If you're a genre reader, you are probably a series reader. Let me define terms here -- for me, a series is a sequential group of books following one character or group of characters through 4 or more volumes, building a world with long running story lines.
And I love 'em. I love the depth that the author can dig, the wide spread of the world(s) they can create, and the detail that can be indulged without massive info-dumping.
So, it's really a shock when I realize a series has let me down, and I fall out of love with an author (because, really, I love those authors who keep me hooked for so many hours, who have me discussing details with others for long conversations, and who spend time rearranging my mental furniture). It hasn't happened often. Sometimes I cool on a series for a while, or get distracted from it, but rarely have I actually given up on a series I'm deeply into. In fact, I cannot think of another author or series that I have loved so much and then been so disappointed in than The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne.
I got to meet Mr. Hearne, and get my books signed, some few years back. He is a lovely person and I wish the best for him, but I cannot see myself buying and reading any more of his books. And it's because I was so roundly and deeply disappointed in how the series ended -- so much so that I did not read the last book (I got the gist from The Husband and a friend).
You see, I really, really, REALLY enjoyed the first six books in the series. I liked the seventh well enough, although I could feel a change. The eighth just left me cold, because it felt exactly like Hearne was sick to death of his characters and his world, but had to finish what he'd started. So, he rushed and crammed and shortcutted, inflicting as much damage to the characters as he could so he could get out of it. Once he was sick of characters I was so invested in, I didn't want to read any further.
And I mean, I was
invested. I have both print and audio versions of all the books, and I had read the first 7 at least twice, aside from listening too many times to count. I have most, if not all, of the novellas and short stories, which are also well read. The Husband and I spent many long car drives discussing various aspects, speculating, making jokes, and generally milking the books for all they were worth. I understand how an author can feel locked into a series. I suspect he didn't anticipate the series going on as it did, and perhaps that's why he let certain (to me critical) details fall to the side in his desire to get it all done and move on to something new. So I don't blame Hearne (and his writing skills are obviously great in my opinion, because I was invested so deeply).
But I'm not going into another book by him. I don't want to deal with getting that involved only to have the series do a text break-up with me. Characters stop growing, the comedy broadens and flattens, the levels and pulleys of the plot start to creak, and the boom mikes get into the shot. The author has fallen out of love with his work, and if I still love them, I'm in the relationship alone.
Every book is a relationship, you know. For better or worse, for a few hours or a lifetime, there's an agreement between the reader and the writer, and it creates a relationship where both are committed to certain things (Thomas C. Foster details this in
How to Read Novels Like a Professor). The first few chapters are a first date, maybe a meet up at the coffee shop, and the more of the book one reads, the longer and deeper the relationship gets. That's why there are so many people who reread favorite books -- the relationship is strong and dependable there. The author fulfills the expectations laid out in the beginning. I can trust those authors not to ghost on me, not to change their minds and try to renegotiate. or not to flat out lie.
What I've realized is that I no longer want to reread even the early books of the series, the ones I have nearly memorized, because I know the end of the relationship (the end of the book series, which is like the end of a very long book) is bad. There will be tears and shouting and slamming doors. The desire to go back to those heady early days when everything was roses and little notes and late night chats is still there, but as much as I loved that, I know I'll be angry at how it ends.
So, I've broken up with an author.
Now, this has no effect on Mr. Hearne. Hell, he doesn't know, or have to know, or have to care. He has his own life and interests, and he is doing his thing. I hope he has much success. I just won't be a part of that.