Reading Room XVI - A Story Series?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

There was only one response to my last post about the next Reading Room, so I thought I'd post it again when we've all had a couple of week's break - and with a wee poll, cos it's always easier to just click a box, and maybe people would rather do that to start with... *g*

[Poll #1916148]

And here's the proposed next theme again:

The next theme on our list, winning the poll with double the votes of any other idea (okay, the votes were generally distributed as 2 for each suggested theme, but this one did get 4!), was Story Series.

The idea for this one is that we choose a story series at a time, and review each story in the series, one at a time. Of course what we need first are some suggested series! Is there a series that you love, or hate, or just think would be really interesting to discuss? It can have as many or as few stories in it as you like (from two to... lots *g*), though obviously if you pick a series with lots, it'll take longer to get through. Alternatively, someone might want to review/talk about a whole series all at once, and that'd be okay too...

There are story list suggestions at at Palelyloitering (with links to the stories) and at the Hatstand.

Will anyone volunteer to post about a story? Or even to lead all the stories in a series they choose, which would work too? Let me know below, and we can get scheduling... *g*

Comments

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Just to say I'm enjoying reading everyone's opinions, even if I don't always chip in myself - I have a few times, but not every time :-(

So I'm a bit of an total imposter, but rather than say nothing at all I did just want to say yay for the RR!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It's lovely to see you when you do chip in - we all have times when we can't manage it, after all... Trouble is, we do need a few people to chip in - sometimes we all seem to be hectic elsewhere at the same time! *g*

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

I want to do the reading room, so I shall certainly chip in. But I must admit that the theme didn't grab me. Maybe I shall be converted by the end, who knows? :)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It difficult picking a theme - what grabs one person won't grab someone else. But look at it this way - it's such a general theme, that there might be stories within that theme that grab you! And the best way to ensure that is to propose some stories... *g*

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

I avoid series as much as possible.
(But then I hate huge TV or book family sagas as well.)
So I don't know many of them. Just 2 or 3. And I only read them when they are finished.
I love 'A Birdwatcher's Guide to Cornish Ghosts', but I dislike 'The Larton Chronicles'.
And I love 'And Lovers Long Ago' but never ever thought of reading the other stories in the 'Dreaming Stone' series.

Something else are stories that inspired the imagination of other authors.
I think there are some fantastic results.

So I'm a bit torn - but very curious what will come... :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well, a series for this Reading Room could be as short as two short stories, you know - they don't have to be massively long series to qualify, just anything that involves a story that has at least one sequel...

I think in Pros most story series are made up of stories that are complete in themselves though - they're not usually cliffhanger-type stories where you have to read a sequel to get some peace of mind... So there might be hundreds of stories out there still waiting for you! *g*

You could always find a story you like, with a sequel, and suggest it, you know... *g*

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"You could always find a story you like, with a sequel, and suggest it, you know... *g*"
Yeah! But to my surprise the lists you've mentioned are a bit overwhelming. ;-)
First I have to check what it's all about.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I just wrote down the ones that came first to my mind - there's lots of story universes that are much shorter, that only have a first story and a sequel - I can suggest a few of those for you, if you like? What about...

The Beautiful Year (http://www.palelyloitering.com/universes/beautifulyearUniverse.htm) stories by Verlaine
Black Bodie's (http://www.palelyloitering.com/universes/blackbodieUniverse.html) universe by N.N.West and O. Yardley
Dispatches/Procedures (http://www.palelyloitering.com/universes/dispatchesproceduresUniverse.htm) by Josey (a very short one to get you started... *g*)
Mister Sandman (http://www.palelyloitering.com/universes/mrsandmanUniverse.htm) stories by Anna Parrish

*g*

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see you're fighting for your RR. That's good!
(But tell me, how many vacuum-cleaner salesmen are in your familiy...? ;-))

Ok, I'll check your little list in the evening. :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Who me? I'm always helpful... *g*

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

I'd like to go on with the RR, bit since I'm totally in the middle of shifting that moon in front of me, I won't be that active, and probably won't write a recc myself. I do hope that's acceptable.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Heee - there is no acceptable, there is only the Reading Room... *g* You can do whatever you like whenever you like - we all have our busy times! Trouble is, we all seem to have them at once, sometimes, so no one's able to post! That's why I seem to ask so often... *g*

Hope your moon is going well, though! *g*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I clicked right now, but, I think, with a proviso. If we're going with series, I imagine people would need some time to reread and then write up about. So, at least to start, you might get the list started but not actually start the posting for a couple of weeks.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Good point about allowing more reading time - though if we're reading just one story from the series each week it shouldn't really be any different to other Reading Room readings...

I'd love to get a list up, but only one person suggested any stories when I posted a couple of weeks ago - that's why I'm trying again, to see if people want to play, or if they'd rather have a longer break... The sooner people volunteer to start off with a particular series, the sooner we can get going though - including the reading part! *g*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind doing Madelein Lee's "Carnal Interests" trio. Just give me a little time to reread them. *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh excellent - I'll add you to the volunteering but no date yet list! Unless you want to choose sometime in July or even August, and plan ahead? I reckon we can get ourselves there at this rate! *g*

[tango65.livejournal.com]

My suggestion - Firewalls and Firestorm by Elspeth Leigh. I'd even be happy to rec them as well. :)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, nice call - I've not read them for ages, either!

Do you want to do both of them? Want to pick a couple of Thursdays in June? (I'm guessing it's too soon to suggest we start tomorrow!)

Yeay, thank you!

[tango65.livejournal.com]

I am happy to do both, but will leave it to you to choose dates. :)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent - do you want me to start off then, with another series I have my eye on, and you could do 20th and 27th June for your stories? Or would you rather go first? I'm easy, either way! *g*

[tango65.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to take the 20th and 27th. :)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent - I can start putting up a schedule now - thank you! *g*

ETA - actually I've just realised that the story is up in 3 parts, even though it's only got two titles, so I shall bump you down a week to the 27th June and 4th July if that's okay (if you need to post on the 3rd or 5th then feel free, the 4th obviously being a holiday for you guys!)

[tango65.livejournal.com]

That's fine with me. :)

[murphybabe]

Hello! I've said 'other' and the reason for that is that I do very much want to do this Reading Room, but I am about to leave the country for 12 days and then when I come back have an entire house move to organise for Midsummer's day. Eeek! So yes, and I'm happy to lead a series through (not sure which one yet) but realistically, it isn't going to happen until July. If someone else could fill in meanwhile, that would be great.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

You're moving on Midsummer's Day? What brilliant timing - I'm sure that must be lucky... *g* And before that you're in the land of no internet access... (*g*)

I reckon you'll fit in just fine though, if you're happy to hang on until the end of June - I've picked out a wee series I could post for, and I'm hoping Tango will be able to do her wee series in June too - so then we'e already be up to July (my, where has the time gone?!) and maybe you might be a bit more free sometime after that...? You know, before Tiernsee... *vbg*

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

I love the Reading Room posts, though I almost never seem to participate apart from hurling in the occasional comment.

I kind of live with the delusion/fond hope that at some point I'll be more active taking part... so I'd love to see it keep going, but I don't feel I deserve a say in the matter *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, you always say you don't deserve a say - everyone does, although it's definitely helpful to hear from people who are able to participate too, cos if we're all watching, then... *g* But hurling in the occasional comment is just what Reading Room is about - posts and comments, right? So you do participate, so you deserve a say, so... *g*

[lillianorchid.livejournal.com]

I'd like to perhaps have another go, but I need to think of a series to rec first. lol :)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Always the tricky bit... *g* Sounds like we've got a couple of series to set off with, so maybe you'll find inspiration as we go along - volunteers will always be welcome! *g*

[lillianorchid.livejournal.com]

Awesome! :D I'll look forward to seeing what everyone else has picked while I try to decide which series I want to do. :)

[murphybabe]

Well, I'd like to rec Raymond's Joy, by the Hag, but on looking at it, she says that it was never written as a series. I gather it was unrelated stories which were then tidied together into a sequence. Does that count?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd personally say it could count very well - in fact it'd make an interesting counterpoint to more conventionally written series/sequels... Straight away I wonder about the impact of the tidying, whether people who didn't know the stories separately can see the joins, whether people prefer them separately or together, why she chose those stories, and whether... but I should ask that sort of thing in the discussion, shouldn't I... *g*

*...pounces...*

Do you want to try nabbing a July date now, or I could just put you down for the story with date to be confirmed later...?

*g*

[murphybabe]

Yay! Definitely the story then, but as to date... mid-July? I guess it depends on how long previous reviewers need - if someone chooses a series with 4 stories, will that therefore take 4 weeks? Come to think of it, I might be up for Crack_Van in July as well, so it might as well all come at once *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

No worries, we can wait and see if anyone volunteers for earlier in July. So far we should get up to the end of June...

And yeah - I'm up for crackvan in June - things do seem to come all at once, don't they!

[nypagan.livejournal.com]

Hhhmmm...I can think of a couple series I could rec, but may need some time to consider all my options. I guess I'm saying, I'm willing, but can't give a series or date at this time. Are AU series acceptable?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the delay - and feel free to take some time, we're scheduled all through July now, and potentially into August (I have an idea for another series I think I'd like to review). And of course AU series would be acceptable - as long as it's Pros AU, then it's all good! *g*