Do you prefer standalone novels, trilogies, or another number of books? Why?

Question

I personally like trilogies. They have a lot more character development than one book, and they don't run out of steam by being pushed too far at the end.

But what do you prefer? And why?

Oh, I love all of them. But I like to hold onto them, and series are nice, because it gives me time to gradually let go of the world/characters/story. Most of my favorite books are trilogies in part because it takes me longer to get through them. I read really fast- about a book a day while a senior in college. For a 300-400 page novel, give three hours. Maybe four. A trilogy/series gives me a chance to savor the writing.

But I love all kinds, as long as they're good. I just love books, period.

Answer 1

It actually doesn't matter to me just as long as I find the work good to read and intresting. Duologies, trilogies, and series also have to continue to hold my attention. After all, it does the story no good if the first book was really good but I loose intrest in it reading subsequent books.

Answer 2

I wouldn't reject a book because it was part of a series, and some of my favourites over the years have been trilogies or whatever, but my personal preference is for stand alone books, even if they are very long.

I like the discipline a writer has to use to get as much character development, storyline and so on into one single work, I find it makes for better reading.

If we didn't all like different things, publishers would go out of business, wouldn't they :-)

Cheers :-)

Answer 3

Stand alone novels, but I make exceptions. Not many, mind you, at all, in fact I think the only series I'd even read anymore is maybe Lord of The Rings, but that'd be about it. I can't do most fiction anymore. Harry Potter? Snore. Jack Ryan series? Clancy Sucks. Give me some Twain, Thompson (RIP Dr. Gonzo!) or some Chuck Palahniuk. I can't take the long, third person, plot driven, adjective heavy stuff anymore. Its a waste of time. Then again, my opinion is biased towards a certain point of view, which is not a popular one.