tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post6284655166498225872..comments2023-11-21T03:24:50.235-05:00Comments on Here be Magic: Are Middle Books in Fantasy Trilogies Always Bridges?Jody W. and Meankittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13733607365443126784noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-30159675303144628552013-07-17T23:44:31.778-04:002013-07-17T23:44:31.778-04:00I did love Empire Strikes Back, altho I hated leav...I did love Empire Strikes Back, altho I hated leaving Han stuck in that carbonite LOL. I also love the second LOTR's movie - all that cool stuff in Rohan...so I'll be happy to cross your series' bridge when I come to it. (No, wait, did that sound right LOL?) Hope you're having fun at RWA!!!Veronica Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04732940088047026021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-12718826304318120242013-07-17T20:40:03.378-04:002013-07-17T20:40:03.378-04:00I think that book two's job in a trilogy is to...I think that book two's job in a trilogy is to bridge the gap, but at the same time you want it stand tall like a tower and dominate over the first one. To do that you need punch, action, and new developments to the story that take the reader on a journey the didn't see coming. <br />I adore reading fantasy, sci-fi stuff. Especially in a series, the longer the better for me! And I have read many series that I finish book two and say, good but not as good as book one and then go on to read the third book and am blown away. Does it detract from the series for me? No, because I look at it as a long journey. <br />I have also read series that the author comes back at you with book two and leaves me stunned. Amazing when this happens. The ingredient I have noticed is the author introduces the story as if it were the first with new conflict (not always with resolution) and builds the tension. <br /><br />Sorry Jeffe...this got really long! Yikes!Alexia Chantelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03048542370172786608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-141080588369452112013-07-17T15:53:39.442-04:002013-07-17T15:53:39.442-04:00Yeah - I have a CP who hasn't read book 1. Tha...Yeah - I have a CP who hasn't read book 1. That will help. Thanks Jason!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-200143409815076512013-07-17T13:24:10.111-04:002013-07-17T13:24:10.111-04:00I just put the wraps on the second book in the Age...I just put the wraps on the second book in the Agency series, and while it's definitely a connection between the first and the third, the key point is that it has a distinct *story of its own* to tell. There are certainly series threads that continue to develop, but I mixed old crit partners with folks who never read the first to make sure it would deliver something that both could enjoy. <br /><br />You can do more than bridge, but it begins with having a rock solid story to tell all in its own.Jason Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01528447785403863752noreply@blogger.com