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From: chrisa@azure.UUCP (Chris Andersen)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Sequels
Message-ID: <242@azure.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 9-Jun-85 01:46:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: azure.242
Posted: Sun Jun  9 01:46:08 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 11-Jun-85 05:30:12 EDT
References: <2188@topaz.ARPA>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 43

> From: crash!bnw@SDCSVAX.ARPA
> 
> >A readership that wants a sequel to every novel. . .
> 
>      There is an implication here that there is something automatically wrong
> with series, trilogies, series, and so on.  If a series of whatever length is
> desired and enjoyed, it is because the writer has created a character,  a
> society or a concept that has captured the imagination of readers.  If the
> point of interest is not covered in detail from beginning to end, there may
> very well be an interest in more.  The fact that the author may have intended
> this from the beginning does not change the validity of the concept.  The
> market will decide if the writer is correct or not.

	I used to be a hot critic of sequels.  Mainly because I felt that they
destroyed the meaning of the original books that they are trying to mimic.
I still feel this (though not for EVERY sequel), but I don't criticise the
authors anymore.  When I went to the last Boskone, I went to a panel where they
discussed sequels and there merit.  I came out with one conclusion.  That is,
if I were an author of a successful book and the publisher came and offered
me a nice advance on a sequel, I would find it hard to refuse them.  Blame
the authors for being weak in not refusing, but consider first what you would
do in this situation.  You have to get bread on the table somehow.

>      Sometimes a series should have stopped at one.  Sometimes not.  I've 
> never heard anyone suggest that Asimov should have stopped with _Foundation_.

	Actually, the first three Foundation books are an anthology of short 
stories written by Asimov several years ago.  I don't think I would technicaly
call the stories sequels.  However, _Foundations_Edge_ is most definately a
sequel.

> I'm glad that Steven Brust gave us more than one novel on the life and times
> of Vladimir Taltos.  (On the other hand, many people have said that Herbert
> *should* have quit after _Dune_.)

	Same here.

>                                                          /Bruce N. Wheelock/
>                                 arpanet: crash!bnw@ucsd
>                                    uucp: {ihnp4, sdcsvax, noscvax}!crash!bnw


	Chris Andersen