Trilogies and more . . . . .

[Just RY]

I enjoy books that are part of a series trilogies, quadrilogies, quintoligies, loads-a-book-ologies (yeah ok, the last three are made up words I am sure, but you know what I mean).

I have just bought the first of the Dark Tower series (Gunslinger), which seems to get good reviews by fellow BGO'ers, I'm a little worried myself, as I have somtimes struggled with King's works (liked 'The Stand', didn't like 'It' etc).

Book series' that I have enjoyed, would include John Jakes' 'Kent family chronicles' and Wilbur Smith's saga of the Courtney family (made even more enjoyable when Smith did some prequels set in the 16/1700's).

So, two questions, am I going to like the Dark Tower books?

And, what other book series would you recommend?

[Adrian]

I like the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, and the duodecology A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell.

I keep meaning to start The Forsyte Saga, as I've heard good things about it.

[Cabrasopa]

Bernard Cornwall's - Sharpe series is excellent.

I agree with just RY Wilbur Smiths Courtney books are a brilliant read and are still my favourites.

How about Wilbur Smith (again) - The Ballantyne novels. (another family saga)

Cabrasopa :cool:

[Claire]

....and the duodecology A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell.


I'm a bit confused now. I thought I'd read a book called "A Dance to the Music of Time" - which was part of a longish series - but I'm sure that wasn't who it was by.

It was Sci-Fi/Fantasy series - but like nothing I've ever read before. It was a bizarre fantasy world, near the very end of time, where people could create whatever they wanted, just by wishing it - and this world got all mixed up with Victorian London. I seem to think the main character was called something like Jharek Carnellion - and the Victorian lady he fell in love with may have been called Amelia.

Anyone have a clue what I'm whittering on about??? What on earth was it?

[Mad Dog and Glory]

Hmmm, doesn't sound much like Anthony Powell. Widmerpol caught up in a space-time vortex.

[Claire]

Just been to look up the Anthony Powell set of novels. Doesn't look quite what I was thinking of....

If anyone can identify what it is I did read, with a similar title - you'd make me very happy!

[Elfstar]

When did everything become an -ology? I'm sure I remember reading Durrell's Alexandria quartet not quadrilogy, what a horrible word and one I've seen recently in a book shop. Or am I just out of date/touch due to my age. My best friend tells me I'm hopelessly pedantic...I think its cool to know the right thing before playing around with it. ;)

[BrumB]

I very much enjoyed Paul Scott's Raj Quartet.

[Elfstar]

Quartet!!!! See what I mean sounds so much nicer. Must admit I've not read them, but did see the tv version...if I'm thinking of the right thing...Jewel in the Crown etc

[Adrian]

Claire: Maybe you're thinking of The Chosen (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon, Book 1) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/081258435X/102-5556306-0546551?v=glance), quote:

Ricardo Pinto's first novel opens a fantasy sequence titled "The Stone Dance of the Chameleon," exploring a complex and hierarchical empire with a vaguely Asian flavor. Young hero Carnelian journeys from his aristocratic father's remote, wintry house of exile to the heart of power...

And I agree with all, these -ologies sound terrible. A trilogy's always been a trilogy hasn't it? Maybe they just carried on.

[Grammath]

So, two questions, am I going to like the Dark Tower books?

And, what other book series would you recommend?

I'm sure I've heard the word tetralogy used to refer to four book series, although this might well be my imagination.

It should surprise none of the regulars that I heartily recommend the five book trilogy that is "The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy" (this is how Douglas Adams himself described the series). Then there's all the great series detectives out there - Holmes, Philip Marlowe, Rebus etc.

As to whether you'll enjoy "The Dark Tower" or not, what I've read of it so far (I'm near the end of Volume 3) is a bit different from the other King I've read because its clearly fantasy rather than horror.

The first volume "The Gunslinger", is very un-King-like as the language gets quite flowery in parts, but since then it has been more recognisably his work.

[Elfstar]

And what pray is wrong with quartet? Quadrilogy certainly doesn't exist.5 would therefore be a quintet!!

Actually in spite of the quibbling I like series of books too. Have the first 4 Of The Dark Tower but probably wont read them till I have them all...in paperback...

It always pleases me when the last book in a set maintains the magic that kept me reading.

I liked Jasper Ffordes first 2 but havent got round to the third yet.

[Claire]

Claire: Maybe you're thinking of The Chosen (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon, Book 1) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/081258435X/102-5556306-0546551?v=glance), quote:

Ricardo Pinto's first novel opens a fantasy sequence titled "The Stone Dance of the Chameleon," exploring a complex and hierarchical empire with a vaguely Asian flavor. Young hero Carnelian journeys from his aristocratic father's remote, wintry house of exile to the heart of power...


It does sound pretty close to what I tried to describe - but that wasn't it, I'm sure, having looked at the link. Thanks, though.

[Just RY]

When did everything become an -ology? I'm sure I remember reading Durrell's Alexandria quartet not quadrilogy, what a horrible word and one I've seen recently in a book shop. Or am I just out of date/touch due to my age. My best friend tells me I'm hopelessly pedantic...I think its cool to know the right thing before playing around with it. ;)

Actually I made up the word (I would have used quartet, had I known that the word wasn't exclusively used for a group of four instrumentalists), and I like it, because it is MY word, so there ;). My goal is to get it accepted into a dictionary, much like "googling" is now included in many.

How about Wilbur Smith (again) - The Ballantyne novels. (another family saga)

I have read them, and they are also a good series - probably not quite as good as the Courtney's though.

[Elfstar]

Actually, I've remembered where I saw quadrilogy it was on a 4 dvd set of the alien films. Tetralogy as mentioned by Grammath is probably the best word, originally used in Greece for a set of 4 plays, usually 3 tragedies and a satyr play, it now has the meaning of any set of four stories.

Other great sets...Terry Brooks' Magic Kingom For Sale, Sold

Any of Mary Renaults, especially the Theseus pair...The King Must Die and The Bull from The Sea
Stephen Donaldson The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant
Enid Blyton Famous Five
Anne of Green Gables etc
and of course Little Women, Good Wives and Jo's Boys
Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders
Assasin books
Tawny Man

All trilogies.
And fair play if you can get it in the dictionary!! I dont mind the language moving on, I just dont think its a nice sounding word....Sorry :o

[megustaleer]

Little Women, Good Wives and Jo's Boys


And 'Little Men'!

[Elfstar]

OOPs yes forgot that one!!

[Opal]

Personally I love the Dark Tower books! I don't know if you've seen it yet but there's a thread for it over on the Fantasy forum....
http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=471&page=1&pp=15
I'll warn you that there may be spoilers on the though - I'm on book four (Wizard and Glass) at the moment and while I try not to give too much away I tend to post on there when something exciting has happened and i'm not so good with the editing out spoilers thing.... :o

[Darkstar]

I keep coming back to Raymond E Feist's Riftwar series. It starts off with the trilogy, Magician, Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon. Brilliant.

[ChrisG]

I'm a bit confused now. I thought I'd read a book called "A Dance to the Music of Time" - which was part of a longish series - but I'm sure that wasn't who it was by.

It was Sci-Fi/Fantasy series - but like nothing I've ever read before. It was a bizarre fantasy world, near the very end of time, where people could create whatever they wanted, just by wishing it - and this world got all mixed up with Victorian London. I seem to think the main character was called something like Jharek Carnellion - and the Victorian lady he fell in love with may have been called Amelia.

Anyone have a clue what I'm whittering on about??? What on earth was it?


Claire, the book you are looking for is Dancers at the End of Time by Michael Moorcock.

I also love multi volume SF and Fantasy that include lots of familiar characters and events. Some of my favourites are:

The Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey
Darkover series by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Saga of the Pliocene Exile series and The Galactic Milieu series by Julian May
The Godmother series by Elizabeth Scarborough (especially The Godmother's Apprentice)
Any of the series by Isaac Asimov (Robot series, Foundation series, etc.)

[Claire]

Claire, the book you are looking for is Dancers at the End of Time by Michael Moorcock.


YES!! Thank you :)

[ChrisG]

YES!! Thank you :)

You are most welcome. I know how aggravating it can be to NOT BE ABLE TO REMEMBER the name of a book you want! :p

[Leila]

Susan Cooper did a great set of 5 - The Dark Is Rising

Also im a huge fan of Anne McCaffrey as well as David Eddings who like to do a series and then add another set to it eg The Elenium (3 books) then the Tamuli (3 books)

Enjoyed Feists Riftwar but then got bored :(

[lucyb]

'-ology' always makes me thing of Maureen Lipman in the phone ads. Who's showing their age now?

[Annabellalot]

Feist's Riftwar trilogy was brilliant as Darkstar said BUT, I would have to say that George R R Martin's Song of Ice and Fire was better. Yes, I know they're on my "to read" list but it's for the 2nd time around as I am hoping Mr Martin will be releasing the 4th book by the end of this year and I want to be ready for it!