# "10 Book Series So Addictive, You Never Want Them to End" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680 "2013-11-24T17:15:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/61 "2013-11-27T09:59:01Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > **2) The Miles Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold** > I got through four of these, and while I was entertained for a while, even by book four (following Bujold’s recommended order) it started to feel like each book was going to have the same format. I’m not sure I’ll continue them. > [@Kobal2](#): > > An ex-GF of mine was gaga about them. I don’t think I even finished the first book. I should try again some time. I rather get the impression that the Vorkosigan books – and Bujold generally – tend to appeal more to female, than to male, readers. Not in every case: I’m male, and I love the “Vorkosiverse”. My brother and I are both keen readers – but we have a running joke that except in very rare instances, it’s a “given” that a book or author that I like, he will hate; and vice versa. I introduced him to the Vorkosigan novels. Initially, his response was very positive; but some way into _The Warrior’s Apprentice_ – the first one in the series in which Miles himself is the central character – he ran up against an incident which in his view, horrendously over-stretched the long arm of coincidence: he promptly set the book aside, and pronounced himself utterly finished with Bujold. As said – usually the way of it with him, me, and reading matter. [Maserschmidt: Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels] > [@Kobal2](#): > > \*\* > YES.\*\* (can you tell _I’m_ gaga for those ?). I rather fear, the ultimate confession of heresy around here; but, I can’t stand Pratchett. So many people, for many of whom I have much respect, love his books, that I suspect “it can’t be him, it’s got to be me”. Nonetheless: I’ve tried a couple of his novels – could get nowhere near finishing either. For me, they were totally un-funny, and in fact unreadable. (As it happens, my brother has never been interested in trying this author.) ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/62 "2013-11-27T17:25:27Z")
> [@](#): > > I rather fear, the ultimate confession of heresy around here; but, I can’t stand Pratchett. Unclean! Unclean!!! Or maybe Pratchett just doesn’t tickle your funnybone. Some of his books are not what I’d give to someone who wants to try reading Pratchett (Faust/Eric, for instance), so it might be that you tried the wrong books. But I guess it’s possible that an otherwise intelligent person just doesn’t get Pratchett. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/63 "2013-11-27T18:48:44Z")
I’d say if you don’t like Douglas Adams then you won’t like Pratchett either, and vice versa. They use similar kinds of language, imagery and comedic absurdity\*. _also footnotes._\* \*\* Sometimes recursive. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/64 "2013-11-27T20:22:06Z")
I enjoy Adams, without being an impassioned fan; but I loathe Pratchett. I reckon I must just be weird… ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/65 "2013-11-27T21:52:53Z")
Yeah, I love Adams, but have only finished 2 books by Pratchett - Wyrd Sisters and Last Hero, the latter of which is basically a jumbo sized child’s storybook. I did manage to get through The Colour of Magic in comic book form, and the Soul Music miniseries (though I remember almost naught about either), so I think it’s just Pratchett’s prose that I have a problem with. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/66 "2013-11-28T01:06:37Z")
> [@vontsira](#): > > I enjoy Adams, without being an impassioned fan; but I loathe Pratchett. I reckon I must just be weird… Or you just don’t like him. Nothing wrong with that. I’m a huge Pterry fan, but I’ll be the first to say that some of his stuff (_Color of Magic, Light Fantastic, Eric, Pyramids_) just plain sucks. If you decide to try again, I’d recommend _Night Watch_ and _Carpe Jugulum_ - these are the two that I think he really hits out of the park. But if you don’t - hey, life’s too short to read bad fiction. Stross’ Laundry Series I just read, and enjoyed very much - it’s about a secret agent of the British government who has to deal with soul-sucking eldritch abominations like Nyarlothetep, Human Resource departments, and PowerPoint. Funny satire, but built on the bones of strong, interesting stories. (Anyone else think they’re starting to get a bit dark, though?) William Gibson’s postcyberpunk Blue Ant trilogy is one I’m currently re-reading. He’s said _Zero History_ is the last one, and I’m sorry about that. I find them unexpectedly absorbing, and am very taken with some of his characters, Hollis Henry and Milgrim especially. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/67 "2013-11-28T11:09:16Z")
> [@vontsira](#): > > I enjoy Adams, without being an impassioned fan; but I loathe Pratchett. I reckon I must just be weird… > [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Or you just don’t like him. Nothing wrong with that. I’m a huge Pterry fan, but I’ll be the first to say that some of his stuff (_Color of Magic, Light Fantastic, Eric, Pyramids_) just plain sucks. If you decide to try again, I’d recommend _Night Watch_ and _Carpe Jugulum_ - these are the two that I think he really hits out of the park. But if you don’t - hey, life’s too short to read bad fiction. _Carpe Jugulum_ was one of those which I tried ! I must just be one of those rather few individuals for whom Mr. P. completely “doesn’t do it”. With me, it’s partly because of feeling it all to be so laboured: he tries hugely ever-so-ever-so hard, to be ever-so zany… JMHO, and for everyone like me and Kamino Neko, there seem to be ten people who revel in – anyway, a great deal of Pratchett’s output. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/68 "2013-11-28T17:08:26Z")
> [@vontsira](#): > > _Carpe Jugulum_ was one of those which I tried ! I must just be one of those rather few individuals for whom Mr. P. completely “doesn’t do it”. With me, it’s partly because of feeling it all to be so laboured: he tries hugely ever-so-ever-so hard, to be ever-so zany… JMHO, and for everyone like me and Kamino Neko, there seem to be ten people who revel in – anyway, a great deal of Pratchett’s output. Then doff your hat and move on! Like I said, there’s nothing wrong with not liking a particular author - I can’t get into _Game of Thrones_ - and I’m not about to get into a “Oooh, but this is why Pratchett is so good! You must have missed _this_” conversation. There’s a lot of good fiction out there - you’re bound to find something that appeals. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/69 "2013-11-28T18:40:22Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > He’s also got a side business in the Tiffany Aching books, which are a sort of spin-off the Witches books but technically written for children/young adults. They’re still a lot of fun. Not just. “Rough Music”, the second chapter of _I Shall Wear Midnight_ is the single best piece of writing Terry’s done. I haven’t read it in a year or so, and I have goosebumps just recalling it. My favorite bit: Tiffany has been told that she must return an abused girl to her home: > [@](#): > > What was it that Granny Weatherwax had said once? ‘Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.’ And right now it would happen if you thought there was a thing called a father, and a thing called a mother, and a thing called a daughter, and a thing called a cottage, and told yourself that if you put them all together you had a thing called a happy family. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/70 "2013-11-28T19:34:37Z")
I’d always hoped there was one more Travis McGee novel in the pipeline. But alas, the rumored _Black Border for McGee_ was a myth. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/71 "2013-11-28T20:24:58Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Then doff your hat and move on! Like I said, there’s nothing wrong with not liking a particular author - I can’t get into _Game of Thrones_ - and I’m not about to get into a “Oooh, but this is why Pratchett is so good! You must have missed _this_” conversation. There’s a lot of good fiction out there - you’re bound to find something that appeals. This is the perfect attitude for a reader. It applies just as well to other forms of entertainment. If something doesn’t grab you, move on. OTOH, there’s nothing wrong with digging a little deeper, if you really feel like you’re missing out on something special. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/72 "2013-11-29T02:09:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’ve read this series so I can offer comments on them. > > The books were not written in the same order as the events they depict. _Shards of Honor_, for example, was both the first book in the main series and Bujold’s first novel. But _Barrayar_, which followed directly after the events of _Shards of Honor_, was Bujold’s eighth novel. > > In my opinion, you can group Bujold’s work into four broad groups (I bolded the Vorkosigan series): > > Her early works - _Dreamweaver’s Dilemma, **Shards of Honor** , Falling Free, **Ethan of Athos, The Warrior’s Apprentice** , The Spirit Ring_ - This was when Bujold was starting out. She was a good writer but she was still learning the craft. > Her peak - _ **The Mountains of Mourning, Brothers in Arms, Labyrinth, Borders of Infinity, The Vor Game, Barrayar, Mirror Dance, Cetaganda, Memory, Komarr, A Civil Campaign** , The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls_ - In my opinion, these are Bujold’s best works. She had perfected her writing skills and established her setting and characters. > The slide - _ **Diplomatic Immunity, Cryoburn** , The Hallowed Hunt, The Sharing Knife_ series - Still worth reading but not, in my opinion, her best work. I began to feel she might be going through the motions. > The return - _ **Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance** _ - Her most recent book. I feel that she bounced back with this one and it’s as good as any of her peak era work. Pretty much agree, except I apparently liked _Diplomatic Immunity_ much more than you did. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/73 "2013-11-30T18:39:04Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I’d always hoped there was one more Travis McGee novel in the pipeline. But alas, the rumored _Black Border for McGee_ was a myth. I’ve heard it was a negotiating ploy he used with his publisher, to threaten the next book would be the last if terms weren’t to his liking. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/74 "2013-11-30T20:01:03Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > This is the perfect attitude for a reader. > > It applies just as well to other forms of entertainment. If something doesn’t grab you, move on. > > OTOH, there’s nothing wrong with digging a little deeper, if you really feel like you’re missing out on something special. Seconding this. I, for one, can’t stand Adams but adore Pratchett. There is no accounting for taste. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/75 "2013-11-30T20:45:38Z")
OTOH, I think I’d read all the Honor Harrington stories I could stand by about the third one… after Weber retconned her into Wonder Woman it got pretty tedious. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/76 "2013-11-30T22:04:29Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Pretty much agree, except I apparently liked _Diplomatic Immunity_ much more than you did. Yeah, I’d move _Diplomatic Immunity_ back into the “peak” group, and _Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance_ as part of the “slide.” The best thing I can say about it is that it made me appreciate _Cryoburn_. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/77 "2013-12-02T17:18:57Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > This is the perfect attitude for a reader. > > It applies just as well to other forms of entertainment. If something doesn’t grab you, move on. > > OTOH, there’s nothing wrong with digging a little deeper, if you really feel like you’re missing out on something special. Yeah; The only thing I flag people for when they say “I don’t like Pratchett” is to make sure they read one that was good. Some uh…well intentioned individual of dubious taste suggested that I should start with Small Gods, which, to this day I think was pretty awful, and it put me off the man for YEARS until I picked up Men At Arms on a whim. @ **Smeghead** - I shan’t get into a big argument, but suffice it to say: Those weren’t wild dragons. But yes, it’s true, she put more time into the societal impact of dragons than the biological one. But strangely, I have found that I don’t tend to read my fantasy for their detailed representations of modified biomes. Do you do this sort of thing everytime you run into a fantastic creature in a book? ---
**Author:** ![Adversary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@Adversary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adversary)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/78 "2013-12-02T20:02:15Z")
Two series worth mentioning. One is fantasy the other thriller/mystery. The First Law - Joe Abercrombie Some of the best newer fantasy I have read/listened to in years. Lately I have been listening to books. This is an excellent series to listen to. The narrator is great and the story is excellent, no fluffy fantasy here. One of the main characters is an inquisitor that enjoys torturing people. The Troubles Trilogy - Adrian McKinty Wow, great series. Another great one to listen to as well. The first book does get a bit wordy in the middle but the pay off for the rest is well worth it. He has other another series that ties in a bit and is set around the same time frame. This guy is getting better and better as he writes. This is a mystery/thriller set in New York, Ireland and around the world. It goes through the tough times in Belfast and has taught me more about the Protestant/Catholic issues there than I have read in history books. Can’t say enough about this series and all of his books. ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/79 "2013-12-03T02:20:20Z")
I may have missed it, but I didn’t notice anyone speaking up for Octavia Butler. All of her work is intriguing. At the risk of being labeled racist and as a white person, I don’t think a white person could have written her stuff. Her characters are incredibly resilient yet passive or subtly active. Her protagonists are unlike anything I’ve encountered in sci-fi. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680/80 "2013-12-03T02:28:06Z")
> [@Tinker\_Grey](#): > > I may have missed it, but I didn’t notice anyone speaking up for Octavia Butler. > > All of her work is intriguing. At the risk of being labeled racist and as a white person, I don’t think a white person could have written her stuff. Her characters are incredibly resilient yet passive or subtly active. Her protagonists are unlike anything I’ve encountered in sci-fi. I like Butler’s work - and by the way, many of her books in Kindle format are on sale today on Amazon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-book-series-so-addictive-you-never-want-them-to-end/674680.md?page=5)