Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site topaz.ARPA
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!topaz!marotta%lezah.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
From: marotta%lezah.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Series and sequels in SF and Fantasy
Message-ID: <2288@topaz.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 14-Jun-85 18:11:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: topaz.2288
Posted: Fri Jun 14 18:11:13 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Jun-85 09:20:13 EDT
Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 34

From: marotta%lezah.DEC@decwrl.ARPA

My deepest apologies -- the previous mail message was accidentally cut
off.  I'll never get used to VMS quirks!

My original point, however, was a discussion of the value of series in
Science Fiction and Fantasy.  I was just beginning to explain my feeling
that Science Fiction authors (and, to a degree, authors of Fantasy) have
a very special problem: how to describe a world that is alien to the 
readers' experience?  Many short stories in the field exemplify the skill
of certain authors in drawing from the readers' own experience to create
the desired setting.  But the  books that really explain and detail the
worlds, technology, and society in great detail are often enhanced by 
second, or even third volumes.  U. K. LeGuin's Earthsea Trilogy, for 
example, views Earthsea from three different perspectives, each focussing
on a different aspect, while the three books cooperate to draw a
realistic, detailed view.  

I share some of the opinions voiced here about the repetitive  and
trivial nature about some sequels, but I find them valuable at times,
and often a great joy.

One series, however, seems to have gone beyond the limits of good taste.
I am a lover of Herbert's Dune since I first read it.  The concept lost
its flavor with the second of the books, and I mercilessly forced myself
to read God Emperor.  My latest visit to the bookstore showed me that
there are at least 3 more in the series!  Needless to say, I will not be
so eager to begin them.  But I find it highly amusing that the Dune
Dictionary won the HUGO.  I guess I'm not the only one starting to
get lost! :-)    But I'm not so relieved to find such a reference as
those who choose the award winners.  I'm not going to bother with
any more Dune books.  Frank Herbert has some fine and interesting
publications that are totally unrelated to the series.  I suggest
White Plague as an interesting alternative.