Many of us have genres we avoid or particularly love to the exclusion of others. I’m not too fond of the mystery genre, but I love science fiction. There are exceptions, though. One of my favorite science fiction novels of all time was Frank Herbert’s Dune. And my least favorite series was all the add-on books he wrote featuring anything and everyone that was included in the first novel.
The plot is unimportant. What is, in this case and others, was the author’s awareness that they had a nice universe to spawn an almost unending series featuring just about any character or circumstance that was even hinted at in the original. So Herbert wrote six sequels, and at least two others have been spawned by his son and follow-on authors. I checked to see if others agreed with me that these were some of the worst sci-fi I had ever read…I wasn’t alone.
Now it’s true that I abandoned the series after the first two follow-ons, just groaning and whispering, “Oh, brother! Not another one?!” But out of curiosity, can you list a series that went on too long? I bet you can. And did it ruin or alter your affection for the original? Maybe. While I still revere the genius of the original, I am repelled by the thought of how the “franchise” was sullied subsequently.
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Every year — in the judging for the contest — I encounter books I regretted reading but I had to do it. They presented a challenge. Why? Personal taste? Bad writing? Lack of originality? Derivative? Tired?
When I saw this prompt, I started thinking about whether there was any book I’d really hated and regretted. There have been and the winner is…Thomas Pynchon! The Crying of Lot 49! Yeah. I burned it ritualistically on top of my dad’s Shakespeare. That’s it. That’s the one. Good god, what a wanker.
I love it!!! Burn, Baby Burn!
Seriously… What was THAT about? 🤣
I agree with you on Dune. I was very confused the first time I read the second book, as the author drops us into the tale when lots of things have happened, but he doesn’t explain any of it. The third book was just awful. How could the same author who wrote the original masterpiece drop the ball so completely?
Here’s a series that disappointed me. For some time, Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet was my favourite book of all time (now, my faovurite book is Shantaram). I belatedly found out that there was a book two and three. Where Pillars is filled with compelling, interesting characters and deliciously wicked villains, World Without End sort of relies on earlier character development. Pillars took us step by step into the intricacies of medieval cathedral construction, World Without End had a bridge. But then in book three, A Column of Fire, the author Follet drops into his new favourite genre and simply documents events of history in story form. So boring.
I don’t know if publishers push for series if there is a great first title or what, but I am now hesitant to pick up a series.
that’s how Pedro and I feel about TV these days. If it’s more than one season, we hesitate.