simply flowed out of my pen, it was so good. The wabbits were simply an inspiration.

I was almost finished with the novel when I decided that wabbits, albeit wonderful, did not fit in well in the scheme of history. I mean, no wabbit ever featured in any major wars in our history, did they? So I had to replace them with another, less wonderful animal. So against my editor's wishes, I made the changes.

Ah well, we'll never know how well received The Wabbits of Al-Rassan will be now, will we?

ds

direstraits said:

I was almost finished with the novel when I decided that wabbits, albeit wonderful, did not fit in well in the scheme of history. I mean, no wabbit ever featured in any major wars in our history, did they?

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It's best you believe that.

Ah well, we'll never know how well received The Wabbits of Al-Rassan will be now, will we?

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Hmmm, the wabbits Al Rassan? I like the sound of that

Getting back on Stewart's topic... there was a similar thread here that dealt with the concept of people picking up books in the middle of a series. Many people had neurosese about having to start at the VERY beginning of every series (myself included). Others felt that an author has a duty to ensure that each book stands alone.

It depends on the series, but many fantasy books do end on some kind of resolution with hints that there is more to come. If you want a parallel, think of the Harry Potter books. They end after the school year, which is a logical end for the book, but you know that there are problems left unsolved. Many fantasy books within a series will conclude at the end of a quest, or a battle. They feel completed, but you are still left wondering 'what happens next'.

Other fantasy novels may end right in the middle of things. An example of this would be Lord of the Rings. They leave you on a cliff hanger and wanting more *immediately*!! These are some of the more frustrating books to read if you have to wait for the author to finish writing them before you get the next installment.

Oh, and ds - whether you are or aren't GGK himself, I really like the current Fionavar Tapestry I'm reading. Thanks for the recommendation! It belongs to the first type of book - Book 1 ended with a conclusion, but many questions unanswered (the big bad boss was still on the loose).