# Book series you race through - then hate to see end **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887 "2005-07-30T15:14:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/21 "2005-07-31T01:15:40Z")
I recently raced through Margaret Maron’s series of mysteries featuring Deborah Knott. (I’d read some of them previously, but not recently). ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/22 "2005-07-31T02:38:49Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Every time I re-read Stirling’s Island in the Sea of Time series, I am very saddened that there are no more books in that universe. I’d dearly love to read something set a couple hundred years down the road from the last book in the trilogy. You and me both. I\*\*\* love\*\*\* those books. I wonder if anyone ever did any fanfic set in that universe? Have you tried the Eric Flint series, starting with 1632? Same idea, a town in West Virginia gets transferred back to the middle of the Germanies in the middle of the 30 Years War. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/23 "2005-07-31T02:42:49Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Oh lord, I just did this with **Harry Potter**. Yeah, me too. I wish I had savored it, but I just raced through to the end of the seventh book, where Harry … what? :: d&r :: ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/24 "2005-07-31T03:20:30Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > You and me both. I\*\*\* love\*\*\* those books. I wonder if anyone ever did any fanfic set in that universe? > > Have you tried the Eric Flint series, starting with 1632? Same idea, a town in West Virginia gets transferred back to the middle of the Germanies in the middle of the 30 Years War. Yeah, but to be honest I don’t care that much for them. The characters seem too action-heroi-ish and two dimensional. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/25 "2005-07-31T05:37:04Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Yeah, but to be honest I don’t care that much for them. The characters seem too action-heroi-ish and two dimensional. **Rik** , have you checked out _Dies The Fire_? Stirling set it in the world that Nantucket left. Much changes. It is the first of what he says will be 5 books. I second **1632**. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/26 "2005-07-31T08:08:01Z")
> [@Tracy Lord](#): > > _Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell_. The last four hundred pages or so, I was staying up late reading under the covers for the first time since, oh, third grade. 😉 I totally agree, although I hit a big sag in the middle of that where I was enjoying it, but was finding it hard to really keep going. Then I suddenly got back into it and zipped through like a madman. Of course, what with being a full independent grownup, I don’t have to read under the covers, I just read way too late, and then think “man, I think I’ll call in sick at work tomorrow”, an then think “no, I’ve done that too often already”, and then I’m all tired and grumpy the next day. > [@Silenus](#): > > Rik, have you checked out Dies The Fire? Stirling set it in the world that Nantucket left. Much changes. It is the first of what he says will be 5 books. It’s VERY good. His website has 10 sample chapters from the second book ( **The Protector’s War** ) up, but says it will be a trilogy, not 5 books. Oh, and his **Conquistador** is very good also. And back on the original topic, I had only read Harry Potter once each, then I read book 6 when it came out, and now I’m zipping through the series for a second time. It is just SO GOOD! ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/27 "2005-07-31T12:13:19Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > It’s VERY good. His website has 10 sample chapters from the second book ( **The Protector’s War** ) up, but says it will be a trilogy, not 5 books. > > Oh, and his **Conquistador** is very good also. Sorry for the hijack, but I just read _Dies the Fire_. I enjoyed it (not so much that I’ll ever call it a favorite, but it was entertaining), and I’d like to read more by Stirling. Where should I start - and not just series titles, if possible, but book titles. I’m getting them through the library where possible, and if a series title isn’t included in the catalog record, I rarely find it. /end hijack While it’s not highly intellectual, I was disappointed to see the _Arrows_ trilogy by Mercedes Lackey end - some of her other books draw me in as well, but more often they don’t. But those were the first ones I read and I really liked them. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/28 "2005-07-31T12:28:32Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **Rik** , have you checked out _Dies The Fire_? Stirling set it in the world that Nantucket left. Much changes. It is the first of what he says will be 5 books. Yes, and I liked Dies the Fire quite a bit, but I still want to see what happens with the Nantucket civilization and its aftereffects. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/29 "2005-07-31T18:22:06Z")
Donaldson’s first two Thomas Covenant trilogies. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/30 "2005-07-31T20:19:23Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Of course, what with being a full independent grownup, I don’t have to read under the covers, I just read way too late, and then think “man, I think I’ll call in sick at work tomorrow”, an then think “no, I’ve done that too often already”, and then I’m all tired and grumpy the next day. Ditto that, only substitute a roommate and a nine AM class for work. 🙂 Worth it, though! ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/31 "2005-07-31T21:13:53Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > You and me both. I\*\*\* love\*\*\* those books. I wonder if anyone ever did any fanfic set in that universe? > > Have you tried the Eric Flint series, starting with 1632? Same idea, a town in West Virginia gets transferred back to the middle of the Germanies in the middle of the 30 Years War. That’s the set you told me about when we spoke last year - I’d forgotten what they were since then, and I’m glad you’ve mentioned them again. I’m going to have to put those at the top of my list for the next [Half.com](http://Half.com) or Amazon Marketplace purchase I make. E. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/32 "2005-08-01T01:17:25Z")
**Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum Series** Someone here has to read the fluff. I shall carry the burden…and lust after Ranger and Marone…::::::::::::::::::::drooooool::::::::::::::::::::::::: Oh, and, non-fluff, **Lindsay Davis Falco Series.** I’m on #4 of what, 14 books now? ---
**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:** [August 1, 2005, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/33 "2005-08-01T02:26:23Z")
> [@Lsura](#): > > Sorry for the hijack, but I just read _Dies the Fire_. I enjoyed it (not so much that I’ll ever call it a favorite, but it was entertaining), and I’d like to read more by Stirling. Where should I start - and not just series titles, if possible, but book titles. I’m getting them through the library where possible, and if a series title isn’t included in the catalog record, I rarely find it. > /end hijack OK. \*\*Dies The Fire Island In The Sea Of Time On The Oceans of Eternity Against The Tide of Years Conquistador Dies The Fire The Protector’s War The Peshawar Lancers\*\* ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/34 "2005-08-01T13:39:07Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > **Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum Series** > > Someone here has to read the fluff. I shall carry the burden…and lust after Ranger and Marone…::::::::::::::::::::drooooool::::::::::::::::::::::::: It’s Morelli, you fool. And stop drooling on Ranger. He’s mine. Evanovich’s and Sue Grafton’s are the only series I’m following with any real interest. I didn’t read any of the Kinsey Millhone till “G” came out, and then went back and devoured “A” through “F” one right after the other. The quality of Sue Grafton’s stories has wavered a bit, but Janet Evanovich is still right up there. I started reading hers when they were new. I just finished _Eleven On Top_, and am waiting impatiently for _Twelve._ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/35 "2005-08-01T15:21:11Z")
The Aubrey/Maturin series by O’Brian is the top of my list without question. Two others I’m sad that there will be no more of, Horatio Hornblower by CS Forester and any Sherlock Holmes. Ongoing that I snap up as soon as they hit paperback; John Sanford’s Prey novels about Lucas Davenport are a great mind candy guilty pleasure of mine. As are Patricia Cornwell’s about Kay Scarpetta. They are getting a little far fetched, but still fun. H. Jay Riker done a lot of military fiction about Navy Seals and has done a few about submarines. Similar to W.E.B. Griffin and his various war and police chronicles. If I were home I could look and see a couple of more I don’t remember off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/36 "2005-08-01T15:43:33Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > It’s Morelli, you fool. And stop drooling on Ranger. He’s mine. > > Evanovich’s and Sue Grafton’s are the only series I’m following with any real interest. I didn’t read any of the Kinsey Millhone till “G” came out, and then went back and devoured “A” through “F” one right after the other. The quality of Sue Grafton’s stories has wavered a bit, but Janet Evanovich is still right up there. I started reading hers when they were new. I just finished _Eleven On Top_, and am waiting impatiently for _Twelve._ Well, Morelli is no-one’s sloppy seconds, but I’ll take him. And good to see someone else was as much let down by Anita Blake as I was. She went from not sleeping with anyone in book one to bonking everyone she meets. I’d like a little plot in my books, please. Right now I don’t have any series that I need to pick up the next book the instant it comes out. I am keeping up with JD Robb’s In Death series, Pratchett, and somewhat with Laurie King’s Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes and the Shopaholic series. And for the opposite side of the spectrum (and the fluff side), I read _Undead and Unwed_ and _Undead and Unemployed_ , and although I liked them, I’ve decided to stop there for now. The other two just don’t look as good. Susan ---
**Author:** ![parsnip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parsnip/32/4564_2.png) [@parsnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parsnip)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/37 "2005-08-01T16:16:56Z")
> [@Eleanor of Aquitaine](#): > > I’ll second O’Brian and Cornwell. > > I finished the Aubrey-Maturin books early this year. I was so reluctant to start that last book, and it was even worse to read the first few chapters of the unfinished book 21. I felt lost when I was done. > > I went through the Sharpe books next. They’re a faster read, and I was sorry to be finished with those, too. Thirding the above. I’ve been through the Aubrey-Maturin books 4 times since O’Brian died. I walking into Politics & Prose in DC upon finishing the Hornblower novels. Asked what to read next, and the bookseller pointed reverently to the shrine, since PO had passed the week before. Have been 'shipping at the alter ever sense. Hornblower is not as compelling unless I’m thinking about that yummy Welsh actor. ---
**Author:** ![parsnip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parsnip/32/4564_2.png) [@parsnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parsnip)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/38 "2005-08-01T16:18:36Z")
> [@parsnip](#): > > I walking into Politics & Prose in DC upon finishing the Hornblower novels. :smack: _walked_–preview is my friend. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887/39 "2005-08-01T17:17:04Z")
> [@Mr. Goob](#): > > Two others I’m sad that there will be no more of, Horatio Hornblower by CS Forester and any Sherlock Holmes. There’s been a lot more Sherlock Holmes—just not by Arthur Conan Doyle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-series-you-race-through-then-hate-to-see-end/314887.md?page=1)