bnw@SDCSVAX.ARPA (05/11/85)
From: crash!bnw@SDCSVAX.ARPA
I agree with Jennifer that it is often difficult-to-impossible to
figure out in advance that an author has presented us with the first
book in a series. When a writer presents us with a series segment that
has no real ending and could have "to be continued. . ." on the last page,
I feel that he or she has artificially created a book that should not
exist. Series segments ought to be able to stand on their own merit.
I've twice had the frustrating experience of reading enjoyable first-of-
a-series books of the "to be continued. . ." type that were apparently so
unpopular with everyone else that the next segment never came.
/Bruce N. Wheelock/
arpanet: crash!bnw@ucsd
uucp: {ihnp4, cbosgd, sdcsvax, noscvax}!crash!bnw
chabot@miles.DEC (Bits is bits) (05/14/85)
Again, you're making a big mistake to blame the author for not telling you. It makes more sense to be aggravated at the publisher--they bought it, they probably know whether or not it even has a sequel in manuscript, and they didn't tell you when *they* presented it to you. What are you going to do if the book does say "to be continued", and you're afraid the rest will never come out? Not buy it? Well, then you've certainly done your part to bring about the future you feared.