Every fantasy fan can remember that moment when they discover a great new series. We pick up an author’s first book, tear though it, and fall more in love with it with each page. And when we put it down, and we start waiting for that next volume. And waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Whether it’s Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Scott Lynch, or Patrick Rothfuss, we’ve all been there.
But the longer we wait, the more our excitement and expectations build. So we reread, we go online to discuss our favorite moments, and we wonder what the next book will have in store for us. There’s a pleasure in that delayed gratification. Until we read the book, that is, and that’s when we discover, to our horror, that it’s still good, but maybe not as good as that first one. What happened?
Well, two things. On the one hand, it might be a matter of perception on the part of the reader. The longer we wait for a story, the higher our expectations rise, and at some point, no book can live up to those expectations. Repeat this cycle a few times over the course of an epic fantasy series, and it’s no wonder ratings tend to fall with each successive volume in a series. Our own love for a story sours our experience.
On the other hand, it might be a matter of publishing schedules. An author can spend years working on that first book: tweaking it, improving it, and rewriting whole swathes of text. It’s not uncommon to hear authors spending five, seven, or more years working on that first novel. But when it’s a big hit, the publisher will typically want a second one much sooner. So not only does the author have much less time to write a novel, but he or she also has far more pressure to create a great book (and I haven’t even touched on the pressures of marketing, publicity, and all the other non-writing things a new author also must do…not to mention their day job, their family, and so on). It’s no wonder the “sophomore slump” exists in so many artistic industries. I’m sure it’s quite an adjustment and quite a lot of pressure.
So if that waiting—that clamoring—for another book not only harms fans, but also harms writers, what are we to do? I’ve heard of some fans that will wait until a series is complete before they start reading it. While this might avoid the “high expectations” problem, if enough of us do it, it will lead to some serious consequences: without people pre-ordering books or waiting in line at midnight releases, there are fewer bestsellers, which mean smaller profits for publishers, which mean fewer books for fans to enjoy. So I tend to think this response a little extreme. I prefer a different plan.
And that plan is “relax and be patient”. I know, I know. It’s a lame bit of advice. It’s something you’d probably hear from a relative far older than me. And it’s certainly not as catchy as Neil Gaiman’s admonishment, “George R.R. Martin is not your bitch.” But if we were all a little more patient, I think we might enjoy books more, and authors might produce better books.
After all, don’t we all have “to be read” piles of books that are in danger of toppling over and burying a pet? Just me? Er…anyway, what I’m trying to say is that instead of complaining about how long it’s taking for a new book to come out, pick up another book. If we have plenty to read, we won’t be so fixated on that next book. Our expectations can still be high, but not dangerously high. And if you’re lacking a pile (and you call yourself a fan!), go visit the Fantasy-Faction forum to learn of at least six new series you can start.
And I love that authors and fans can communicate via blogs, Facebook, and Twitter. But I’m pretty sure authors hate being pestered about that next book. Just ask Peter V. Brett:
Pro-tip: Responding to author tweets about non-writing aspects of their life/career with “stop doing that & WRITE” will never endear you.
— Peter V. Brett (@PVBrett) October 15, 2013
So tell authors how much you love their books. Tell them you can’t wait until the next one. But don’t bother them. Just relax a bit and let authors write. And who knows? With maybe just a little less pressure, fans will ultimately receive better books. (And besides, I’m sure their agents, publishers, editors, etc. are providing enough pressure as it is.)
Like me, I’m sure you’re already looking forward to several books that are coming out in 2014 and beyond. But if we just relax and enjoy the time between now and then—instead of letting that time drive us, and our favorite authors, nuts—the waiting won’t be as harmful any more.
