Sunday, August 5, 2012

Sunday Salon - Pop Fiction: Stand Alone Vs. Series




So my hubby brought up a good question this week.  In popular fiction there seems to be a lot of push for authors who have had a hit book to make it into a series, usually a long going series.
Most popular books are not stand alone anymore.   Even if the book was a stand alone, say like Gone With The Wind, if they can’t get the author to write a sequel then they have someone else do it.

I mean really are there those of us who are satisfied with the stand alones that the story just ends and you don’t have to keep buying books to keep up with the series.

What do you think you would rather read more often series or stand alone?

Right now I have started so many series I love but wish sometimes the series didn’t go on forever (like Piers Anthony’s Xanth’s series, Sookie Stackhouse series, etc)
I am also hoping the new J.K. Rowling is a stand alone but that may be decided on how much money it makes which is not a good reason to start a series.

3 comments:

Lynn K. said...

I'd have to say both.

Sometimes I despair at starting a new series when I find that there are already 7+ books in the series! (Sookie, Fever to name some...) On the other hand, I wish that there were a LOT more Kate Daniels books.

If the author manages to keep the story interesting I generally don't mind. But sometimes over the span of books the plot can get a bit tiring (the new Night Prince book has brought back my diminishing interest in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series)

Alyce said...

I think it really depends on the genre and target age range. If it's middle grade & YA then I really like series because I can get my kids into them and keep them reading. For adult reads I don't mind series, but I prefer books that can stand alone even as part of a series, that way I don't feel like I'm obligated to read every single book just to know what's going on.

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

You red some fun books! I enjoyed all the books you have posted here.